—Mariel Del Blanco, Host Parent from Argentina
—Susana Liepa, Host Parent from Latvia
—Kaori Sakurai, Host Parent from Japan
—Anonymous, Host Parent from USA
An AFS Host Family welcomes connection, growth, a new culture, diversity and opportunity to their communities by hosting an AFS exchange student. Take your family on an amazing journey. Discover the #AFSeffect on families!
Being a Host Family means you’re welcoming a student from another part of the world: Germany, Thailand, Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, Norway, from wherever you can imagine! And by doing that you will be adding someone new to your family, as close as a son or daughter of your own!
You don’t need to send your own children on an AFS exchange at the same time. The only thing you need is to be sure you can provide love, food and a home. We have different types of programs, so you can choose how much time you can be a host family.
Be part of the life-changing experience of hosting a student and share a bond that will last forever.
Connect with AFS in your country and learn why Host Families are so important to AFS programs. Our application process is thorough so we can make the best match for your family.
AFS selects and matches the students with the best families for the experience, but you have the last call. AFS will share a basic profile of the student so you can make a decision.
Meet the trained volunteers and staff who will support your family and help you learn how to make your AFS experience rewarding and fun.
Experience the AFSeffect with your new family member by sharing your home, your heart and your world as you take your first steps to becoming global.
The AFS Host Family Program provides a rewarding and transformative experience for the whole family. The program is supported by the AFS Host Family Intercultural Learning Journey, a carefully designed curriculum that engages families hosting AFS students with content related to intercultural learning at every step of their experience: before students arrive, during their time hosting an AFS student, and after students return to their home country.
It includes local orientation sessions, guided reflection, online tools and other educational activities that help families:
Experienced local AFS volunteers and staff will prepare your family for the challenges of welcoming a new member from another country.
24 hour local emergency contact and additional support from the AFS national office is available. AFS students have medical insurance, if health care is necessary.
Trained volunteers and staff will support you throughout your Host Family program, including meeting with you and your family at least once a month to make sure everything is working out.
AFS students come from diverse backgrounds and have demonstrated the maturity and motivation to study abroad. AFS students are screened and prepared by the AFS Organization in their home country.
AFS students come from over 99 different countries and eager to become Active Global Citizens. They choose AFS to connect with new cultures and explore diverse opportunities. They are curious, flexible, and open-minded.
AFS is a voluntary, non-profit organization and provides a variety of scholarships, giving people from different backgrounds the opportunity to become exchange students. Find out more.
If you don’t see your country in this list, it means host family programs are unfortunately not available in your country at the moment. However, you can contact our Global Affiliate in your country or explore our other programs and activities.