AFS commitment towards the host families

Students remain under the responsibility •and legal guardianship of AFS Interculture CanadaAFS ensures the security and the protection of •the participants AFS offers adequate support and maintains an •emergency service, 24 hours per day, 365 days per yearAFS provides a host family guide including •information related to rules and hosting procedures AFS refunds any school and medical fees of •the students after their approval by the AFS officeAFS maintains appropriate insurance •coverage AFS prepares the participants and offers •orientation sessions upon their arrival, at the mid-stay and before their departure AFS offers the services of a counsellor who •will get in touch with the student and the family at least once a month AFS employs our 60 years of experience •in intercultural hosting in more than 50 countries

Host family commitment towards AFS and the foreign student

Provide the student with a clean and safe •environment as well as a roof and daily mealsHost families ensure that they remain available•Establish a significant and happy relationship•with the student.Support the student in his integration in school •and in the communityCommunicate the house rules•Collaborate and get in touch frequently with •AFS volunteersEncourage a monthly contact between the •student and his AFS counsellor.

Why host with AFS?

To help realize the dream of a host student•To discover the culture, history, arts and customs •of another countryTo spice up your everyday family life •For the experience, the international recognition •and the support provided by AFSTo develop ties with international students from •around the worldAs an AFS host family, you join one of the •world’s largest communities dedicated to intercultural understanding and peace

AFS Interculture Canada1425 Rene-Lévesque Blvd. West Office1100Montreal, (QC) H3G 1T7Tel. (514) 288-3282 or 1 800 361-7248Email: info-canada@afs.org

www.afscanada.org

Become an AFS host family!

WHO IS AFS?

Mission

AFS Interculture Canada is an international, voluntary, non-profit organization that providesintercultural learning opportunities to help people develop the knowledge, skills and understanding needed to create a more just and peaceful world. AFS Interculture Canada is a member of the AFS International network with ties in up to 50 countries. More than 13,000 young people a year live the AFS experience – a total of 400,000 participants since 1947. The network boasts more than 42,000 active volunteers. AFS is recognized to be of public interest by the UNESCO.

Since its beginning, AFS has developed a wide choice of programs to meet the expectations of participants and families.

The project

To host a foreign student, to provide him with a roof, food and the affection and support required to ensure successful integration. To teach him English, share your culture and develop long-term bonds. This experience will allow the family to discover a new culture and strengthen bonds with international youth. The students are between 15 and 18 years old and they come from more than 30 countries around the world. They attend a local high school in your neighbourhood and will become a member of your family.

The lenght

Most of our families host for a period of 11 months (a school year), from August to July. In certain regions, we also run Semester and Short Summer Programs so it is therefore possible in these areas to host for a period of 4 weeks or 5 months.

Selection procedure

In the selection of host families, AFS makes no distinction as to race, language, religion or social status. All families can host a foreign student as a chance to open themselves to the world. Families don’t need to have children to host a student with AFS. Do you want to give the opportunity to yourself and/or your children to discover a new culture, or you want to give them the brother or sister they always wanted? Then you can become an AFS host family.

AFS carefully chooses its host families. You want to host a student? Please register online at www.afscanada.org under «Become a host family». An AFS volunteer will then meet with your family to establish your profile and ensurethe best match possible with a foreign student. Please note that AFS has the responsibility to check for criminal offences related to abuse and family violence.