The AFS organization (American Field Service) was funded by people who survived WWI and WWII with the purpose of preventing future conflicts through educational and cross-cultural exchanges all around the world. In 2018, more than 70 years later, the AFS mission carries on by making this life-changing experience possible for more than 2,000 kids from 80 different registered countries, and for more than 800 Americans who are sent all around the world.

One of the goals of this project is to help individuals to lose all prejudices when they leave their country and learn more about the world that surrounds them. The opportunities that this association offers are vast. Any student from 13 to 18 years old can register into the contest for a scholarship; and eventually leave for this amazing adventure to visit, as a citizen instead of a tourist, one of the 80 countries that gives this opportunity to kids from different parts of the world.

All of these places have different cultures and languages; and depending on which country an individual is sent to, he or she will eventually get used to the local customs and learn to fluently speak the language. Let’s face it, who wouldn’t love to be fluent in Mandarin, Russian, French or maybe German or even Spanish, and many other different languages?

Another option for those that may not be ready for international travel, one can still experience another culture and folklore by hosting a kid from another country who will equally bring as much joy to your normal routine. Hosting an AFSer will prepare a family to connect with people from around the world, become more open and accepting, and maybe even learn to cook something different? Who knows, the effects of hosting are endless, and many families in the US have hosted more than one time, ending up with sons and daughters all around the world.

If you are interested in enrolling for one of these equally special experiences, but want to learn more before taking this leap of faith, try visiting the AFS official site on this link: https://www.afsusa.org/.