Since its inception, ASSIST has drawn students from the following nations. In a typical year, we operate in 12-15 countries. Please refer to the profile of the current class for information on countries we are working in at present.

Current Partner Countries

Germany
ASSIST was established when founder Paul Sanderson was on sabbatical near Munich, Germany, in 1969. He came to know many bright students with strong athletic and artistic talents, and Germany became ASSIST's first partner country. Since then, more than 2,200 German students have come to the United States with ASSIST.

Following ASSIST's early success in Germany, Mr. Sanderson established relationships in Sweden, Spain and China.

Sweden
Two years after Mr. Sanderson's initial trip to Germany, the first student from Sweden came to the States with ASSIST. Since then, 188 Swedish students from cities including Göteburg, Knivsta, Norsborg, Skelleftea and Stockholm have joined the program.

Spain
Mr. Sanderson brought the first Spaniard to the States as an ASSIST scholar in 1975. Since then, 263 Spanish students have come to the States with ASSIST. These students came from many cities and towns, including Barcelona, Madrid, Seville and Zaragoza.

China
In 1985, ASSIST entered China. Over a five-year period, twenty-eight students came to the United States with the ASSIST program. In the fall of 2005, ASSIST returned to China and brought seven talented students to the States for the 2006/07 academic year.

Australia
Under the leadership of Ken and Betsy Lindfors, ASSIST expanded into Australia. Fifty-six Australians from Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, as well as other cities and towns have come to the United States with ASSIST since 1989.

Eastern and Central Europe and Central Asia
With the fall of the Soviet Union, the Lindfors established a partnership with the Soros Foundation and began to attract students from eastern and central Europe and central Asia. Since 1991, 608 deserving and talented students from this region have become ASSIST scholars. This year, our students come from Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Lithuania, Moldova and Slovakia.

However, Mr. Soros suspended support for secondary exchange at the end of the 2003/04 school year. The following expenses continue to be covered for all ASSIST students selected from this region, with support from a new generation of generous donors: international and domestic airfare, health insurance, the cost of the four-day orientation, and an allowance for each student's personal expenses for the year.



Continued Growth and Expansion
ASSIST continues to assess opportunities for expansion into key regions around the world. We received our first scholars from Vietnam and Mongolia in August 2005, and ASSIST entered Austria and reentered China in autumn 2005. The Board of Directors is now considering further expansion into the Middle East and North Africa.

In each country served, ASSIST maintains a part-time employee or volunteer leader. These colleagues promote the program nationally, prescreen candidates, prepare and orient the students, and provide support during the placement year. They keep ASSIST abreast of important national trends and serve both ASSIST and member schools as liaisons to families throughout the exchange year.