COVID-19 Resources

Following the World Health Organization’s March 11th declaration that COVID-19 had reached pandemic proportions, AFS made the decision to move quickly to act in the best interest of our participants. Because the pandemic is moving so rapidly, and evolving in unexpected ways, we decided it was best to get in front of these events and organize a coordinated global plan to bring home participants. 

Some participants may not be able to return home immediately because of local circumstances or travel restrictions. 

As the situation changes, our AFS network partners will work diligently to return participants home to the parents/natural families when we believe it is safe and possible to do so.

When planning each participant’s travel home during this difficult time, AFS takes into account guidance from international experts like the World Health Organization (WHO), The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), as well as GMMI and On Call International. Governmental health departments are the ultimate authorities that dictate the criteria allowing international travel. 

Our decisions take into consideration:

(A) If a host country government deems it allowable for students to leave.

(B) If a home country government is willing to accept students to come back.

(C) If travel restrictions allow for travel (borders open or closed, are there available and reliable flights).

When a safe return is not possible or advisable, AFS will support students staying with their host families until circumstances allow for travel home.  

We  strongly believe it is in the best interest of our participants to be back with their natural families in their home countries in these uncertain times. 

Shelter in place means that a participant must remain in their host-country a homes, in this case, under the care of a host family or AFS volunteer, for the time being. AFS will continue to provide program support and services to those participants that must shelter in place.

Our AFS network partners will work with their government partners and local advisors to make that determination. 

In countries where borders are closed or inbound international flights have been temporarily halted, students will likely shelter in place with the full support of AFS staff and volunteers. Similarly, in countries where arrival could require quarantine or similar measures, students likely will be advised to shelter in place. This decision will be examined in each individual case.

We are closely monitoring the global air travel landscape and working on a case-by-case basis to accommodate students whose return may be disrupted. AFS will continue to provide all program support and services until it becomes possible for the student to return to their home country. If the risk is determined to be too high, the participant will likely be advised to shelter in place with the full support of AFS staff and volunteers.

The following factors are taken into consultation:

If the host country requests that participants not travel (this will need to be determined with governments) and/or if the home country is restricting travel for repatriation or the participant has special circumstances that make immediate travel inadvisable.

We cannot speculate. Current estimates from health authorities indicate from between 4 weeks to 3 months, depending on the location. Should this be the case, these students will have the continued support of local AFS volunteers and staff. 

Do not hesitate to reach out to AFS in your country or by emailing [email protected].