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September 3, 2007
High school exchange students from France, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand have arrived in the United States and do not have permanent homes nor a high school to attend.
Concerned citizens in the states of Tennessee, Oklahoma, North Carolina, New York and Wisconsin have contacted our organization and provided us with the names of these students, SEVIS ID numbers, and the name of their student exchange agency:
ASSE International Student Exchange Programs (ASSE)
228 North Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Telephone: 1-949-494-4100
Federal regulations were recently released for public review and comment to sanction such agencies who refuse to respect and adhere to said regulations to protect the health, safety and welfare of these students.
CSFES requests your attention to this matter and respectfully asks that you contact the United States Department of State to support the protection of these young people visiting the United States.
Contact information to US Department of State:
Thank you in advance for your time that this situation deserves. I remain available to answer any questions you have.
Respectfully,
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From: dgrijalva@csfes.org [mailto:dgrijalva@csfes.org]
Sent: Tuesday, August 21, 2007 12:38 PM
To: Melofchik, Beth X; Dickerson, Elizabeth B; Martin, Tamara L
Subject: Complaint against International Student Exchange
Re: International Student Exchange (ISE) Dallas Representative, Diane Torres
Dear Ms. Melofchik, Ms. Dickerson and Ms. Martin:
I am filing a complaint against International Student Exchange for hiring an area representative who does not know the regulations and has violated federal regulations repeatedly. Refer to complaint sent to State dated May 15, 2007 below.
ISE has hired Diane Torres as their new area representative, formerly of AIFS/AYA. Ms. Torres exhibited many deficiencies resulting in abuse and harm to foreign exchange students.
It is of concern to the committee that students will be abused in the same manner by her as students were abused when she worked for AIFS/AYA.
Danielle Grijalva, Director
Committee for Safety of Foreign Exchange Students
P.O. Box 6496 / Oceanside, CA 92052
www.csfes.org / 866-471-9203
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-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Concerns from xxxxxxxxxxxxxx re AYA YES participants
From: dgrijalva@csfes.org
Date: Tue, May 15, 2007 7:50 pm
To: Patty Bologna <pbologna@aifs.org>, "M. French" <MFrench@aifs.org>,
sfergemann@aifs.org
Cc: Beth Melofchik <Melofchikbx@state.gov>, Elizabeth Dickerson
<DickersonEB@state.gov>, Lawrence Sally <Lawrencesj@state.gov>,
estafford@sister-cities.org, John Hishmeh <JHishmeh@csiet.org>
Ms. Patty Bologna, Program Manager
Re: AYA Independent Exchange Coordinator (IEC), Diane Torres of Ft. Worth, TX
Dear Ms. Bologna, Ms. French and Ms. Fergemann:
The following concerns have been provided to CSFES by xxxxxxxxxx for your review and files.
Please add to our complaint sent to your attention about the above-referenced matter.
I am available to answer any questions you may have.
Danielle Grijalva, Director
Committee for Safety of Foreign Exchange Students
P.O. Box 6496 / Oceanside, CA 92052
www.csfes.org / 866-471-9203
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Concerns regarding experiences of two exchange students
From: xxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Tue, May 15, 2007 6:21 pm
To: <dgrijvalva@CSFES.org>
Cc: <pbologna@aifs.org>, <mfrench@aifs.org>
I recently had the privilege of entertaining two delightful and personable exchange students, Nadia Greviana and Sella Mushalia, for a day during their Spring Break from school. I had met these girls when my neighbor, xxxxxxxx invited me to accompany her and some of her friends to Fossil Rim Park for the day. The girls and their current foster mother were part of the group, and when I learned that they would be out of school during the next week, I offered to take them for a day. I brought them along on my Meals on Wheels route to familiarize them with some of our social services, and to the Log Cabin Village to show them that Americans have not always lived the way we do now. We also visited a book store and had lunch at my home.
During the course of the day, I was told by both girls that they had had unpleasant experiences during the first six months they were in this country, and as a result they were now in their current foster home. One of the things Nadia told me was that the first family tried to pull off her hijab and tricked her into eating pork. Assuming she was talking about the children in the family, I asked if she had reported this behavior to the foster parents. I was shocked when she answered, "It was the parents who did it." During another conversation, I asked her about what she had done for entertainment with the first family. She answered, "They mostly just liked to get drunk." Sella did not go into detail about her first six months, and I did not question her.
I am horrified that a Muslim child was placed with a family that drank alcohol at all, and one that was so incredibly disrespectful to her religion and her culture. I am also embarrassed for my city and my country. In these very tense times with the rest of the world, and the Muslim countries in particular, we have allowed two Muslim girls to be placed in these situations when they were entrusted to our care by their parents and their country. I apologized to both girls for what they had experienced, but the harm has been done.
I am a social worker who assesses prospective foster and adoptive homes. Although I realize that abuses can occur in spite of screening, I believe these two issues could have been screened for very easily and such a family ruled out as a home for exchange students.
I am hoping this letter will help to support an investigation into what occurred here. I will be glad to help in any way I can, and please feel free to call me at (817)377-3515 or email me if you need any other information.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Complaint against IFS Foundation/AYA -- Treatment of two YES
participants, plus AYA participants in Ft. Worth, Texas
From: dgrijalva@csfes.org
Date: Tue, May 15, 2007 4:16 pm
To: Pbologna@aifs.org, mfrench@aifs.org, sfergemann@aifs.org
Cc: Beth Melofchik <Melofchikbx@state.gov>, Elizabeth Dickerson
<DickersonEB@state.gov>, lawrencesj@state.gov,
estaffored@sister-cities.org, jhishmeh@csiet.org
Ms. Patty Bologna, Program Manager
Re: AYA Independent Exchange Coordinator (IEC), Diane Torres of Ft. Worth, Texas
Dear Ms. Bologna, Ms. French and Ms. Freeman:
The treatment of two YES (Youth Exchange Study) participants from Indonesia was originally brought to our attention by Representative Lon Burnam's office in Ft. Worth, Texas, including concerns regarding seven AYA participants living in the home of their AYA independent exchange coordinator (IEC), Ms. Diane Torres. The students are from China, Germany, Thailand and Korea.
For those receiving this complaint not familiar with the YES program; this is a program established in October, 2002 by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs to provide scholarships for secondary school students from countries with significant Muslim populations to spend one academic year in America. The YES program is vital to expanding communication between the people of the United States and the partner countries in the interest of promoting mutual understanding and respect.
As a mother of three and Director of the Committee for Safety of Foreign Exchange Students (CSFES) I send this complaint with great disgust and embarrassment.
Concerns which require immediate attention are as follows:
- Investigation regarding the YES checks that Sella Mushalia and Nadia Grevinad from Indonesia never received.
- Investigation regarding the approximate $800 missing from the male student from China (name to follow). This student reported approximately $800 was taken from him by his host family. AYA's IEC, Ms. Diane Torres, remedied the the situation by simply moving the boy into her home without further investigation.
- Seven foreign exchange students currently in the home of AYA's Diane Torres. The students are attending the following high schools in Texas: 1) Arlington High School 2) Nolan Public High School 3) Trimble Tech High School.
- Up to five foreign exchange students reported living in the home of AYA's IEC Pat Specht -- Texas. The AYA IEC for Ms. Specht's students is Ms. Diane Torres. The AYA IEC for Ms. Torres' students is Ms. Pat Specht.
Below you will find an email from xxxxxxxxxxx dated May 14, 2007 to your attention. To follow will be the contact information for the families the students from Indonesia were forced to live.
Please be advised that it was reported this afternoon that Ms. Diane Torres has instructed the students living in her home to not write letters about their experience.
Nothing resembling public diplomacy is evident in what we have presented to you in this complaint.
Danielle Grijalva, Director
Committee for Safety of Foreign Exchange Students
P.O. Box 6496 / Oceanside, CA 92052
www.csfes.org / 866-471-9203
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Sella and Nadia
From:
Date: Mon, May 14, 2007 5:07 pm
To: pbologna@aifs.org, mfrench@aifs.org, Danielle Grijalva
dgrijalva@csfes.org
This email is in response to our phone converstion of 10 May, 2007 regarding Sella xxxxx and Nadia xxxxx. A copy is also being sent to Danielle Grijalva with CSFES with the request that she forwared this email to any and all people she has been in correspondence with regarding Sella and Nadia.
Let me first address several items of issue regarding each young woman:
1. Sella's host family did not have heat for the majority of the winter months. To stay warm at night, she had to sleep with her clothes and jacket on.
2. This home was also without HOT water. Sella had to "wash" in a basin, go to the neighbors home for a shower or just "do without". When asked about heating water in the microwave, Sella was told that it was "to expensive".
3. Sella's host mother, on many occassions, did not provide a dinner meal for her. Or if it was provided, it was tacos and beans the majority of times.
4. Sella witnessed abuse by her host father upon the host mother. She was even asked to photograph the bruises!!! Several days later, her camera was mysteriously broken.
5. She was required to clean up the back yard, after the family dog had "done his business".
6. When I first drove past Sella's host family home, there was a mattress and box spring set as well as old car parts on the entire front porch. Sheets were hanging in the windows for curtains. Grass in the yard was over 3 feet high.
7. One of the host family members (a son) was recently released from jail. (I do not know what the charges were on this).
1. Nadia was with a family that forced pork on her at meal times. She is Muslim.
2. She was subject to the host family trying to remove her head covering on a regular basis. Again, she is Muslim and wears the traditional head covering.
3. Her prayer times were not respected.
4. Nadia had to walk home from school through a neighborhood that is totally unsafe. I personally witnessed men sitting along the curb of her street drinking alchol (this was at 4:00 p.m. on a Friday afternoon), rotted mattresses strewn along the yards, and stray dogs (pit bulls and rottweilers) wondering down the street when I went to pick her up.
5. At one time, a man pulled up beside her as she was walking home and exposed himself to her near the host family home.
6. The back yard of this home had a broken down car in it. There was also a garden hose with water running from it attached to the roof.
7. When Sonya Carter and I arrived to move Nadia and her belongings, her host mother stood in the yard and screamed profanities at us. (When I picked Nadia up the first time, she never even asked my name or where I was taking her). She allowed Nadia a total of 10 minutes to pack her things. Diane Torres was witness to all of this.
Both Sella and Nadia were placed in homes were English was NOT the primiary language. The television and radios were always on Spanish speaking channels. Conversations in the home were also in Spanish.
These young women were placed in homes were their culture, backgrounds, and religious beliefs were totally ignored.
Ms. Bolanga, you said that you wished that Sella and Nadia had used the "proper channels" to resolve these problems... allow me to tell you what they did do and how things were handled through your "proper channels".
Sella contacted Diane Torres, your area representative, about the problems she was facing. Sella was told to "find somewhere else to live if you don't like it".
When Nadia contacted someone in your Connecticut office to express concerns, her call was apparently given to Diane Torres to handle. Ms. Torres told her that she didn't appreciate Nadia causing her problems by calling her supervisor.
This is the "HELP" that these young ladies received by following "proper channels".
The weekend that arrangements were made to move Sella and Nadia, I first spoke with Diane Torres on the phone to make her aware of the changes. She told me that she wasn't aware of any complaints or problems and that she had "personally" inspected and interviewed both of these host families. She found nothing wrong with either placement.
When I met with Diane Torres at the home of Bobby and Sonya Carter to fill out paperwork, Ms. Torres informed me that "these girls need to understand that not all Americans live in homes like this" - referring to the home of Bobby and Sonya Carter.
Ms. Torres informed us that Sella and Nadia could not share the same host family home because they come from the same country. I find that interesting in the fact that Ms. Torres has 7 students living in her home, with 2 from China, 1 from Germany, 1 from Thailand, and 3 from Korea. Interesting set of rules Ms. Torres lives by.
Since Sella and Nadia have been moved, Diane Torres has made NO attempt to contact me or to visit my home. She has NOT as much as called to check on the welfare of either girl.
Diane Torres has, however, contacted Sella at her school (Ms. Torres is employed there) and recently told Sella that "Sonya Carter sure was causing a lot of trouble for her". I request and demand that you contact Diane Torres and have her cease talking with Sella regarding this matter. It is unfair for Ms. Torres to place the blame for her problems on the shoulders of these girls. They have done nothing wrong but to blow the whistle on the poor conditions that they were subject to by Ms. Torres.
I believe this program was founded on good, sound practices to provide a quality exchange program for students throughout the world. What happened along the way???
I am not only embarrassed, but angered for our country, my state, and my city. I can not believe that we allow such an ill run program to continue. If you can not provide safe, culturely and educationally friendly homes for these students, then please don't allow them to come. It is now that the world needs to see Americans as we truly are - friendly, generous, and conscience of others and their beliefs in the world. Not as Sella and Nadia had to endure for almost 7 months of living here.
Both Nadia and Sella are responsible, beautiful young women. It is truly a pleasure to share Fort Worth, Texas with both of them. My knowledge of their country, culture, and religion has increased because of their willingness to share their life stories with me and my family and friends.
While I am sadden for the reason to meet these girls, I am truly thankful to have made their acquaintance and friendship.
If you have further questions, please feel free to contact me.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Host Families Needed Quickly - "This is an emergency
situation." ASSE International Student Exchange
From: dgrijalva@csfes.org
Date: Mon, July 23, 2007 11:00 am
To: John Hishmeh <JHishmeh@csiet.org>
Council on Standards for International Educational Travel
Mr. John Hishmeh
212 S. Henry Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
Re: ASSE International Student Exchange
Dear Mr. Hishmeh:
Please accept this complaint against ASSE International Student Exchange.
ASSE is advertising for area host families for the 2007-2008 academic year and the link below reads, "Host Families Needed Quickly." "Without host families, the students will not be able to participate in the exchange program this year." "It is their dreams that will be shattered, if they can't come." "Just please help," Bilton said. "This is an emergency situation."
Host Families Needed Quickly The full article will be available on the Web for a limited time: http://www.realcities.com/mld/dfw/news/special_packages/all_flower_mound/17521077.htm(c) 2007 Star-Telegram.com and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved. As you are aware, per CSIET standards, "The organization shall not publicize the need for host families via any public media with announcements, notices, advertisements, etc., that: are not sufficiently in advance of the student's arrival, appeal to public pity or guilt, imply in any way that a student will be denied participation if a host family is not found immediately and identify photos of individual students and include an appeal for an immediate family."
Note that ASSE representative Pam Bilton is also hosting two students in her home. As per the Federal Regulations, Section 62.25(d)(3), "Ensure that no organizational representative act as both host family and area supervisor for any exchange student participant."
This is how the problems begin.
CSFES will continue to monitor this situation in Texas.
Sincerely,
Danielle Grijalva, Director Committee for Safety of Foreign Exchange Students P.O. Box 6496 / Oceanside, CA 92052 www.csfes.org / 866-471-9203
cc:
United States Department of State
Texas State Office of Education
Lewisville Board of Education
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Subject: EF Foundation rep Demitri Corbin/ "Men of Ojai" calendar of nude males
May 21, 2007
United States Department of State
Ms. Beth Melofchik, Compliance Officer
Dear Ms. Melofchik:
We are aware that the U nited States Department of State has no involvement with the IHP programs, therefore, this area of the student exchange industry goes unmonitored. However, please be advised of the advertisement appearing in The Ojai Post in California on May 19, 2007.
EF Foundation rep, Demitri Corbin, was at the Farmer's Market this past weekend looking to find host families and afterwards went "knocking on doors" to seek families to host 34 students from Vietnam. This is certainly not a safe method in which to search for host families.
In an effort for Mr. Corbin to raise money for his community arts foundation, he came up with the "Men of Ojai" calendar which is of males photographed in the nude.
Our concerns have been addressed with the Vietnam Deputy Consul General, as well as with our contacts of the Vietnamese-American community.
Respectfully,
Danielle Grijalva, Director
Committee for Safety of Foreign Exchange Students
P.O. Box 6496 / Oceanside, CA 92052
www.csfes.org / 866-471-9203
cc:
Deputy Consul General of Vietnam
Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Still Seeking Host Families
Sunday morning, starting at the Farmer's Market, I will be joined by two recruiters from the EF Homestay Program to sign up host families for my 34 Vietnamese high school students. They will visit Ojai from July 3 to July 30. if you are interested or know of any families who are interested in hosting an exchange student, please look for me downtown tomorrow morning and afternoon. We will also be in Upper Ojai in the later afternoon knocking on doors.
Anyone who's open to a house call, please drop me an email: demitr[log in to unmask] or call 805-798-0929.
Thanks!
Posted by Demitri Corbin on May 19, 2007 at 07:29 PM
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Ventura County Star (CA) - December 28, 2006
Calendar is raising funds and eyebrows Ojai men disrobe for art foundation
| Back in August, over drinks at the Ojai wine bar Movino, Demitri Corbin and a few friends were throwing around ideas on how to raise money for Corbin's community arts foundation. As a joke, Corbin suggested a "Men of Ojai" calendar - with nude photos. The idea got a few laughs. |
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Ojai Valley News (CA) - November 17, 2006
'Men of Ojai' calendar nears unveiling date
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The "Men of Ojai" 2007 calendar goes on sale Monday at select merchants in Ojai and Ventura. Locations in Ojai include Table of Contents, Ojai House and Busy Babes, and Soul Tonic, Wild Planet and Celtic Carma Salon, in Ventura. The calendar is a fine art presentation of environmental portraits of male nudes , and serves as a fundraising project that will establish the Majique Avant Garde Fine Arts Grant to benefit local artists and organizations. |
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Parents of Foreign Exchange Students in the USA: Is this your child? Letter to Editor, News Central Asia -- The voice of Greater Central Asia, October 7, 2006 by Danielle Grijalva,
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