AFS has the utmost concern for the welfare, safety, and security of our participants. We’ve been exchanging students throughout the world for over 60 years—that’s six decades of history and experience in international education with an exemplary record of safety, security, and service.
The AFS Support Structure
- AFS Global Network: AFS-USA exchanges its participants within a long-established, international network of AFS partner organizations. AFS partners operate according to the same mission, operating values, and quality standards (pdf).
- AFS Volunteers: Students are supported within a network of trained volunteers. With one of the largest volunteer-based networks of its kind in the world, AFS stands out from all other exchange organizations. AFS Volunteers are located all over the world in order to help and support participants, host families, and parents. While abroad, your child will have regular check-ins with a trained, personal liaison, unrelated to the host family, who provides additional support if necessary.
- AFS Host Families: The host families are volunteers. Since AFS host families are not paid, you can be confident they have good intentions at heart -they want your child to join their community and learn about their culture. Host families are screened and receive formal training from AFS.
- Orientations: AFS helps students and parents prepare for the experience, both at home and during multiple stages of the experience abroad. AFS provides a wide variety of support that can include services such as in-person and online orientations, handbooks, telephone conference calls, opportunities to speak with AFS Returnees as well as local events with AFSers and Volunteers.
- Accreditation: AFS is accredited. AFS is evaluated annually and complies with the standards set forth by the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel (CSIET) and is supported by the U.S. Department of State.
AFS Rules
With participant safety in mind, AFS has guidelines and rules to which all participants are expected to agree and follow.
Emergency Preparedness
AFS is ready for emergencies, if they happen. With a professional network of experienced staff and volunteers, who provide support In each country, 24-hour assistance is available in the event of an emergency. An AFS Situation Response Management Team is in place at all times to monitor events throughout the world and respond as necessary. While some programs have been curtailed at times, AFS has run programs throughout the world, without interruption, since it was founded in 1947.
Medical Coverage
Participants are safeguarded with AFS’s medical coverage. AFS provides secondary medical coverage to ensure that, in an emergency, students will be treated as soon as possible, anywhere in the world. The secondary medical coverage is a prerequisite for participation and is included in the cost of tuition. More about AFS Medical Coverage.
World Health Advisories
AFS-USA provides information on local and global health events as they occur and encourages its participants to be prepared by researching potential regional illnesses and understanding AFS-USA’s protocols in dealing with these situations. More about AFS and World Health Advisories.
Voluntary Liability, Baggage, and Trip Cancellation Insurance
AFS participants are eligible for Liability, Baggage, and Trip Cancellation Insurance from a 3rd Party for an additional low per/day cost. More about AFS Voluntary Liability, Baggage, and Trip Cancellation Insurance.
Personal Safety
The safety and well being of AFS participants is the highest organizational priority. AFS has comprehensive risk management policies and procedures that impact all levels of our operations. In addition to national and international crisis response teams and a 24 hour Duty Officer System, participants receive thorough orientation and safety tips prior to departure.
AFS-USA provides participants information on how to identify and report sexual abuse, and additional topics such as travel safety, internet safety, and tips for maintaining emotional health and physical well being while on program. All students are required to participate in one or more orientations while on program which reinforce and expand on the personal safety information provided prior to departure.
AFS-USA volunteers and staff, who are required to complete annual training on such topics as conflict resolution, personal safety and reporting emergency situations, work to prevent and swiftly address any participant safety concerns.
Important Information for All AFS Participants:
During your exchange you’ll have new and different experiences, but some things remain the same. While AFS has many policies and procedure in place to help protect your safety and well being, all travel and adjustment to new surroundings comes with some risk.
While traveling and living in your host community it is important to be aware of your surroundings, your appearance and take care with your belongings. Uncomfortable situations can occur anywhere. It can be difficult to handle a new situation within your home country but, in a culture that is new to you, such a situation can be even more confusing.
It is important to keep in mind that you should not compromise your personal moral values while you are on an AFS program. While it is important for an exchange student to be open-minded, adventuresome, and accepting of the host culture, this does not mean you should ignore what you have learned in your home culture. It is always a good idea to observe the behavior of those around you then follow what your inner voice tells you about what is right and what is wrong.
If you are ever in doubt about whether any behavior you have experienced or observed is appropriate, or have a concern about your safety or that of a fellow participant, please immediately share your concern with your host parents, liaison, AFS staff member or any other trusted adult.
Click here to download a pdf document of AFS Personal Safety Rules
Know the rules to keep yourself safe!
