AFS Is Seeking Host Families

Each year, AFS hosts more than 2,400 high school students from around the world in communities across the United States and sends nearly 1,900 American students to countries abroad. This past school year, more than 25 Connecticut families hosted AFS students from overseas. Students returned home the first week of July.

AFS host mom Patricia Benner said, “There are many misconceptions about hosting. People think you need to be rich to host, but that isn’t true. We were able to afford two students this year.

“People think that in order to host they should have their own teenagers at home, which also isn’t true. Another misconception is that you have to entertain students all of the time. The key is giving your host student experiences in daily living. Let them experience what it is like to be part of any American family. They’re not a guest or someone on vacation. They become members of the family.”

Host families open their homes and hearts to students, and provide students with a bed, meals, guidance, and support. There are many kinds of host families. Host families are two-parent households with small children, teenagers, or no children at home, single parents, grandparents, and adults who do not have children.

Families receive the support of AFS staff and volunteers. Students come with their own spending money and medical coverage, and have a desire to participate as an active member of a host family and a community.

AFS, formerly the American Field Service, is a worldwide nonprofit that was founded 56 years ago by World War I and II volunteer ambulance drivers who believed that learning exchanges would help create world peace. AFS provides full year, semester, and summer programs for high school students, as well as programs for college age students and teachers seeking community service and learning experiences.

Families who wish to host an AFS Exchange Student or people seeking more information about AFS programs abroad are encouraged to contact AFS at afsinfo@afs.org or 800-AFS-INFO.