AFS Host Family FAQ

Supported by dedicated volunteers and staff, families help students navigate their new school and community, make friends, learn the language and enjoy their year abroad. Sharing culture and traditions helps families bond, creating lifelong friendships. 

• Welcome your AFS student to participate in your family’s daily lives and events
• The same care, support, and comfort you provide to other members of your family, including meals.

AFS students come from more than 99 countries, and are seen as role models and leaders in their home communities by demonstrating maturity and motivation to study abroad.

AFS students are screened and selected by the AFS organization in their home country. AFS students are:

• Usually between 15-18 years old on arrival
• Committed to actively participate in their AFS programme
• Considered a good student in their home school
• In good general health
• Curious, flexible and open-minded.

All types of families are encouraged to apply; there is no “typical” AFS host family. Some AFS families have children at home; some are same sex couples while others are empty nesters with adult children or are couples with no children at all. Single adults and single parents are also welcome. Even busy families find time to enjoy hosting students!

The health, safety and well-being of our students is the number one priority for AFS. AFS volunteers and staff are committed and trained to support students and their families throughout the AFS experience. AFS has consistent guidelines that apply to all AFS Organisations.

• 24 hour emergency contact
• Local volunteer or staff support for both the host family and AFS student
• Additional support from the national office of the AFS Organisation in that country
• Facilitated intercultural learning programmes by trained volunteers and staff for both the host family and AFS student
• All living facilities and situations are inspected and closely monitored by AFS throughout the exchange experience.

• High School (semester, trimester or year-long)
• Summer and Short Study (a few weeks up to three months)
• Language Learning (a few weeks up to three months)
• Volunteer Abroad

AFS students arrive with their own spending money for social and school activities, clothes, etc. As a host family, you will not need to provide spending money or an allowance. We will discuss how school related costs are handled.

No, your student will come with secondary medical insurance so that, in an emergency, the student can be treated as soon as possible. There is also a 24-hour support phone number in case of any emergency.

Yes. AFS students are expected to obey all the AFS rules and policies that are applicable while on their programme. Should a student break a rule such as driving or taking illegal drugs, they will have their programme terminated. Hosted participants are expected to obey all local and national laws. We also limit independent travel by students. You will be provided with a Host Family Handbook, which contains information on these rules and safety information, at or before your pre-arrival orientation.

1. Being an AFS host family provides a fun, rewarding and transformative experience for the whole family—a global family adventure without leaving home.
2. AFS host families share cultures/learn about new cultures—creating a lifetime of memories and friendships. You and your family will have friends to visit in another part of the world.
3. Hosting encourages families to open up their mind and gain better insights into the perspectives of people from other cultures.
4. AFS host families help young people achieve their global and personal ambitions.
5. Hosting helps family members and host students experience personal growth—and growth as a family.
6. Hosting provides an opportunity for young children in the family to bond with a new sibling as a big brother/sister or role model.
7. Hosting an international student helps everyone in the family develop more effective communication skills and practice another language.
8. When you host with AFS, you support the AFS mission of helping individuals and communities become more comfortable with and adapt to cultural and other differences. You also join an organization and a community dedicated to creating a more just, peaceful and inclusive world.

The AFS Host Family Intercultural Learning Journey programme will help you become more comfortable with your new family member, and develop skills and understanding to communicate with people from different cultures. The journey is:

• Facilitated by trained AFS volunteers and staff.
• Based on the well-established AFS Learning Objectives for Host Families that have been designed and approved by experts in intercultural learning from around the world.
• Made of engaging and informative orientation sessions and useful learning materials you can use on your own or in group settings.

AFS is recognised throughout the world for our support of AFS participants and families. AFS is conscious of its responsibility to the host family as well as the exchange students and their parents. Assistance and support will be available in the form of volunteers situated in chapters as well as the National Office. Particularly after the first exciting weeks of getting to know each other, sometimes problems arise: The participant suffers from homesickness, the adaptation to life in a different environment and culture is exhausting for the students, it can lead to misunderstandings and conflicts in the school or with other family members. If, in any such situation, you need assistance or advice, you can contact the contact volunteer in your Chapter or the National Office at any time.

The AFS Host Family Learning Journey covers the AFS experience before, during and after the hosting programme. The programme’s primary goals are to help your family:

• Explore and build your intercultural awareness and understanding as individual global citizens and as a family and
• Better support your hosted student’s integration into a new culture and intercultural educational experience.

The AFS Host Family Learning Journey is based on the 14 AFS Learning Objectives for Host Families (developed by AFS international experts in intercultural learning) and is facilitated by trained AFS volunteers and staff. It Includes engaging and informative orientation sessions, monthly learning reflections, activities with the host student and a newsletter written specifically to enhance your hosting experience. The AFS Learning Objectives for Host Families are designed to help your family improve in four areas:

• Self-Awareness
• Communication Skills and Empathy
• Intercultural Competence
• Global Concern.