Learn About the HSFSA-YIRC Rebrand
FORGING THE NEXT GENERATION OF AMERICAN DIPLOMACY
JOIN US Since 2021, the High School Foreign Service Association (HSFSA) has worked to bring diplomacy and the U.S. Foreign Service to high schools across the U.S. Having garnered a strong community and impacted thousands of students, the organization is entering a new stage in its journey.
To that end, we are broadening our mission to additional aspects of international relations education and awareness, while still maintaining a strong focus on the Foreign Service. From now on, the organization is known as the Youth International Relations Coalition (YIRC). We are excited to keep working with all our old chapters throughout this transition!
To that end, we are broadening our mission to additional aspects of international relations education and awareness, while still maintaining a strong focus on the Foreign Service. From now on, the organization is known as the Youth International Relations Coalition (YIRC). We are excited to keep working with all our old chapters throughout this transition!
Chapter Leader Portal
Guidelines, Resources, and Advice for Chapter Leaders
Frequently Asked Questions
Leading a YIRC Chapter involves two key components: (1) leading the club and (2) working with YIRC.
1. Just like any club, a YIRC requires effective leadership to function. This ranges from directing meetings, organizing events, advertising the club, communicating with the administration, and much more. Being a chapter officer is a lot of work, but it pays off in the form of impact and relevant skills.
2. To stay connected with the YIRC community and its resources, a chapter founder should make sure to maintain contact with their contacts at YIRC. This includes responding to emails and holding occasional check-in calls. The stronger your relationship with YIRC, the more you will be able to bring to your chapter and the more guidance you will receive.
1. Just like any club, a YIRC requires effective leadership to function. This ranges from directing meetings, organizing events, advertising the club, communicating with the administration, and much more. Being a chapter officer is a lot of work, but it pays off in the form of impact and relevant skills.
2. To stay connected with the YIRC community and its resources, a chapter founder should make sure to maintain contact with their contacts at YIRC. This includes responding to emails and holding occasional check-in calls. The stronger your relationship with YIRC, the more you will be able to bring to your chapter and the more guidance you will receive.
- Institution: High school or university
- Founder: student or educator
- By the start of chapter operations: teacher-advisor, 3 officers
- Curiosity and enthusiasm
Yes! A YIRC chapter does not require any fees or membership dues.
It is difficult to start a chapter alone. Community is at the core of a chapter’s role. As such, YIRC always recommends joining efforts with like-minded individuals at your school. Every chapter should have a teacher-advisor (an educator who provides support for the chapter) and at least three student-officers, ensuring a smoother division of responsibilities. The work and enthusiasm of multiple individuals will take the initiative much further.
YIRC strives to provide effective and timely guidance to its chapters. The YIRC website (and this page) contains a variety of documents with advice and recommended procedures for students.
Your chapter will be connected with a Senior Advisor – an experienced chapter officer who will offer guidance throughout your journey. If you have any questions, need any assistance, or are simply seeking advice, your Senior Advisor will be there to help you. Through email communication and check-in calls, they will provide year-long support.
Your chapter will be connected with a Senior Advisor – an experienced chapter officer who will offer guidance throughout your journey. If you have any questions, need any assistance, or are simply seeking advice, your Senior Advisor will be there to help you. Through email communication and check-in calls, they will provide year-long support.
Chapter Creation Timeline
Submit Form | Day 0
Fill out the form below with information about yourself and your school. This will help us stay in touch with you and develop the best approach for your chapter.
Connect with YIRC | Day 2
A YIRC Senior Advisor will reach out over email in two business days after submission with a welcome message, general information, and a request to schedule a quick intro call.
Introductory Call | Day 7
You and your Senior Advisor will have discuss your aspirations for your chapter, key goals, possible constraints, and next steps.
Start Setting Up Your Chapter | Day 8
With guidance from your Senior Advisor, you can get started with setting up your chapter!
With YIRC's transition to a new website, new tools and resources will be made available in the coming weeks. Thank you for your patience!
Resources for Guest Speaker Events
Check out the Guest Speaker Portal for additional information.
Note: Some resources remain from the High School Foreign Service Association. They are still relevant and accurate but will be replaced in the near future. Learn more about YIRC's rebrand here.