AFS is not one program in a single country that sends young people abroad. AFS is a worldwide network that includes more than 50 countries where AFS has offices, staff and volunteers. For more than 60 years, the long established, international network of AFS partner organizations have operated according to the same mission, operating values, and quality standards.
As one of the largest volunteer-based networks of its kind in the world, AFS volunteers are present not only in the countries where students are hosted, but live in the communities and areas where exchange students and their host families live.
At any time in the world there can be a natural disaster such as the one occurring in Japan. There are political upheavals, epidemics, and emergency situations both large and small.
With every situation, regardless of what it is, parents who have exchange students anywhere in the world, including the US., and parents who are planning to send their son or daughter on a program have questions and concerns. And, at the top of their list -- what if something were to happen in the area where my son or daughter is living abroad with AFS?
Here is where our more than six decades of experience and history of dealing with all kinds of situations is put to work. AFS is ready for emergencies, if they happen. AFS has a Situation Response Management Team in place at all times to monitor events throughout the world and respond as necessary.
In every country where AFS operates, there is a full crisis management plan and protocols, as well as an active and highly experienced crisis management team in place.
There are many reasons why AFS is one of the oldest and most respected leaders of high school exchange programs in the world. But, at the top of our list is an exemplary record of safety, security, and service throughout more than six decades.
While some programs have been curtailed at times because of the situation at hand, AFS has run programs throughout the world, without interruption, since it was founded in 1947.
Read more information on health, safety and security with AFS.
