"Now I have two families and two homes in the world. My host family...loved me as a family member. There are no words to describe the special relationship we have."
- Donna Carroll, AFSer to Argentina.
"The admissions office said studying abroad with AFS helped get me in. They were looking for diversity among students, not just good grades and/or standardized test scores."
- Heather Telpin, AFSer to Italy, attends the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
"Do you guys cry every night like a puppy? Well, I cried. It's a whole
new world, with new people, new language, new places, and, mainly, new habits
and lifestyles, so, you might feel like a puppy when it's taken away from his
mom when it's old enough. But, again like a puppy, you get to know your new
place, your new family, and you learn to love them, so much, that when it's time
to go back, you will not want to leave them behind. You will want to have both
of your families living together forever, like I do want." - Alysson
Zanatta, AFSer from Brazil.
AFS wants to find high school students in our area interested in becoming exchange students!
Explore the world with AFS and...
Experience living abroad
Gain a college advantage
Have fun with friends and your host family
Speak a new language
Be part of a worldwide community
Choose from over 45 countries
"Learning another language provides an open door to fully understanding the history, customs, ideas, and values of people who live in a country different from our own."
- Christine Schulze, executive director of Concordia Language Villages
"I had never been away from home for more than a couple of weeks. I left the States with certain expectations, hopes, and fears of what it would be like to live abroad. My time abroad taught me more about myself and another culture than I could have ever imagined. I was welcomed into the daily activities of my host family who showed me the beauty of their culture and way of life."
- Eila Debard, AFSer to Austria, graduated from Colagate University and is enrolled in a premedical program at Harvard
The deadline for many year-long programs starting in Fall
2000 is March! Contact AFS as soon as possible for an application if you are interested!
We are also looking for university students in the San Antonio area who have gone abroad as foreign exchange students and would like to locally volunteer with AFS. We are giving presentations to area high schools, and need more volunteers to help! Please email us if you are interested in helping, know someone who might be interested in AFS in
San Antonio, or if you would like us to come speak to students at your high school!
If you are going to invest your family's time and money in a student exchange organization program, you want it to be the right organization. When your child goes abroad with AFS he or she and your family will be supported by one of the largest and most experienced student exchange organizations in the world.
AFS Exchange Programs
Year
& Semester Programs
Whether
you choose an AFS year or semester program, you can be sure of one thing-you're
in for a lot of learning and fun! As a member of a family, school, and
community, you'll find out what it means to live, study, and really feel at home
in a different country and culture.
While
you are sharing in your host family's daily routines, studying your host
country's history and culture, and taking part in extracurricular activities,
you'll be making new friends, learning a new language (or improving your
language skills), and getting more out of life than you ever imagined.
The
benefits of the full-year program include having more opportunity to learn the
language, experiencing a full year of your host country's holidays and seasons,
and most importantly, deepening friendships. It is the AFS full immersion
program.
Whether
you choose to stay for a year or a semester, you will never forget the
discoveries you make and the relationships you form while living with a host
family in another country.
To
qualify for an academic year or semester program, you must have a minimum grade
point average of 2.8 on a scale of 4.0.
Summer
Programs
Imagine
... saving turtles in Brazil ... studying art in Hungary or Sicily ... immersing
yourself in the Japanese language ... working in an orphanage in Ghana, or with
needy children in Argentina ... learning to cook Thai desserts ... or rafting in
New Zealand. Sound like fun?
Why
settle for a summer like every other, when you can have an experience like no
other? AFS summers are fun, but they're also challenging, rewarding, and as
unique as you are!
Learn
about another culture, discover new strengths within yourself, and communicate
in another language (or dialect), as you become a member of your host family and
community,
Immerse
yourself in a language by speaking with your host family and through formal
language instruction.
Enjoy
all the benefits of a homestay program plus additional group activities
that provide a change of scenery and an opportunity to discover new interests.
Make
a difference abroad by actively contributing to your host community through
volunteer work. Team Mission participants travel and work together as a group,
with an adult American Team Mission Leader. Community Service participants live
with host families, or at worksites, while performing community service during
the day.
18+
Programs High School Graduates (to 24 years old)
Many
students decide to take a break between high school and college, during college,
or after college to broaden their experiences, enhance their college and
employment applications, or consider alternative study and career choices. If
this sounds like you, AFS offers programs in eleven countries that could be just
the experience you're looking for. There are Community Service programs and
University Study programs, for which you may be able to earn college credit.
As
part of an AFS 18+ Community Service program, you'll have the opportunity to
immerse yourself in a different culture by actively participating in the work of
a community-based organization. You will work with a local organization by
offering assistance in whatever capacity might be needed--such as teaching art
classes to Brazilian children, working in a hospital or cancer prevention center
in Belgium, or helping to preserve the marine turtle in Panama. This is not a
program for specialists, but for those who want to learn about another culture
through doing. You'll develop new skills and master the language. Part of the
contribution AFSers make is sharing something about their own communities and
culture with their new friends and host communities.
The AFS 18+ University Study program is perfect for students who would like to continue academic studies and possibly earn college credits. You can attend college in Panama (year program) or Costa Rica (year or semester programs), combining course work with language study while living with a host family. There are also opportunities for participating in community service work, arts, sports, and music clubs and programs.
Leading
International Student Exchange for More than 50 Years
Our
History
AFS
Intercultural Programs is a nonprofit, volunteer-based organization dedicated to
intercultural education. AFSs international exchange program was founded in 1947
by volunteer ambulance drivers from World Wars I and II, who fervently believed
that the way to ensure future peace among nations was to educate a generation of
enlightened world leaders through international student exchanges.
More
than fifty years later, our vision remains the same: to help young people
develop the knowledge, skills, and understanding necessary for a just and
peaceful world. AFS has made this dream a reality for more than 250,000 students
from 103 countries over our 53-year history.
From
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to President John F Kennedy, American leaders have
enjoyed greeting AFS participants.
For
More Information: 1-800-AFS-INFO
The
volunteer ambulance drivers of the American Field Service established
international high school exchanges after WWII--51 students from ten countries
made up the first group who come to live with U.S. host families.
Our
Mission
AFS-USA
works toward a more just and peaceful world by providing international and
intercultural learning experiences to individuals, families, schools, and
communities through a global volunteer partnership.
Our
Commitment to Diversity
AFS
is actively committed to diversity through the DeWitt Wallace Diversity
Initiative, which awards scholarships and financial aid, and through national
partnerships with organizations to increase diversity recruitment of students,
host families, and volunteers.
Merit
Scholarships & Financial Aid
AFS
is actively committed to making its programs available to all qualified
students, irrespective of their financial ability.
Thanks
to local AFS chapters, individual contributors, foundations, and corporations,
AFS provides more than $ 1 million annually in financial aid and merit
scholarships to enable qualified high school students and recent graduates to
live overseas for a summer, semester, or year. AFS financial aid funds are
awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, and merit scholarships have
application deadlines, so it's wise to apply early.
On
average, 40% of U.S. students who go abroad with AFS receive 40% of their
tuition through financial aid and merit scholarships.
To
qualify for financial aid, candidates must demonstrate strong financial need, a
willingness to consider a variety of country placements (i.e., countries outside
Western Europe), interest in community service, and/or a strong academic record.
Merit
scholarships are awarded to applicants who exemplify the qualities promoted and
valued by AFS. These include but are not limited to academic excellence, strong
local involvement on a community level, and a commitment to intercultural
learning.
Examples
of some of the financial aid and merit scholarships awarded nationally are:
DeWitt-Wallace Scholars Diversity Awards; Awards For Excellence; BMW
Scholarships to Germany, offered by the German Ministry of Commerce; Stephen
Galattil Scholarships, in honor of the founder of the AFS exchange programs; AFS
Family Scholarships, for children of returnees and host families; general aid
awarded by regional staff.
Talk
to your regional staff about merit scholarships and financial aid for which you
may qualify.
Applying
early will also allow more time for fundraising within your community. AFS
volunteers help participants raise funds from foundations, organizations, and
individuals. Many students have successfully raised funds to cover remaining
program costs in enterprising ways. Applicants can request the publication
"Financing Your AFS Experience," which includes planning forms, form
letters for soliciting funds, successful candidate experiences, and valuable
strategies for raising funds. Check the appropriate box on the preliminary
application, or call 1-800-AFS-INFO to request a copy.
Gather
Facts. Read this catalog and the program descriptions closely. Consider what
type of programs you might like. Calling 1-800-AFS-INFO will connect you with
our Information Center where our staff can answer questions, send you additional
information, connect you with recent returnees from the countries you are
considering, or arrange to have a volunteer from your area contact you directly.
Submit
the Preliminary Application. Phone in your preliminary application and pay by
credit card, or stamp an envelope and mail in the preliminary application
contained in this catalog with your $75 application fee. We'll send you your
complete application and AFS T-shirt. A local volunteer will be in contact to
assist you with your application and to arrange for an in-home interview.
He or she can also speak with you and your parents about fund-raising
activities.
Country
Guarantee. After your AFS regional office, has received your completed
application and you are notified that you've been guaranteed a placement in the
country of your choice, you can reserve your place with a nonrefundable $500
deposit, which will be applied toward your tuition. This is due within 30 days
of notification. If we are unable to provide you with the name of your host
family two weeks before your scheduled departure, and you decide to withdraw on
that basis, we will be glad to refund your deposit.
Orientation.
During the time between your guarantee and your departure, you will be contacted
by AFS volunteers about how to prepare for your experience. You will attend an
orientation session with other students who will also soon be AFS Americans
Abroad.
Payment.
The balance of your tuition is due 45 days "before" your scheduled
departure date. Your invoice will reflect all financial aid and scholarships
awarded through the invoice date. In the event that a scholarship is awarded
after you have paid your invoice, a refund will be issued.
For
More Information. At any time during the admissions process, please feel free to
contact the Information Center at 1-800-AFS-INFO or your local volunteer with
any questions or concerns you may have.
AFS
accepts applications on a space-available basis. Apply early for best program
selection, and financial aid and scholarship consideration.
Round-trip
international travel with the AFS group
Travel
within the AFS host country to the host family and back
Help
in booking U.S. travel (not included in tuition) to and from international
departure sites: New York, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., or Miami
Placement
with a carefully selected host family who provides room and board
Orientations
in the U.S. and host country
Emergency
24-hour telephone numbers in the U.S. and the host country
AFS
staff and volunteers here and abroad who help ensure the best possible
experience for each student and family
Tuition
waiver from host school
Visa
information
Extensive
secondary medical coverage (additional cost)
SECONDARY
MEDICAL COVERAGE
Because
of our commitment to participant safety and welfare, AFS requires that students
purchase secondary medical coverage as a prerequisite for participation in our
programs abroad. Having this coverage ensures that, in an emergency, your child
can be treated as soon as is possible, anywhere in the world. AFS
representatives will be able to act to meet your child's medical needs without
having to wait to ensure that your family's regular health insurance coverage
will cover your child's medical needs while abroad.
The
cost of this coverage for year programs is $315, for semester programs $265, and
for summer programs $130. This amount will appear on the invoice you receive for
your tuition (participation fee).
For
More Information: 1-800-AFS-INFO
Participants
are responsible for costs associated with:
Travel
in the U.S.
Passport/visa
fees
Any
required inoculations
School
uniforms (where applicable)
Personal
spending money
The
cost of optional trips offered by AFS in host countries (which may range from
under $ 100 to over $500) is not included. Students are not required to
participate in optional events.
For
your convenience, tuition is payable by check, money order, or major credit
card.
There
is a handling charge for changing international return flights and/or returning
without the group.
The
tuition in this catalog replaces all tuition in previous catalogs and is valid
for completed applications, including an interview with a local volunteer,
postmarked before July 15, 2000.
Program
details are subject to change or cancellation. In the case of extraordinary
circumstances, AFS reserves the right to increase the tuition listed in this
catalog and will notify all applicants who are affected.
AFS
is not responsible for typographical errors
18+
Programs
Community
Service and University Programs (to 24 years old)
If
you're one of the growing number of successful students who want to take time
between high school and college, or during or after college, to explore your
potential and broaden your perspectives, an AFS 18+ Program may be just what
you're looking for.
If
you'd like to continue your academic studies and possibly earn college credit,
AFS offers 18+ Programs in Costa Rica and Panama. You can live with a host
family, study in college, and participate in community service and
extracurricular activities.
Belgium
After
a brief orientation in Brussels, you will attend a month-long French language
camp with AFSers from around the world before beginning your community service
project Your service experience may include working in a hospital or cancer
prevention center, assisting in horse-riding therapy for the disabled, working
in a homeless shelter or retirement community, or assisting immigrant children
and adults with language training or academic studies. During the last two weeks
of your stay you have the option of continuing your service or taking time off
to explore Belgium or other countries, or spending time with your host family
and friends.
Only
one AFSer is placed at each project, but you will meet with AFS representatives
and other AFS participants, and you'll be supported by local volunteers. You
will live with a host family or, if there is communal housing at the work site,
you will have the opportunity for occasional weekend homestays.
Community
Service Program Summer Departure: early
September 2000 through early March 2001 Age: Must be born between 9177 - 9/82
For
More Information: 1-800-AFS-INFO
Bolivia
Spend
the first month of your semester taking part in language training to strengthen
your conversational Spanish skills. Then begin a service program working with
the environment, art and archaeology, or agriculture. You will be placed with a
host family in a community based on the type of project you choose. Social
projects include working with disabled children, at a home for senior citizens,
or at a shelter for needy children. Living with a host family, working on a
variety of projects with the local population, and participating in the life of
your community, you'll not only teach others but learn more than you ever
anticipated.
Community
Service Program Summer Departure: mid-July
2000 through mid-January 2001 Age: Must be born between 8/80 - 7/82
Brazil
Spend
the first two weeks improving your Portuguese while living with a host family in
Rio de Janeiro. Then, you will begin working with Brazilian nongovernmental
agencies to address the problems of street children, the poor, community health,
race relations, or the environment, depending on the community where you are
placed. In the past, some participants have worked with Casa Pixote to
reintegrate homeless children into the public school system, while others have
helped teach vocational courses, arts classes, or sports workshops. You will
have the opportunity to live with a host family and participate in and learn
about Brazilian culture.
Community
Service Program Winter Departure: mid-February through mid/ late August 2000
Age: Must be born between 3/79 - 2/82
Costa
Rica
Live
with a host family in the San Jose area or in a community no more than 40
minutes away, while you attend either the Universidad Latina (year program) or
Universidad Latinoamericana de Ciencia y Tecnologia (semester program). You'll
receive Spanish language training, and take any of the courses offered by the
university, such as Latin-American history, the Costa Rican rainforest, tourism,
business, psychology, and more. There will also be field trips and special
activities. AFS-Costa Rica will assist in arranging a community service project
for interested students, in addition to the academic program (at an additional
cost).
University
Year Program Summer Departure: early August 2000 through early June 2001
Age: Must be born between
7/81 - 1/83
University
Semester Program Winter Departure: early
January through mid-July 2000 Age:
Must be born between 7/81 - 1/83
University
Semester Program Summer Departure: early
August 2000 through late January 2001 Age: Must be born between 1/81 - 7/82
France
Participate
in a volunteer project in a nongovernmental organization or social agency, and
gain valuable personal and vocational skills while contributing to social,
recreational, or environmental activities. This is a highly individualized
program, in which AFS volunteers and staff work hard to match your interests and
skills with the needs of an appropriate organization. Whether you live with a
host family or reside at the community service site, you will build strong
friendships and learn firsthand about life in France.
Community
Service Program Summer Departure: early September 2000 through early February
2001 Age: Must be born between 9/77 - 9/82
Ghana
Get
ready for a challenging semester learning about life in a developing nation, and
Ghanaian history and culture, while you perform valuable community service at a
children's home or other community organization. AFS-organized orientations will
teach you about Ghanaian language, traditional culture, drumming, and dancing.
You'll also observe family life, economics, politics, and social life in
contemporary Ghana. Because the program is designed for young adults, your
project will require you to work independently. Accommodations will either be in
housing provided by the community-based organization hosting you, or with a host
family.
Community
Service Winter Program: early January through late June 2000 Age: Must be born
between 1/76 - 1/81
Community
Service Summer Program: early August 2000 through early January 2001
Age: Must be born between 7/76 - 7/81
Apply
Early for Best Program Selection and Scholarship Consideration
Panama
Panama
offers two opportunities to acquire in-depth intercultural experience and
Spanish language immersion. You can attend classes at the University of Panama
in Panama City or at universities in other provinces, or participate in a
community service program working with needy children or the environment.
At
the university, you may register in subjects offered by the faculties of Arts
(music, dance, theater, visual arts) and Humanities (Spanish as a second
language, history, geography, other languages, sociology, economics). You may
also audit classes from other faculties, but not for credit. The university will
provide a transcript and course credit to students who maintain full attendance
and pass exams. You are expected to do homework, to study, to take exams, and to
show a high degree of responsibility toward academic work. Classes meet Monday
through Friday from August to late July, with four-week breaks at
Christmas and between semesters. Once you make an effort to get to know your
classmates, you will probably join new friends in forming a study group. These
groups often organize social outings together and are a great way to meet new
friends. You will live with a host family within commuting distance of the
university campus.
For
More Information: 1-800-AFS-INFO
Would
you prefer to spend a semester working in a Panamanian community? Nutre Hogar is
a volunteer-based organization that houses children of disadvantaged or
indigenous backgrounds for up to six months, providing a balanced diet, medical
attention, and the affection needed for their health and normal development. You
will help teachers with activities, provide support to the children, assist in
administrative tasks, and visit remote areas and families. You will live with a
host family within commuting distance of a Nutre Hogar home in Panama City,
David, Las Tablas, Santiago, or Penonome.
You
may also choose an environmentally focused project, such as working in a
national park or at a beach helping in projects geared to the preservation of
the marine turtle.
University
Year Program Summer Departure: mid/late July 2000 through late June 2001 Age:
Must be born between 7/80 - 7/82
Semester
Community Service Program Summer Departure: mid/late July 2000 through early
mid-January 2001 Age: Must be born between 1/79 - 1/82
Paraguay
After
two weeks of intensive language instruction, you will begin work on a community
service project based on your skills, interests, and the needs of your
community. You could help in a neighborhood day-care center for underprivileged
children, a center for disabled children, or in an institution that provides
basic education to young street vendors. Other possible projects include working
with an environmental organization, or in a local library or radio station.
You
will probably reside in a small town with easy access to the nearest city. Your
host family will be pleased to welcome you, and although they may not have all
the material comforts and modern conveniences common in the U.S. (washing
machines, dishwashers, microwaves, or central air conditioning), you'll find
it's all part of a memorable experience.
Participants
must have strong Spanish language skills (minimum 2-3 years).
Year
Community Service Program Summer Departure: early July 2000 through early July
2001 Age: Must be born between 8/79 - 7/82
Semester
Community Service Program Winter Departure: mid-February through mid-August 2000
Age: Must be born between 12/79 - 1/82
Semester
Community Service Program Summer Departure: early July 2000 through early
January 2001 Age: Must be born between 8/79 - 7/82
Russia
Play
a part in history during this time of transition by helping Russian students
strengthen English language skills. You will work with a Russian teacher of
English, primarily assisting with English language classes, but you'll also have
opportunities to participate in history, geography, and other lessons. Schools
meet daily from September to May, with various vacations. You'll find that
schools are generally smaller than those in the U.S., and classroom work often
includes recitation, in addition to written and oral exams. There will be an AFS
volunteer in your school.
You
are expected to work full time and participate in the life of your host family
and community in central or western Russia, and may also be able to help other
community-based organizations in your spare time.
Knowledge
of Russian is preferred, but some language instruction and practice will be
provided by local AFS volunteers.
Community
Service Program Winter Departure: mid-January through late June 2000 Age: Must
be born between 1/79 - 1/82
Community
Service Program Summer Departure: late August 2000 through mid-January 2001 Age:
Must be born between 8/79 - 8/82
South
Africa
WALK-Work
And Learn Kanye Kanye (Kanye Kanye is Zulu for "group effort') welcomes
your participation in community-based volunteer organizations focusing on
challenging issues for youth, women, community development, health, and social
welfare. You will begin with a 10-day orientation, including tours of various
communities and places of interest, an introduction to the public transportation
system, a sampling of traditional foods, an overview of African culture, Zulu
language lessons, and safety tips. During your work project, you will reside
with a local host family or in accommodations provided by the community service
organization. You will also have additional opportunities to experience South
African life and to share those experiences with your AFS friends at the end of
your stay.
Summer
Departure: mid-July through mid-December 2000 Age: Must be born between 6/76 -
9/80
Thailand
After
an arrival orientation in Bangkok, you will take introductory language lessons
for two weeks before beginning work in the field of education. You might teach
English in a rural elementary school, assist Thai teachers, or help set up a
library or other resource center. You will live with a host family in or near
the town where the service project is located. Thai volunteers may assist you
upon arrival to arrange other projects in agriculture or social services, if
your time permits.
Throughout
the program, there will be many opportunities for you to meet with fellow AFSers,
such as the mid-stay orientation in Chieng Mai, where an elephant training
facility is located; the Loy Kratong festival, one of the biggest celebrations
in Thailand; and the end-of-stay session at Pattaya Beach. These will provide a
wealth of cultural experiences to discuss with your host family and friends.
Community
Service Program Summer Departure: early
July through late November 2000 Age:
Must be born between 7/77 - 7/82
Apply
Early for Best Program Selection and Scholarship Consideration
Take the next step: Contact AFS of San Antonio today!
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