The Committee for Safety of Foreign Exchange Students (CSFES) advocates for the safety of foreign exchange students and was instrumental in the strengthening of the U.S. Department regulations for the protection of these young people. CSFES is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization advocating the safety, protection and well being of exchange students around the world by raising public awareness and providing education related to the safety of exchange students to prospective, and current, exchange students, natural parents and school administrators, with a specific focus on educating exchange organizations and government agencies to ensure the protection of exchange students around the world. CSFES educates exchange students and their parents about resources and assistance available to assist current, future and past exchange students who become victims of child/sexual abuse, neglect and extortion. CSFES supports cultural exchange and is committed to the idea that every foreign student deserves a safe and memorable exchange experience. We believe without reservation that while these sons and daughters are studying abroad, they should expect and fully deserve, to be treated as if they are our own.
As an organization, CSFES strives for cooperative relationshps with exchange programs, based on the explicit understanding that CSFES will always prioritize exchange student safety above all other concerns.
Given this understanding, CSFES sees the following issues as specific cause for concern:
Exchange students: - should never depart from their home country without a properly screened host family awaiting their arrival.
- should be apprised of a completed High School Permission Form prior to leaving their home country.
should know whether they will be attending a public or private high school prior to departure. must not be forced to live in the home of their area representative until a permanent family is found. should not be placed in the homes of convicted criminals. should not be expected to live in homes lacking basic standards of cleanliness. must know how to contact the U.S. Department of State and sponsor in case of an emergency. need to be fully apprised of their rights as visitors in this country. are to be sufficiently educated on all Child Protection Guidelines. may not be coerced to write letters and sign agreements that they do not fully understand. should never be sent home early without good cause and an accompanying review process. must not be made to fear being sent back to their home country merely for voicing their concerns.
If you are an exchange student with concerns, please contact CSFES. Tell us where you are and let us help you.
CSFES is interested in your safety and wellbeing. All international visitors may also contact local law enforcement agencies directly. Anyone who suspects suspicious behavior or maltreatment of foreign exchange students, please report it to the proper authorities. CSFES monitors exchange student abuse and provides information to interested parties in an effort to significantly reduce the number of children who become victims of child/sexual abuse, neglect and extortion. As such, we encourage contact from schools, parents, exchange students. Even if there are no apparent problems, being aware and informed are the keys to prevention. Respectfully submitted, Committee for Safety of Foreign Exchange Students http://www.child-safe.org.uk/about/ambassadors/
-------- -------- National Public Radio (NPR) by Libby Lewis, July 5, 2006 NPR : Few Rules Protect Young Foreign Students in U.S. Student exchange organization: United Students Association (USA) -------- -------- Oceanside Woman Key to Federal Foreign Exchange Student Legislation, by Alexandra Deluca, May 28, 2006, North County Times
http://www.northcountytimes.com/articles/2006/05/28/news/coastal/oceanside/21_26_305_27_06.txt Foreign Students Safer Thanks to Woman's Crusade,by Jaimy Lee, Today's Local News, May 13, 2006
http://www.todayslocalnews.com/?sect=tln&p=794 Black Britain -- United Kingdom -- Foreign Exchange Students Are Being Victimised in the United States and Around the World 01-11-06 by Krystle Osafo Jones
http://www.blackbritain.co.uk/news/details.aspx?i=1922&c=us&h=Foreign+exchange+students+are+being+victimised+in+the+US+and+around+the+world
The Washington Post-- U.S. Targets Sex Abuse of Exchange Students 08-12-05 by Robin Wright and Lori Aratani
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/11/AR2005081102083.html Education Week -- Proposed U.S. Rule Seeks to Curb Sexual Abuse of Exchange Students 08-12-05 by Mary Ann Zehr
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2005/08/12/1exchange_web.25.html India Daily -- Are foreign students regularly sexually abused by the hosting American family? America promises to check 08-13-05 by Sonia Joshi
http://www.indiadaily.com/editorial/4126.asp The Boston Globe-- Proposed rules aim to keep exchange students safe in US 08-28-05 by Anand Vaishnav
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/08/28/proposed_rules_aim_to_keep_exchange_students_safe_in_us?mode=PF World Peace Herald -- U.S seeking to protect exchange students from sex abuse 08-29-05
http://www.wpherald.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20050829-044932-8756r News Central Asia -- Japanese Exchange Student in Vulnerable Circumstances in Florida 09-15-05
http://www.newscentralasia.com/modules.php?name=News&file=print&sid=1452
North County Times -- Advocates seek changes to industry to protect children from predators, by Denis Devine 04-05
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2005/04/25/news/columnists/devine/42505115442.txt
ON LINE Opinion Australia's e-journal of Social and Political Debate,
Exchange students must be protected, by Danielle Grijalva, Director of CSFES, 06-28-05:
http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=3575
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