Eligibility
Program Description
Visa and Travel Documents
Getting There
AFS Orientations and Activities
Eligibility
To be eligible you must:
- Be between 15 years 0 months and 17 years 5 months old at the start of the program
- Have a minimum 2.8 cumulative GPA (on a 4.0 scale)
- Be in good mental, physical, and emotional health in accordance with the AFS Medical Evaluation Policy
- Have an open mind, willingness to be flexible, and the ability to adapt to new a culture, school, and environment
Program Description
Egypt is the most populous country in the Arab world and the second-most populous on the African Continent. This “cradle of civilization”—with its 5,000-year history—embraces a unique mix of modern Islam and Christianity, Middle Eastern folk cultures, and Western music and films. Because 90 percent of Egypt is desert, almost everyone lives close to the Nile; whether along the banks of the river in Cairo and Alexandria, in its delta, or along the Suez Canal. In sprawling, cacophonous Cairo, robes are as common as Levis, donkeys share roadways with BMWs, and buildings made of mud stand next to glass-and-steel high-rises.
The school year runs from September until May with a two-week vacation in January. Most students will attend private language schools and wear uniforms. Some classes may be taught in English, others in Arabic, and subjects can usually be chosen freely, depending on the school. Attending school is integral to your experience and is the best way to make friends and enjoy life as an Egyptian teen. AFS Egypt offers several orientations from arrival through departure to assist you with the early stages of adjustments, cultural issues, and sharing of experiences. It is likely you will have opportunities to travel and explore with your host family, school, a community organization, or local chapter of AFS Egypt.
As with all AFS high school programs, you will be placed with a volunteer host family who will provide you with lodging, meals, guidance and support.
Year program students are placed throughout Egypt. Egypt has active hosting chapters in Alexandria, Cairo, El Fayoum, El Menya, Giza, Ismailia, Port Said, Tanta, and others. Most placements (approx. 90%) are in urban or suburban areas. Please note that your host community will be chosen for you by AFS Egypt.
AFS Egypt may be able to accommodate vegetarians but we do ask that you be as flexible with your dietary needs as possible. Please submit a dietary restriction addendum form (available in the supplements and addendums page of the online application) along with your Full Application.
Learn more about life in Egypt.
Visa and Travel Documents
In order to participate in this program, you must have a U.S. passport that is valid for six months longer than your intended stay.
In addition to your passport, you also need an entry visa to enter Egypt as well as apply for a residence permit while on program.
AFS will apply for the entry visa on your behalf but this will require that you complete a visa application form and send it along with your original passport to AFS approx. 1 month prior to departure. For this reason we strongly suggest that you not plan any international trips in the months prior to your departure.
AFS USA will provide you with detailed instructions regarding the required documents and how to apply for your visa in the months prior to your departure.
Getting There
You and your fellow AFSers will travel together from between New York and Cairo. After you collect your baggage and pass through customs you will be met by AFS staff and volunteers who will escort you to the arrival orientation site. There you will participate in a 2 day welcome orientation after which you will travel to your host community by bus or train (depending on the distance) and be picked up by your host family.
AFS Orientations and Activities
In addition to the orientations that you will participate in domestically (the local Pre-Departure Orientation, Culture Trek, and the Gateway Orientation), you and your fellow AFSers will have several orientations while abroad.
The first orientation will take place upon your arrival in Egyot. This will be a 2 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.
About 3 months in to your stay, you will have another orientation at the local level. This will last for 2 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.
Finally, there will be an evaluation camp in the weeks 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.
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 parties or excursions to other cities or regions in Egypt. Unlike the orientations, these activities are optional and are at the student’s expense.
