An amazing cultural journey for the entire family

Hosting an international student in your home is a great way to learn about a new culture and share your own culture and values. Children often enjoy being cultural ambassadors, introducing their new brother or sister to local customs, traditions and national holidays. Everything from preparing meals to sightseeing are opportunities to discover and appreciate cultural and other differences. We call this the #AFSeffect!

Welcome adventure

Experience your world through the eyes of a young person from another country

Welcome change

Prepare your family to become global citizens—ready to connect with people from around the world

Welcome discovery

Help an international student learn how to live in and enjoy your culture and traditions

It can't be described, it has to be experienced

“There are times in a life that you cannot describe, those you simply have to experience. It’s that feeling we as parents had when someone else’s child called us mom and dad when he called us from across the world to tell us he enrolled in a university or that he has a girlfriend. These things are indescribable, and only those who experience it can understand.”

–Alisa Salopek, host mother from Serbia

Apply to become a host family

AFS has invited families to welcome international students into their homes since 1947. Long considered a key element in the well being of exchange students, host families provide so much more than shelter and meals.

What do host families do?

Supported by dedicated volunteers and staff, host families help students navigate their new schools and communities, make friends, learn the language and enjoy their year abroad. Sharing culture and traditions help families bond, creating lifelong friendships.

What type of families is AFS seeking?

What is expected of host families?

What is a host family's financial obligation?

AFS students arrive with their own spending money for social and school activities, clothes, etc. As a host family, you will not need to provide spending money or an allowance. We will discuss how school related costs are handled.

AFS Interculture South Africa covers the costs of medical insurance, school fees, AFS organised orientations and domestic travel from Johannesburg to your town or city. The participant’s natural family is responsible for pocket money, school uniforms, extra mural activities, long distance telephone calls, entertainment expenses and medical costs, over and above medical insurance.

AFS host families represent the diversity of the South African population and, as a result, many families cannot afford travel with their student during the year. AFS can assist in organising short cultural exchanges and a tour, enabling students to travel at least once during their exchange programme.

South Africa is a beautiful country and a melting pot of religions, languages and cultures. You can play a part in sharing our country and you culture with the world. The success of student exchange programmes really depends on the generosity of families who decide to take on this adventure.

How to become an AFS host family

Learn more and apply

Learn why host families are so important to AFS programmes. Our application process is thorough so we can make the best match for your family.

You've been selected

We take finding families very seriously. Although there’s no “ideal” AFS family—we have plenty of experience finding the “right” families.

Get ready to host

Meet the trained volunteers and staff who will support your family and help you learn how to make your AFS experience rewarding and fun.

Welcome your AFSer

Experience the AFSeffect with your new family member by sharing your home, your heart and your world as you take your first steps to becoming global.

AFS Host Family Programmes

AFS High School Programme

Duration: 3 to 10+ months, starting at the beginning or the middle of the school year. Students will be 15 –18 years old.

Apply Now

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AFS Short Programmes

Duration: 2 –11 weeks, starting throughout the year. Students will be 15–18 years old.

Apply Now

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Specifically designed for AFS host families

The AFS Host Family Programme is now supported by the AFS Host Family Intercultural Learning Journey, built on specific intercultural learning objectives and facilitated by trained staff and volunteers. The Journey includes orientation sessions, facilitated discussions and other learning activities and reflection—all to enable the family to better support their hosted student and explore and build their intercultural awareness and understanding as individual global citizens and as a family.

Learn more about it

Prepares families to better support hosted students

Families receive innovative and practical advice on how to:

Help hosted students integrate into a new culture, as well as her or his intercultural education experience outlined in the AFS Student Learning Journey & Curriculum.
Provide experiences and connections to help students achieve their global and personal ambitions while abroad
Share their culture and learn about new cultures from their hosted students.

Helps families become more global and culturally aware

The AFS Learning Objectives serve as the foundation for the AFS Host Family Intercultural Learning Journey. Working through these Learning Objectives help families:

Better understand how culture impacts perception, behavior, values and attitudes
Consider and respect different perspectives when approaching problems and everyday situations
Appreciate diversity and to engage, display respect for and accept people with diverse backgrounds, attitudes, opinions, lifestyles and values
Become interested in and concerned about global affairs and aware of the impact our choices have on other people
Explore becoming a volunteer committed to making positive change in local, national and/or global communities.

Facilitated by trained volunteers

How does AFS support host families?

Experienced local AFS volunteers and staff will prepare your family for the challenges of welcoming a new member from another country.

24 hour local emergency contact and additional support from the AFS national office is available. AFS students have medical insurance, if health care is necessary.

Trained volunteers and staff will support you throughout your hosting programme, including meeting with you and your family at least once a month to make sure everything is working out.

Your support volunteers will guide your family and student through the AFS Host Family Intercultural Learning Journey activities to help make the entire experience more meaningful and lasting.

Who are AFS students?

AFS students come from more than 99 countries, and have demonstrated the maturity and motivation to study abroad. AFS students are screened and selected by the AFS Organization in their home country. AFS students are: