Impact In Numbers
The Scale of Our Impact.
Behind every number is a relationship, a community, and a quiet act of service that made a lasting difference.
Combined Fundraising · 2022–2025 Class
$442,000+
Raised by SOSA awardees and honorable mentions across four years of service — the total measurable lift behind every program, partnership, and community on this page.
These figures represent the verified, documented impact of SOSA-recognized projects alone. The broader impact of volunteerism across the U.S. Foreign Service community — across hundreds of Foreign Service posts worldwide — extends far beyond what any single award program can capture.
Volunteers serving across 6 Regional Bureaus and 35 countries.
2022–2025 · On-the-Ground Results
Real Impact Driven by the Initiative and Dedication of Our Foreign Service Community and Local Partners Across the Globe
Dollars Mobilized
$102,000
raised for refugees, children & women in need
Jennifer Sturgeon · Slovakia
$200,000
raised for Ukrainian refugees and families in crisis
Meredith Wiedemer · Moldova
$40,000+
raised to protect and rescue animals
Gudenkaufs · Mongolia
$100,000+
raised in scholarships for children of fallen officers
Wiley Skaret · Colombia
$102,000
raised for refugees, children & women in need
Jennifer Sturgeon · Slovakia
$200,000
raised for Ukrainian refugees and families in crisis
Meredith Wiedemer · Moldova
$40,000+
raised to protect and rescue animals
Gudenkaufs · Mongolia
$100,000+
raised in scholarships for children of fallen officers
Wiley Skaret · Colombia
People Reached
58,000
Afghan refugees arrived and supported, as part of a broader response, at Al Udeid Air Base
Debra Stock · Qatar
4,000+
volunteer hours dedicated to teaching ASL
Shirley Helm · Tajikistan
350+
girls empowered through Technovation Girls
O'Bryan & Krupenikava · Turkmenistan
200+
evacuees supported during Ordered Departure
Julie Fischer · DRC
2,500+
low-income families supported through catadores cooperative
David Bargueño · Brazil
38,000
refugees served through humanitarian aid efforts
Meredith Wiedemer · Moldova
58,000
Afghan refugees arrived and supported, as part of a broader response, at Al Udeid Air Base
Debra Stock · Qatar
4,000+
volunteer hours dedicated to teaching ASL
Shirley Helm · Tajikistan
350+
girls empowered through Technovation Girls
O'Bryan & Krupenikava · Turkmenistan
200+
evacuees supported during Ordered Departure
Julie Fischer · DRC
2,500+
low-income families supported through catadores cooperative
David Bargueño · Brazil
38,000
refugees served through humanitarian aid efforts
Meredith Wiedemer · Moldova
Counted Acts of Service
2,000+
bicycles refurbished for Ukrainian refugees
Jerry Case · Ireland
2 tons
of plastic waste transformed into housing materials
Samantha Bunch · Kenya
250+
crates of food donated to families each month
Andrew Richley · Montenegro
9
university scholarships awarded, 4 graduates to date
James 1 Foundation · Colombia
300+
trees planted in urban food forest
Andrew Richley · Montenegro
80+
volunteers organized for animal rescue and welfare
Gudenkaufs · Mongolia
50
insulated dog houses built for winter survival
Gudenkaufs · Mongolia
2,000+
bicycles refurbished for Ukrainian refugees
Jerry Case · Ireland
2 tons
of plastic waste transformed into housing materials
Samantha Bunch · Kenya
250+
crates of food donated to families each month
Andrew Richley · Montenegro
9
university scholarships awarded, 4 graduates to date
James 1 Foundation · Colombia
300+
trees planted in urban food forest
Andrew Richley · Montenegro
80+
volunteers organized for animal rescue and welfare
Gudenkaufs · Mongolia
50
insulated dog houses built for winter survival
Gudenkaufs · Mongolia
These figures and counted acts represent the verified, documented impact of SOSA-recognized projects alone. The broader impact of volunteerism across the U.S. Foreign Service community — spanning hundreds of Foreign Service posts worldwide — extends far beyond what any single award program can capture.
Tap a card to pause · tap again to open the awardee's story
“Watching refugee children enjoy their childhood again... after a few visits, children are dancing, creating beautiful art, making friends. Ukrainian mothers thank us every day. All of this is what continues to motivate me to forge ahead.”
2022–2025 · REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION
Service Without Borders
From Africa to the Pacific, AAFSW volunteers turned local needs into lasting change — recognized across every regional bureau the State Department serves.
Award Recipients & Honorees
49 Award Recipients & Honorees · 2022–2025
- AFBureau of African Affairs11
- WHABureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs9
- EURBureau of European and Eurasian Affairs9
- EAPBureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs7
- SCABureau of South and Central Asian Affairs7
- NEABureau of Near Eastern Affairs6
| Regional Bureau | Award Recipients | Honorees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bureau of African Affairs | 4 | 7 | 11 |
| Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs | 5 | 4 | 9 |
| Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs | 4 | 5 | 9 |
| Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs | 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs | 3 | 4 | 7 |
| Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs | 3 | 3 | 6 |
One honoree, recognized in both 2023 and 2025, is reflected across two award years and appears once in each — a fitting testament to the lasting impact of sustained volunteer service.
A GLOBAL COMMUNITY OF SERVICE
Where Our Volunteers Made Their Mark
Behind every pin on this map is a volunteer who saw a need and answered it — from embassy compounds to remote field posts, 2022–2025.
35 Countries · 6 Regional Bureaus · 2022–2025
This map reflects countries where SOSA-recognized volunteer projects have taken place. The U.S. Foreign Service maintains hundreds of diplomatic posts worldwide — a reach far greater than any single award program can capture.
A Voice from the Field
What remains most meaningful to me is the realization that even small acts of service can create lasting ripples of hope, belonging, and connection.