Why Host an AFS Exchange Student?

AFS Host Families have reported great rewards for opening their homes and hearts to AFS Exchange Students. By hosting an AFS Exchange Student you, too, can:

• Enrich your family’s daily life simply by sharing it with a young person from another culture and country

• Draw your family closer together

• Introduce a new culture and customs to your children

• Show your part of the U.S. to an outstanding young person from another country

• Meet your community leaders by participating in AFS activities

• See the U.S. and our culture through new eyes

• Develop a lifelong connection with your hosted student and his or her family

• Help an outstanding young person grow into a more confident and knowledgeable adult

Who can host an AFS Exchange Student?

Many kinds of families have a lot to offer our AFSers: two-parent households with young children or teenagers, single-parent families, families who have adopted children, foster parents, as well as couples or single people who do not have children or who have grown children.

What is required of an AFS Host Family?

As a host family, you would be agreeing to:

• Provide all meals for your AFS student

• Provide your student with his or her own bed (sharing a room with a sibling is fine)

• Include him or her in the life and activities of your family

• Provide the same support, care, and comfort as you would for your own child

Interested? Where do I go from here? 

Contact Steinbeck Coast Area Sending Coordinator at: hosting@afssteinbeckcoast.org or

Visit the related AFS-USA page for additional hosting information, or
Call 800-AFS-INFO