Information for parents

Since 1947, AFS has prepared young people with practical skills, knowledge and more, the attributes needed to thrive in a global world. Today we’ve enhanced these 21st Century competencies by introducing new state-of-the-art AFS Learning Journey Curriculums so that you can follow along as your student grows. Many universities and employers seek students and young adults who have a sense of the world beyond their own communities—and are comfortable interacting with people from other countries and cultures.

Following are the answers to frequently asked questions about AFS programmes by parents.

Another way to learn more about our study abroad programmes is to visit the AFS Interculture South Africa Facebook Page to meet other AFSers from our country, or go to the AFS International Facebook Page to connect with AFS students from all over the world.

Why should my child go abroad with AFS?

For over 70 years, AFS has an exceptional reputation for providing quality international programmes that develop skills essential to succeed in the 21st Century. The AFS experience:

Builds confidence, broadens perspectives and enhances critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Includes respected intercultural education and language learning components that are valued by universities and employers.
Offers fun adventures that make learning easy and meaningful to teens.
Provides lifelong access to a global community of friends, connections and volunteer opportunities.

What types of programmes does AFS offer?

AFS offers a variety of programmes for students. They can attend a local secondary school in another country as a full-time student during an academic year, semester or trimester. Cultural immersion, language study, volunteer opportunities, and single topic courses (such as investigating environmental issues or studying new technology) are short-term opportunities lasting several weeks up to three months.

Where will my child live?

Most AFS students live with a host family. Our families are carefully chosen, screened and prepared to welcome an AFS student into their home. This includes participating in the AFS Host Family Intercultural Learning Journey programme (facilitated by trained AFS volunteers and staff) before, during and after their host family experience. Your child will be treated like one of the family and welcomed to join in family routines, meals, activities and traditions.
Although much less common, some students live in dormitories, with weekend homestays to experience everyday life in a new community. For a very few short-term programmes, students may even live in camp-like settings, if appropriate.
Once a student’s application is accepted, AFS volunteers and staff in the host country will look for a community and family that are right for that student. We encourage students to be as open and flexible as possible when it comes to placement.
All living facilities and situations are inspected and closely monitored by AFS throughout the exchange experience.

How will AFS support my student?

The health, safety and well-being of our students is the number one priority for AFS. AFS volunteers and staff are committed and trained to support students and their families throughout the AFS experience. AFS has consistent guidelines that apply to all AFS member organisations. All AFS member organisations also have a local 24-hour emergency contact number that is always monitored.

AFS is recognised throughout the world for our support of AFS participants and families. AFS is conscious of its responsibility to the host family as well as the exchange students and their parents. Assistance and support will be available in the form of volunteers situated in chapters as well as the National Office. Particularly after the first exciting weeks of getting to know each other, sometimes problems arise: The participant suffers from homesickness, the adaptation to life in a different environment and culture is exhausting for the students, it can lead to misunderstandings and conflicts in the school or with other family members. If, in any such situation, they need assistance or advice, they can contact the contact volunteer in their Chapter or the National Office at any time.

The following is provided by the organisation:

Medical insurance with up to $1,000,000 coverage

Emergency Travel Insurance

A 24 hour Emergency contact number

National (and perhaps Regional Offices): staff are trained to give support to families and students

The hosting country provides the participant with an orientation at the arrival, middle and the end of their exchange programme

The host family receives a handbook with information important for taking up the role of hosting an exchange student

Volunteer Chapters: provide support and may organise social events for the students

Each student is assigned a contact person who they may contact when they need advice or support and who will contact them on a monthly basis to discuss details and to provide support

AFS is the world’s oldest exchange student organisation and as such has developed a very strong support network and a system of policies and procedures that are common throughout the worldwide partner countries.

What does the AFS intercultural learning programme include?

The AFS Student Learning Journey & Curriculum covers the AFS experience before, during and after your child’s exchange programme. The programme has three primary goals to help your child:

Become more comfortable with their new family and school.
Learn how to communicate with and make friends with people from different cultures.
Begin developing the knowledge, skills and understanding that young global citizens need to compete, live, study, work, volunteer and become leaders in an increasingly diverse and global world.

The AFS Student Learning Journey & Curriculum is based on the 16 AFS Educational Goals (developed by AFS international experts in intercultural learning) and is facilitated by trained AFS volunteers and staff. It Includes fun and informative orientation sessions in your home and host countries to help students prepare and enjoy their AFS exchange.

The The AFS Educational Goals are designed to help students improve in four areas:

Personal values and skills: As a result of their experiences, students learn how to turn difficult situations into valuable opportunities for personal growth. They are challenged to reassess their values, stretch their capacities and practice new life skills while learning more about themselves. Students usually become more confident, improve their creative and critical thinking skills and learn how to solve their own problems.

Interpersonal relationship building: AFS students become fully involved in daily living and working arrangements with a variety of people in the new environment. This may include host families, community residents, educators and other students. These skills are transferable to many other settings during your child’s lifetime. Being part of a family, school and community improves their communication and language skills and teaches young people how to work more effectively in groups and teams.

(Inter)cultural knowledge and sensitivity: The AFS exchange experience deepens students’ insights into their home culture as well as their knowledge of their host (or visiting) cultures—both strengths and weaknesses. Learning how to appreciate other cultures helps students value cultural and other difference, and how differences make our world a stronger more interesting place.

Global issues awareness: Students learn to appreciate and empathise with different perspectives on global issues and concerns, and thus appreciate that workable solutions often need to be culturally sensitive to succeed. Our goal is to encourage and empower students to work with others to help build a more peaceful and just world—at home or across the globe.

How does AFS help my child adapt to a new family, school and community?

Combining real-world experiences and the AFS Student Learning Journey & Curriculum materials, AFS volunteers, staff and host families help students:

Learn how to turn challenging situations into valuable opportunities for personal growth
Discover new ways to solve problems
Practice new life skills in cross-cultural settings
Learn to respect and value differences
Enjoy exciting experiences that help young global citizens shape and define their place in increasingly diverse and internationalised schools, communities and workplaces
Practice being a leader and collaborating across differences.

Will my child fit in with young people in another country?

Most students are concerned about fitting in, especially when they don’t speak the language. Facing challenges is an important part of the experience, but most AFS students adjust, make friends and have fun in the process—and the AFS trained volunteers and staff help them every step of the way.

One way to learn more about studying abroad and what’s it’s like to make friends in other countries is to meet other AFSers from our country, visit our social media, or go to our international AFS Facebook page to connect with AFS students from all over the world.