Callan and Gypsy in China: Global Young Leaders
2024 Zhi-Xing China: Global Young Leaders Fellowship Callan I recently got the opportunity to travel to China and participate in an incredible young leaders program which focused on cultural heritage…
Intercultural Learning
Current student updates: Japan
We love getting news from our students overseas! Here are two letters from current students in Japan Kaelin, Japan Life in Tokyo is fast, everyone has a place to…
NZ Global Competence Certificate Teen
Travel may currently be off the cards, but intercultural learning continues with AFS New Zealand! The NZ Global Competence Certificate for Teens is a web-based, blended-learning programme which provides rangatahi…
AFS builds sustainable partnerships with schools
Teachers and educators have long been an integral part of AFS’s secondary school intercultural exchange programs and we have always highly appreciated the placement and support that schools give to…
Global citizenship in action: Accomplishing Sustainable Development Goals
In September 2015, world leaders adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which includes a set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) to end poverty, fight inequality and injustice, and tackle climate change…
Bringing refugees and their adopted communities together through intercultural learning
For refugee students and the communities they are moving into, intercultural understanding and integration are critical. Over the past 69 years, AFS Intercultural Programs has helped people from different cultures…
Successfully integrating migrant families requires respect, empathy and a solid education plan
The integration of any newcomer into a new community is always a learning process for everyone involved. To shed light on the most relevant aspects of migration today and explore…
Changing the World, One Step at a Time: A New Volunteer Initiative in Turkey | New Zealand
AFSers take pride in being changemakers and global citizens committed to improving the lives of others. This is no different for the members of the AFS Volunteers Association in Turkey…
AFS Volunteers Awarded for Changemaking Initiatives
Changemaking is in the DNA of AFSers. Our volunteers facilitate intercultural experiences that are as life-changing to themselves as they are to AFS program participants. AFS volunteers dare to create…
A great experience for the whole family
This morning we left for work while the kids were still asleep. I left a note on the fridge saying, “Lunch is on the stove”. That is nothing unusual, except…
Just do it. Jump in!
We have always loved the idea of having a student from abroad live with us as we felt it would be a great experience for our girls to learn lots…
An enriching cultural experience
We gained a lot by hosting Davis for a year, this experience helped us understand that each culture is different, and that no culture is better or worse than any…
Loving our exchange student like our own child
As soon as we saw online that we could become a host family for an exchange student, we decided to apply and give our children a chance to get to…
Having the time of my life
I’ve already been an exchange student for a month. It’s so unbelievable. To be honest, this month was the best of my life so far. Only one month, but so many…
Realizing my dreams
“Tak kenal maka tak sayang” This is a popular saying from my beautiful country, Indonesia. It means, if you do not know about something, then you cannot be in love.…
A stepping stone for my dream
I’m a little shy, I can also be a little bit crazy. I’m funny; I like a good laugh and I love to read, too. Sometimes I just sit still…
Getting immersed in a new culture
I’m Zeineb, an AFS student from Tunisia in China and I’m writing to talk you about my first month here. I’ve always wanted to be an exchange student and now…
Now I have family all over the world
When I look back, I think about how those past eight months have brought me A LOT. Not in form of diplomas or medals, but in the way I get…
An experience like no other
It’s been about seven months since I decided to go abroad. I think this has been one of the decisions that has most impacted my life, in a positive way…