AFS - Hosting an Exchange Student and Study Abroad Opportunities

  • afs logo

    The Mountain Maryland and Friends AFS Chapter in Western Maryland works primarily with schools in Allegany and Garrett Counties in Maryland.  This group is also part of a larger team of AFS chapters in Western Maryland, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania.  This area usually hosts about 32 students per year from countries all around the world.  Every year the chapter is looking for great families to host these wonderful students from around the world.

    AFS is one of the oldest student exchange programs, beginning more than 60 years ago, when WWII ambulanc drivers started the program to bring German students to the U.S. to promote understanding between the two countries.  Now, AFS brings more than 2,500 international high school students to the U.S. every year.

    American students can also discover the world through AFS programs.  AFS sends more than 1,400 American students to over 40 countries in programs that include summer, gap year, and year-long high school programs.  Students do not have to speak the language of the country they are going to, and some programs offer language intensive coursework.  There are also numerous scholarship opportunities for students. 

    If your family is interested in hosting a student from another country, or if you have a child interested in studying abroad, check out the links to the right or visit the AFS USA website at www.afsusa.org.  

     

    Impact Stories- Ann Ford, host mother and AFS volunteer - AFS (1) from ACETV ACPS on Vimeo.

     

Host an Exchange Student

  • Even though the school year has begun, it isn’t too late for interested families to sign up to host a student for a year or semester. There are several great students available including Manuel, 17, from Portugal, who is an athletic young man with a great sense of humor and who loves to laugh; and Felix, 17, from Germany, who enjoys music, singing, martial arts (aikido), and spending time with friends.

     

    If you are interested in learning more about hosting one of these great students, please visit www.afsusa.org/host or contact Tamara at tjazbec@afsusa.org or 646-381-3308.