Francisco “Tachi” Cazal, a Paraguayan national, is the President of AFS International. He earned a Master’s degree in Engineering from the National University in Asuncion. Prior to joining the staff of AFS International in 1985, he served as a Managing Director at Fanego and Asociados, a large engineering concern in Asuncion. While there, he began volunteering at the national level with AFS Paraguay. His work as a volunteer led to his appointment as the chairperson of AFS Paraguay in 1980. From that term forward, and for the next 25 years, he assumed increasingly responsible duties around the world on behalf of the organization. About AFS AFS Intercultural Programs, Inc. (www.afs.org) is one of the world's largest not-for-profit community-based volunteer organizations dedicated to building a more just and peaceful world through intercultural exchange. AFS has a network of 52 Partner organizations and runs programs in more than 50 countries involving nearly 11,000 students, young adults and teachers each year. Since 1947, over 325,000 individuals and an equal number of host families have had the AFS experience. In addition, AFS has Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations.