Each year, more than 2,200 exchange students from over 90 countries come to the U.S. on AFS programs to study in high schools and live with host families.
By hosting an AFS Exchange Student in your home, you will start seeing the world from fresh perspectives.
Our AFS international partners select young cultural ambassadors who are eager to experience life as a member of a family, school, and community in America.
With more than 70 years of experience and 100 years of history, AFS is a leader in international high school exchange. One thing that sets us apart from other organizations is our network of almost 4,000 volunteers in the U.S. Many of our volunteers have hosted foreign exchange students or studied abroad with AFS. These local volunteers support families, students, and schools in gaining the most from their hosting experience.
Hosting an exchange student means more than providing a bed and meals. As an AFS Host Family, you’ll welcome a new member into your home, share your everyday lives, and grow as you get to know each other and share your cultural perspectives. You’ll be surprised at how much you learn about yourself, your family, and community. Have a life-changing experience in your own home – become a host family!
And, don’t worry – we’re always here to help, 24/7. Learn more about how AFS Supports Host Families.
Hosting an international exchange student can be a highly rewarding opportunity for your family. The chance to discover a different perspective than your own and to share your own culture with an international student is a daily lesson in cultural understanding. The bonds created span continents—and can last for many years to come.
We are committed to creating safe and supportive intercultural learning opportunities for all high school study abroad participants, including persons with disabilities and people of all genders, nationalities, races, religions, and sexual orientations.
The Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) program was launched in 1983 between the U.S. Congress and German Parliament (Bundestag). Students come from Germany.
The Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program created in 2003, advances mutual understanding between the U.S. and countries with significant Muslim populations. Students come from 40 countries, including Egypt, Ghana, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey.
The FLEX program provides scholarships for high school students from Europe and Eurasia to spend an academic year in the U.S., living with a family and attending an American high school.
