At the February Good Morning Winslow meeting, Shari McLaws, the Ayusa Community Representative for Northeast Arizona, provided an insightful overview of Ayusa International’s student exchange program, emphasizing its role in promoting cultural understanding and global connections. The program focuses on high school students aged 15 to 18, enabling them to experience American culture firsthand while attending local high schools such as in Winslow, Joseph City, Holbrook and Snowflake.
McLaws highlighted the inclusivity of the program, welcoming a diverse range of host families, including those with children, empty-nesters, single individuals and same-sex couples. This broad approach ensures that every interested party has the opportunity to participate in this enriching experience. With Arizona hosting around 30 foreign exchange students—13 of whom are in northeastern Arizona—the program significantly contributes to the cultural diversity of the region.
The application process for host families is thorough and designed to ensure a positive experience for both the students and the hosts. “When applicants apply, they undergo background checks, reference checks and home tours. We also conduct at minimum monthly check-ins with both the students and parents,” McLaws explained. These measures are in place to foster an environment where exchange students feel like valued members of the family, with requirements such as providing the student with their own bed and allowing room sharing only with another person of the same gender and roughly the same age.
Ayusa’s commitment to support extends beyond the application process. McLaws reassured potential hosts about the extensive support system available, saying, “We won’t let any family be miserable for a whole year.” She emphasized that the organization is available day and night for mediation and, if necessary, rehoming the student is an option.
The profound impact of the program extends to the host families themselves, as illustrated by McLaws’ personal story. Her own children’s interactions with exchange students have inspired a deep appreciation for travel and culture. Specifically, her daughter, influenced by the global perspective she gained from these interactions, has traveled to several countries and now resides in Brazil at the age of 19. “She didn’t go on an exchange, but her world has changed,” McLaws reflected. “Even growing up on the back roads of Joseph City, she’s not scared of any country or people now… she can do whatever she wants.”
In addition to the enriching discussion on cultural exchange, the meeting was graced by a brief appearance from Winslow’s new Chief of Police Franklin Caldwell, who had officially started his role just the day before. Chief Caldwell’s introduction to the community came at a challenging time, as he navigated the department’s response to the unexpected closure of I-40 due to a significant snowstorm in Flagstaff. This was a notable first task for Chief Caldwell having come from the Florence Police Department in southern Arizona but he was up to the task and assured residents he wanted to make the closure affect people’s life as little as possible.
