The unique foundations of AFS lie in the American Field Service, a volunteer ambulance corps formed in World War I and active through World War II. It was the ambulance drivers’ belief that personal interaction and friendships between people built international peace and understanding.

This formed the basis for commencing AFS student exchange programmes in 1947. Aotearoa New Zealand was one of 11 partner countries and today there are 52 partner countries within the AFS network and over 350,000 students have been hosted throughout the world.

Over 10,000 New Zealanders have studied abroad through AFS including Sam Morgan (Trade Me), Peter Williams (broadcasting), Nick Smith (politics), Dame Anne Salmond (education) and Chresten Davis (All Black).

In addition, over 10,000 AFS students have been hosted in New Zealand since 1947. AFS New Zealand currently has 1,500 active volunteers in 38 chapters throughout the country.