A Different AFS Experience: Lucas’ Time at a Uniquely Danish Efterskole (Boarding School)
A Danish Efterskole is a school like no other! Danes say that one Efterskole year is equal to 7 regular years, because you grow so much as a person. AFS…
Author: lindarotaeche
AFS Youth Assembly 2025: One Global Event, Two Unique NZ Volunteer Experiences
In August 2025, more than 500 rangatahi from over 80 countries gathered in New York. Under the banner of ‘Defying Adversity: Empowering Young Global Citizens to Lead’ they engaged in…
Discovering Ourselves
Written by Rachel Lilburn: The world has changed a lot since the first AFS student exchanges in 1947. It’s changed a lot since I spent a year in Sucre, Bolivia,…
Language is the Key: Isabella’s Brazil Update
“I think one of my favourite parts of exchange for me is the language. I never believed that I could use a part of my brain to learn something like…
A Lasting Legacy: An Ambulance for Hato Hone St John
AFS NZ Life Member and Arthur Helm Gold Award Winner Gordon Prowse of Timaru recently presented a hugely generous gift to Hato Hone St John. On behalf of himself and…
Going on an Exchange Isn’t Easy, So Why Do People Do It?
“Going on an exchange isn’t easy,” says Ashley (AFS student in France), “and most people know that.” Leaving behind family, friends and the comfort of your everyday routine to start…
Host Family Memories: We have gained as much as we have given!
In Memory of Sybil and Gordon Jenkins and Their Wonderful Global Family Sybil (Mum) recently passed away and AFS NZ discovered this through a current hosting family in Levin reading…
Volunteering at Different Stages of Life
During this National Volunteer Week (15-21 June 2025), we’re celebrating all our wonderful AFS volunteers. On today’s blog, we look at Ken’s story, who has been an AFS volunteer for…
Kiwi Culture Experience
Five students from India immersed themselves in Kiwi Culture during our three-week short programme in April/May. They travelled through parts of the North Island as a group and also spent…
Hosted Student Update: Lea from Switzerland
My Exchange year in New Zealand When we landed in New Zealand at 3 a.m. after a 22-hour flight, the world around me was still surrounded in darkness. In the…