PROGRAM DETAILS
AFS is an international, voluntary, non-governmental, non-profit organization that provides intercultural learning opportunities to help people develop the knowledge, skills and understanding needed to create a more just and peaceful world. AFS was created in 1914 and has been doing intercultural programs since 1947, currently present in more than 54 countries with over 11,000 exchanges per year.
The essence of any AFS program is ‘Stay and Study’ in a different cultural setting. Participants live with a host family experiencing home and family life that is in many ways different to their own culture and routine.
The benefits of this intercultural experience are manifold. The participant, the host family, host school, and the community get an opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills and understanding needed to create a more just and peaceful world.
AFS believes that we must build bridges of understanding and mutual respect between countries and cultures around the world. We further believe that today’s youth – and tomorrow’s leaders – are among the best “bridge builders” between nations.%
SENDING
Over the past three years, more than 130 high school students from India went abroad on AFS exchanges to the United States, Italy, Norway, Switzerland, Hong Kong and Japan.
The students can however select from 52 countries where AFS has its partners. For more information on countries student can visit our website.
Age limit – 15 to 17 ½ years.
Duration – Generally 1 academic year or 1 year.
Criteria for selection Students selection
1. Young potential leaders – a) Have solid personal qualities
b) Are results oriented
c) Have social empathy
d) Have awareness of Indian culture and global issues
2. A health mix – cross section of Indian society. Recruitment of students of diverse religious, socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds and students with physical disabilities.
3. a diversity of socio economic backgrounds
4. Geographic diversity
5. Cultural diversity
6. Gender balance
Program Benefits
1. A strong connection to and involvement with the people and way of life of your host country.
2. New relationships that will change your outlook in profound ways.
3. A passion for understanding different cultures in addition to the one you visit.
4. The ability to understand and to express yourself in another language, often fluently.
5. A lifelong interest in and concern for the other countries and international issues.
6. A greater flexibility when dealing with other people and situations.
Selection Process
Selection process is easy and transparent.
1. Online Inquiry – Inquiry for the program showing interest could be put up on the Website which would be replied by the person concerned in the National Office or the interested candidate may request a Pre- Application from our Local Chapter Volunteers.
2. Pre Application – This application consist of some basic facts about the students. It also has an essay which has to be written by the interested candidate and after submission it is screened by our volunteers and if selected you get a main application.
3. Main Application – This application is time consuming as it asks for almost all the details of the students and his/her family. It also has 2 essays one to be written by the candidate and one to be written by the parents. This application indulges the candidate in details and hence helps us in extracting out the true character of the candidate. As the candidates selected would be the Ambassador of their culture in some other country this application is carefully screened by a group of volunteers.
4. Panel Interview and Home Visit – If the candidate is selected through the Main Application, our volunteers along with National Office conducts interview of the candidate and the parents and also do home visits to get the details of the upbringing and culture the candidate has been in.
5. Congratulation Letter – Once selected through all the rounds the candidate gets a Congratulation Letter by mail which details the process of payment and asks for few other formalities to be filled in.
Our main programs under sending are:
AFS – World Program
Charges a fees of 3.5 – 5 lacs for the participation which includes the return flight cost, Host Family and Host Schools identification charges and Volunteer development and welfare charges. As all the fees given for participation is redempted under section 80 (G) of Income Tax Act, 1961 of Government of India, AFS India does not take any profits out of the participation fees.
Date of departure – July to September
AFS – YES Scholarship
The Youth Exchange and Study Program (YES) is an innovative high school student exchange program funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. This public diplomacy initiative, authorized by Congress in the aftermath of September 11, builds bridges of international understanding, especially Americans and people in countries with significant Muslim populations.
Date of departure – August
AFS – Japan scholarship
AFS Japan has been our constant source of motivation and inspiration. We have a long lasting relationship with them and they help promote India by offering two scholarship:-
Japan one year scholarship is provided to many students across nations and India has 9 seats dedicated for it.
Date of departure – April first week and would return in Feb 1st week.
University Exchange
One such program which re-affirms our faith in training people to become responsible global citizens is University Exchanges in Panama, Argentina, Bolivia and Peru. The Program content varies from student to student as they have option of choosing their own subjects from the diverse variety of subjects available with the university.
Date of departure – July to September
Community Exchange
Participants who are over 18+ and still want to take part in AFS program. There is chance to go under this program. This unique initiative helps you in giving back to the World and at the same time make you aware of your surrounding and the problems existing. The quest of making every citizen a global citizen is what developed this program. We currently run in these programs in more than 30 countries and host around 10 students every year.
The duration of the program could be chosen from 3 months, 6 months and 1 year tenure.
Cost is similar to World Program fees.
SHORT TERM PROGRAM
JENESYS Scholarship to Japan – Two weeks Students and Educators Exchange
This two week program is a short term complete immersion program the program is sponsored by JAPAN Government to give each child a flavor of Japanese culture, art, tradition, literature, school pattern and educational system.
Date of departure – December
EXCHANGE PROGRAM FOR TEACHERS:
The process of selection reduces with no Pre Application, rest remains the same.
Jenesys program – in December
This two week program is a short term complete immersion program the program is sponsored by JAPAN Government to give each child a flavor of Japanese culture, art, tradition, literature, school pattern and educational system.
The duration of the program is not more than 2 weeks.
There are no fees involved.
Denmark Teacher exchange program
Teachers in country who are currently working in secondary schools and who would like to experience teaching in Denmark and share different teaching approaches in the two countries. It is a condition that the school, at which the teacher is employed, will support and take an active part in the program. An important aspect of the program is that the two participating teachers will work together in order to develop the details of their project themselves. This means that they will be expected to discuss the details prior to the visit, and exchange experiences during the two visits and make a joint evaluation and agree on follow-up activities at the end of the visit to Denmark.
The duration of the program is not more than 3 months
Fees – Rs. 80,000 (Approx) Teachers would have to arrange for their VISA and RETURN FLIGHT TICKETS.
Teachers from New Zealand
The teacher will come to India and stay for 3 weeks (Sep – Oct). During that time he/she will stay with the host families & experience the teaching methods in India. By taking an active part in the activities of the school, the participating teacher will have a unique opportunity to achieve a thorough understanding of how teaching is done in India. At the same time
a) he/she will be able to share teaching approaches in New Zealand – not only with the participating teacher but with the entire staff at the school.
b) he/she will be able to give the pupils at the school an intercultural experience by sharing his/her culture with them.
HOSTING
Besides ‘sending’, AFS India ‘hosted’ students from Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, and Switzerland. These participants stayed in Indian homes and attended local schools. We have hosted more than 100 + students from various countries.
As an AFS India host family, will be important to provide room and board for the exchange student. Also, will be expected from host families to exercise general parental supervision over the student just as they would with their own children, and involve him or her in daily household chores and activities.
AFS India will arrange school enrollment, tuition and other educational matters with the local secondary school (for long-term exchanges). All program volunteers are devoted to the safety of the students.
Other suggested host family activities include: meeting your exchange student on arrival in your country and making the student feel at home as part of the family; helping the student achieve language mastery; involving the student in obligations similar to those established for your own family members; helping the student meet AFS India obligations, which usually include attending orientations and meetings; seeing that the student meets other young people; providing a safe environment for the student and ensuring the student’s safety; being tolerant of differences and willing to change your own ideas.
How you can help???
Become Host Family and Broaden the Horizon of your Family by just opening doors of your house to a international student, volunteer or teacher.
You can become either WELCOME FAMILY or PERMANENT HOST FAMILY
%{color:blue}WELCOME FAMILY%– These are the family who welcome the student to a completely new culture. By opening your doors for just 3 – 6 months you can gain:-
PERMANENT HOST FAMILY – These are the family who volunteer to host students for one academic year and thus are at a better position to learn in and out of the different culture from which the student, teacher or volunteer is coming.
AFS Program:Benefits of Intercultural Exchange
High School Students Go Abroad: Students stay with a host family in another country and go to school for a year or a semester. Short term programs are also available in some countries.
Adults Go Abroad: Young adults- 18 and older – work as a volunteer in a community service organization or business abroad while learning skills, a new language and culture. Most programs are for a semester (4-6 months). Also programs for teachers.
Hosting: Families host a student or young adult for a year, a semester, or a few months. As a host family, a family gets a new international son or daughter, sister or brother or adult friend.
Volunteering: More than 35,000 active volunteers who help AFS in communities around the world.
The AFS Intercultural Experience is more than just being in the vicinity of another culture. Going abroad with AFS you can:
• Find out something new about your own culture and point of view by seeing it from a fresh perspective.
• Gain a real understanding of another country and its culture and society.
• Learn a new language
• Build Lasting friendships with people from other cultures.
• Feel confident and comfortable with people from other cultures.
Please contact AFS India at:-
We are working hard to build our network on the ground in India. We currently have volunteer chapters in Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Baroda, Chennai, Delhi, Jamshedpur, Mumbai, and Pune. Over the coming one to two years we hope to start several new volunteer chapters. We have begun creating a system of contacts through schools and committed people to support AFS.
AFS Intercultural Programs India
M – 9 (2nd floor), Lajpat Nagar II New Delhi 110024, India
Tele – + 91-11-4100 4878 / 79
Fax – +91-11-29841426