Eligibility
Program Description
Visa and Travel Documents
Getting There
AFS Orientations and Activities
Eligibility
To be eligible you must:
- Be between 18 years 0 months and 29 years 0 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
- Spanish language skills desired but not required
Program Description
- This community service trip will allow you to do volunteer work over an extended period of time in a Paraguay. Work places include non-governmental organizations and governmental institutions, addressing diverse areas as the environment, community development, childcare, health and education. You will start working right away in a community service project while still taking a Spanish language course. After you have finished your language training, you will work full time (for about 8 hours per day, depending on the project) on your project.
- You will be placed with a volunteer host family during the duration of the program. Learn about life in Paraguay.
- Students are placed throughout Paraguay.
- Most Paraguayan families eat meat, making it very difficult to place vegetarians.
Visa and Travel Documents
In order to participate in this program, you must have a passport that is valid for six months longer than your intended stay.
In addition to your passport, you also need a visa to enter and reside in your host country.
The visa application process for Paraguay is detailed, time-consuming, and costly; you will not need a visa to enter Paraguay but you will need to apply for a tourist visa and a Temporary Residence Permit once you have arrived.
The visa fee is $100-$200.00; fees are subject to change.
After you have been accepted into the program and in the months prior to your departure, AFS will provide you with detailed instructions regarding the required documents and how to apply for your visa.
Getting There
You and your fellow AFSers will travel together from one of the gateway cities in the United States. You all will arrive in the capital city Asunción, collect your baggage and pass through customs. You will be met by AFS staff and volunteers and will participate in a welcome orientation together. You will then travel to your host community, which may be some distance away.
AFS Orientations and Activities
AFS will provide you with a couple of orientations throughout your experience. These orientations give you a chance to gather important information about your host country, to meet other AFS volunteers from around the world, to share experiences and make friends. These group activities give you a chance to understand and process your intercultural learning experience during your time abroad as well as when you are returning home.
These required orientations are intended to help you maximize the AFS experience, prevent culture shock and to gain knowledge, skills and a global understanding.
