BFF Blog

Zinaida from Azerbaijan did a nonprofit tour with her host family to learn about the ins and outs of nonprofit work and learn how young people like herself can get involved in important local missions. Zinaida chose to meet with the Sacred Heart of...

We’re so excited to share Borderless Friends Forever’s very first yearbook with you! You can view the digital version by clicking the button below. Thank you to our 2024-2025 students and host families for being our guinea pigs for this brand-new project and making this year so meaningful and fun. Creating this special keepsake has been a joy; we can’t wait to make it an annual tradition!

A Place at the Table is an organization in the heart of downtown Raleigh that offers meals on a “pay-what-you-can” basis. People can pay the suggested price, pay less, or volunteer their time in exchange for food. This organization has always been...

Our BFF scholarship students are tasked with completing enhancement activities during their time in the US. One required activity is for them to visit a nonprofit of their choice. Vikena from Kosovo and Ammar from Jordan took the reins on planning...

Shahd from Egypt, Elen from Armenia, Harun from Bosnia, Taha from Morocco, and Ramazan from Kyrgyzstan had the opportunity to participate in a kids' mock voting experience as part of their enhancement activities. Read a couple of testimonials about...

TULSA, Okla. — One Tulsa nonprofit is helping connect families and students from around the world, creating lifelong bonds and unforgettable experiences in Green Country.

Borderless Friends Forever (BFF) partners with international exchange students to find local host families in the U.S., giving both students and families a chance to share cultures, traditions, and everyday life.

Community Advisor Susan Vanderpool knows the power of the program firsthand. She moved to the United States from Denmark as a teenager.

We’re so excited to share Borderless Friends Forever’s very first yearbook with you! You can view the digital version by clicking the button below. Thank you to our 2024-2025 students and host families for being our guinea pigs for this brand-new project and making this year so meaningful and fun. Creating this special keepsake has been a joy; we can’t wait to make it an annual tradition!

Susanne had always been intrigued by the prospect of hosting an exchange student but was hesitant about how it would fit into her family's life. She had multiple conversations with a friend of hers who was working at the Borderless Friends Forever...

Theophile has been hardworking and persistent since he began his exchange year. Theo is someone who puts his all into every task he’s assigned…

Our Student of the Month is Muskan, a student staying with the Alloush-Daugherty family in Denver, Colorado. She has recently completed 35 hours of volunteer work at various school events, festivals, and community events in the Denver area…

Jessi, a BFF student from Poland, has grown in confidence and personality since arriving in the US, as noted by her host mom, Susanne Fedchenko….

Sofiia joined the Brousseau family in New Mexico and is already involving herself in her community to the fullest extent….

We are thrilled to announce the success of our talented YES/FLEX students who have been chosen as finalists and alternates for either the Civic Education Workshop or the Workshop for Youth Leaders in English Teaching.

BFF Congratulates Monica for achieving the “Student of the Month” award! We couldn’t be more proud of her! She has been recognized for her exceptional work throughout her exchange year…

BFF wants to congratulate Yasser for his achievements and positive attitude during his exchange year. When asked to evaluate his time in the US on a scale of 1-5, he consistently rates it a 5.

Our exchange students know how important it is to give back to their host communities. Dzenisa from Bosnia recently participated in Elf Louise's mission of helping Santa and delivering gifts during the holiday season. The Elf Louise Christmas...

We want to give Krystian (Poland) a special shout-out for his outstanding accomplishments on the soccer field this season in North Carolina. He has been ranked within his conference and regionally!He has enjoyed playing his beloved sport in a new...

The exchange experience is different for every student. Kosma came to our program from Poalnd and has found a way to immerse himself in a unique and particular interest: crime and investigation!

Awais from Pakistan, became a part of the McKenna family when he joined BFF in 2018 and was placed in Fuquay Varina, NC. Throughout his exchange year, Awais was a committed student and a cultural ambassador, and he fully embraced the experience. The alum network that is created through the exchange programs is remarkable!

“I’ll just say that with my first kid I hosted, I thought the student would arrive for ten months, we would show them America, then they would go back home, and that would be that. The experience would end with “It was nice hosting you.” I didn’t expect they would truly become my family.”

We are thrilled to introduce Javier as the Student of the Month for April! His cheerful and helpful nature caught our attention and his high school’s attention.

Nuria (Spain) is a BFF alum from 2023 and was thrilled to be back in the United States, reunited with her beloved host family, the McKennas, in North Carolina.

Our students volunteer in their host communities and make an impact! Here are a few of our stories from April.

American Councils provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to our YES and FLEX students, inviting them to apply to Civic Education Week (CEW). This week-long program allows scholarship students to further immerse themselves in U.S. society and...

We are thrilled to introduce Javier as the Student of the Month for April! His cheerful and helpful nature caught our attention and his high school’s attention.

Lisa B., her students, husband, and father, all came together and dedicated several months to the establishment of a Free Library and Blessing Box. Their collective effort involved building the boxes and gathering books and non-perishable items to fill them.

Salma Mekki, from France, and Rebeka Mayerová, from Czech Republic, are currently exchange students in Raleigh. After moving into their host family’s home in August, the two became close friends and consider each other family.
“When we introduce each other, we don’t even say host sisters. We just say sisters at this point,” said Mayerová.

BFF Basketball Game Students from North Carolina came together to participate in a basketball game at the GlenAire retirement community in Cary, NC. The students, families, and BFF team had a wonderful evening, providing a fun send-off for the...

Liza has formed a special bond with her host family. She consistently goes the extra mile…

Let’s face it—most Americans have had a tough couple of years financially. The cost of groceries and interest rates are high, and the thought of hosting can be more scary than ever!

But fear not; we assure you you can host an exchange student without breaking the bank!

At a cross-country meet this month, Oyun (Mongolia), hosted by the Printz family, was honored with the senior class and given flowers, as she is the only exchange student among all the teams

There’s something special about sharing traditions. It’s a chance to learn about each other and bring people closer together. In Michigan, Sondra, a BFF CA, continues her family’s tradition…

Each year, students are encouraged to celebrate International Education Week within their communities. This initiative, sponsored by the Department of State, is focused on exchange students sharing insights about their cultures. Students then submit their presentations to us for a chance to win prizes.

Amy J., Ron C., Amy B., and Autumn B. recently took their kids on an inspiring enhancement activity! The group explored North Carolina's rich history by visiting the NC Capitol and the NC General Assembly and attending a Wake County Commissioners...

Christmas celebrations are in full swing! One of Lisa B.'s families, the Mercers, brought together their group for a festive holiday get-together. It's incredible to see how this group has prioritized building strong bonds between not only the...