"AFS's goal is for intercultural student exchange to be accepted as an essential element of education in Hong Kong. It also contributes to Hong Kong's position as a cosmopolitan city in the region," said Tara Boyce, executive director of AFS Intercultural Exchanges Hong Kong.

AFS, a not-for-profit intercultural education organisation born out of the American Field Service in 1947, has brightened the lives and futures of hundreds of thousand of teenagers by allowing them to participate on intercultural exchange programmes for a year or during the summer holiday.

More than 1,000 Hong Kong students have participated in AFS programmes since its establishment in Hong Kong in 1982.

Among them is Debbie Cho, who 12 years ago won sponsorship from McDonald's Restaurants (Hong Kong) Ltd. to live in Australia for one year.

AFS arranged for her to stay with an Australian family who lived in a culturally diverse neighbourhood.

"I went to a local school and studied in the same classes as local kids. I, together with 93 other AFS students from 25 countries, was immersed in the colourful and rich culture of Australia, which is a melting pot of races," she said.

Living in a new environment and with a volunteer host family allows AFS students to broaden their horizons, view things from a different perspective and to become more independent.

"I started to think in a different way. I became more aware of others-- feelings and respected different opinions more. All these things contributed greatly to my tourism management studies at university, my internship with Walt Disney World and now to my job with a large property company," she added.

Host families also benefit from the experience.

Daisy Lau, one of AFS most active volunteers in Hong Kong, has been hosting AFS students for 15 years.

"Hosting an AFS student brings the world into my home and to my family," she said. "I became interested in volunteering after we hosted a boy from Turkey, and ever since then AFS has impacted my life in rewarding and challenging ways."

Hong Kong needs more youngsters like Debbie and host families like the Lau's, to have the chance to experience intercultural exchanges, and to help Hong Kong excel as a world-class city.

"Many AFS experiences are made possible due to scholarships provided by the corporate community in Hong Kong, but such experiences should not be limited to a few students," Ms Boyce said.

AFS works with over 150 Hong Kong secondary schools with the help of about 250 active volunteers.

"AFS sends 170 Hong Kong students abroad annually to one of 26 countries, hosts exchange students from 12 countries and has recently launched teacher exchange programmes. All of these programmes are made possible through the generosity of volunteers who give their time and open their homes for free," she added.