Program Description | Host Family & Community | Host School | Travel | Orientations & Activities | Eligibility
Program Description
South Africa, “The Rainbow Nation,” has strong ethnic and distinct groups, each proud of its language, traditions, and religious beliefs. Eighty percent of the population consider themselves Black African, while the remainder of the population consist of Asians and Europeans of various backgrounds. No matter their ethnic heritage, South Africans love sports, and the nation proudly hosted the World Cup in 2010.
There’s also a variety of local cuisines, so be prepared to try lots of new food. South Africa contains endless natural beauty: from safari preserves to the vast Karoo Desert to the picturesque coastal towns of the Garden Route to the subtropical mangrove swamps and mountains of the KwaZulu-Natal province.
You will not be traveling to South Africa as a tourist, instead you will be focusing on intercultural learning and being a part of the community: AFSers in South Africa live with a host family and attend a local high school. Mature students can expect a challenging and rewarding experience.
A series of orientations will offer safety tips and other resources for making your experience abroad as safe as possible. Besides a supportive host family, you will also have local volunteer contact to help guide you and who will be available to answer questions and help you with any cultural adjustments you may have.
Language
As diverse as the makeup of the people are in South Africa, so are the number of languages. There are 11 official languages and many people speak all 11 fluently; Zulu, Xhosa, and Afrikaans are the three most common first home languages but English is widely spoken. Your host school will offer classes in both English and Afrikaans.
There is no language requirement for the South Africa High School Program, but we encourage you to familiarize yourself with Afrikaans or others before your departure.
Host Family & Community
Students are placed throughout South Africa, though most host families live in urban areas (85%).
Host families in South Africa, like all AFS host families worldwide, are not paid. They open their homes to students in order to share their community and culture as well as to enrich their own family lives.
South Africans
Throughout its history, South Africa has been a geographic designation rather than a reflection of national unity.
There is no typical South African, and a common definition of its inhabitants is non-existent. Those of British descent and Afrikaners (descendents of Dutch settlers, who speak the Germanic language Afrikaans and feel highly committed to South Africa) are white but dislike being confused with one another. The Zulu, with the strongest surviving indigenous black culture, and the Xhosa, known as the “red people” from the red-dyed clothing worn by most adults, feel the same way. A related but distinct group is the Ndebele known for their strikingly painted houses. There is also a small but influential Jewish population and a significant Indian minority that first immigrated in the 1860s.
Though South Africans are generally conservative and place a high value on commitment to family, it is difficult to identify a single common lifestyle. The population diversity is reflected in the diversity of host families; families differ from one another in language, race, culture and religion. It’s possible to be placed with a family who speaks any one of the 11 languages of South Africa at home.
Families are generally warm and curious about visitors. It is common in South Africa to hug and show your feelings, talk sincerely but remain polite and concerned about moral behavior. Your host family will be as protective of you as they are of their own children, always looking out for your well-being. It is likely you won’t have as much independence as you do with your family in the U.S.; you will probably not be allowed out after dark.
Teens
Teens in South Africa find school to be their primary social outlet and spend a lot of energy studying and reading. They also spend a lot of their free time with family and most get on well with their parents and find them supportive and easy to talk to. Teens also pass the time hanging out together and talking about movies and sports. Soccer, rugby, and netball are the most popular sports and most 15-18 year olds consider themselves fit.
Meals
Be prepared for large portions of meat! Because meat is a staple of the diet, vegetarians are difficult to place in South Africa. Cuisine in South Africa varies widely according to ethnicity, so different areas of the country may offer different choices.
People love to have barbecues, called braais. Using a brick oven, a cook slowly grills steaks and spicy sausages called boerewors over hot wood coals. Some South Africans also like eating a dried meat snack called biltong. Black South Africans eat mealie meal, a corn porridge, with meat or vegetables.
Host School
As the political climate in South Africa has changed over the past couple of decades, the government has realized the education is the best tool for the future of the country and has demonstrated this conviction by integrating schools investing a large amount of money-- 6% of the budget-- towards education. Schools in South Africa are strict and challenging. Students wear uniforms (please budget $40 to purchase one), and teachers command respect (students stand when teachers enter the room, and address them as “Madam” or “Sir”).
You will be placed in grade 10, 11, or 12 of a formerly segregated or township high school. Most AFSers are placed in private or semi-private schools, but it’s possible to be placed in a public school. You’ll attend about 9 classes between 8:00AM and 3:00PM. Your instruction will be in English and/or Afrikaans.
Check out the Host School FAQ (.pdf).
Travel
You will receive a Travel Notification email about 6 weeks prior to international departure with your international flight itinerary and detailed instructions for when to arrive at the Gateway Orientation site in New York. At that point, you may arrange your domestic travel. In New York, you will join other AFS-USA participants for an overnight Gateway Orientation before you travel together to Johannesburg.
International airfare is included as part of the tuition, but it is your responsibility to get from your home town to the Gateway Orientation site.
Your Arrival
After the Gateway Orientation in New York, you and your fellow AFSers will travel together to Johannesburg, where AFS staff and volunteers will be waiting for you at the airport. After a 2-3 day Arrival Orientation, you will travel by plane, car or bus with AFS volunteers to your host community where your host family will meet you.
Your Return
1-3 days before your return to the U.S, AFS South Africa will arrange for you to travel back to Johannesburg for an End-of-Stay Orientation. You will then travel with your fellow AFSers back to New York.
Orientations & Activities
In addition to the orientations that you will participate in domestically (the locally held Pre-Departure Orientation, the Culture Trek online orientation, and the national Gateway Orientation), you and your fellow AFSers will have several orientations while abroad.
These required orientations are intended to help you maximize your AFS experience, prevent culture shock and to gain knowledge, skills and a global understanding. There will be an emphasis on safety during these orientations.
Arrival Orientation
The first orientation will take place upon your arrival in South Africa. This will be a 2-3 day orientation that is intended to prepare you for your first weeks abroad. This will be an international orientation and your opportunity to meet participants from around the world. In addition to covering the rules and safety tips, there will be an emphasis on approaching your experience from an intercultural learning perspective. You will have the opportunity to discuss your expectations and fears with AFS volunteers and staff.
Mid-Stay Orientation
Mid-way through your stay, you will have another orientation, organized at the local level. This will last for 2-3 days and will focus on cultural and school adjustment. You will also meet with AFS staff and volunteers to evaluate your first few weeks and be offered guidance to make the transition as smooth as possible. This will be an opportunity for trouble-shooting, fun and games, and networking.
End-of-Stay Orientation
Finally, there will be a 1-3 day evaluation camp immediatley prior to departure. This is your chance to reflect on your experience and to share with other AFSers. You will also prepare for the cultural readjustment that is a part of returning home.
Optional Activities
In addition to the orientations, many local chapters organize activities for students and host families throughout the year. These will vary from chapter to chapter but may include get-togethers or excursions to other cities or regions in South Africa. Unlike the orientations, these activities are optional and are not included in tuition.
Eligibility
To participate in this program, you must:
- Be within the age range upon departure (located in the ‘read more’ drop-down)
- Have a minimum 2.8 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale
- Be mentally, physically, and emotionally healthy in accordance with AFS Medical Evaluation Policies
- Have a U.S. passport at the time of application. Passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the program end date
- Have an open mind, willingness to be flexible, and the ability to adapt to new a culture, school, and environment
Participation Notes
It is unlikely that AFS South Africa will be able to accommodate vegetarians.
High school graduates will not be considered or accepted for this Program.
There is no language requirement for the South Africa High School Program, but we encourage you to familiarize yourself with Afrikaans or others before your departure.
You should note that you may be placed with a family where some or all the members of the family smoke.
