Learn About Our Background

FLAG was founded by Mazi Cunha, a former college Brazilian exchange student, along with his American host mother (since retired). Mazi's passion for his life's work is evident in FLAG's ongoing evolution of programs, services and charitable missions.

FLAG promotes and supports global understanding through international educational travel with programs designed to develop personal growth, interpersonal communication skills, intercultural awareness, and academic advancement.

FLAG is administered by a Board of Directors out of its Central Office in Richland, MI, and relies on the support of a network of U.S. Representatives and International Partners.

The Best of Both Worlds

FLAG combines the experience, reliability and reputation of a nationally recognized and fully accredited educational organization with the "personal touch" and individual care of a small agency to offer all of its program participants the best of both worlds in the field of International Educational Travel.

Faces not numbers: that's our commitment to you. As a participant of a FLAG program, you are not just another number. The size of each of our programs is limited for the purpose of allowing our staff to get to know each and everyone of you. Our goal is to make our program participants feel supported and inspired by establishing one-on-one relationships between them and FLAG.

In addition to the trust inspired by FLAG's small size and personal touch commitment, we also provide our host families, students and schools with the peace of mind of participating in a fully accredited and highly reputable organization. In its early years, FLAG achieved full accreditation status with the two main regulatory agencies in the U.S. exchange student industry:

  • Designation as an official sponsor of Exchange Visitor Programs by the United States Department of State
  • Acceptance for full listing in the Advisory List published by the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel (C.S.I.E.T.).

FLAG has earned and maintains an impeccable reputation and track record with both agencies. Founder Mazi Cunha has been nominated for and continues to serve in volunteer positions at C.S.I.E.T. as a contributor to its evaluative and listing efforts as an Evaluation Committee Member, Accreditation Committee Member and Accreditation Committee Chairman.

In 2002, Mazi was nominated, elected, and still serves as a member of C.S.I.E.T's Board of Directors.