Program Details
| Program Length | Start | End | Program Cost | Age on Departure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exchange Year | Early August | Early July | US$7,000 | 15.6 - 17.8 |
Age Explanation: Age on Departure reflect both the years and month(s) of the age of the applicant at the start of the program. For example, if the age is listed as 16.1 the applicant should be 16 years and 1 month at departure.
Paraguay Details :
Paraguay, is alive with tradition, fusing the indigenous Guaraní Indian culture with the culture of the Spanish conquistadors. West of Rio, Paraguay is the hot infertile plain of Gran Chaco, so ninety-eight percent of the population lives in the more verdant eastern half. In that half, there are many fascinating locations such as the riverside capital of Asunción, Jesuit mission ruins, and national parks. Paraguayan social life revolves around the family and soccer. In Paraguay, you’ll most likely live in a small town with easy access to a nearby city. While your host family may not have all of the modern conveniences of the U.S. (dishwashers, microwaves, or central air conditioning), you’ll find yourself looking at the world with different eyes. Paraguay is modernizing as a country, yet you will still find Guaraní Indians selling feathered headdresses in city plazas, and a traditional pace of life.
Year and Semester :
The school year runs from March through October, and you’ll take 11 courses in a standard curriculum such as chemistry, fine arts, geography, Literature, and Spanish. AFS Paraguay offers 40 hours of intensive Spanish classes a week after you arrive. Throughout the year, there are orientation activities from AFS Paraguay as well, held in different parts of the country to give participants the opportunity to see more of the country. There is also a two-week summer vacation in July that involves AFS activities, parties, and field trips.
Summer Homestay :
While living with your host family in Paraguay, you will improve your Spanish language skills, and form close friendships by participating in orientations and going to parties, and discovering places of interest like the Jesuit ruins or the Itaipu Dam—the world’s largest hydroelectric project, encompassing 526 square miles.
Summer Soccer Homestay Plus :
Come spend seven weeks in Paraguay, live with a host family, explore the culture—and play soccer! Though an exclusive partnership with the Paraguayan Olympic Committee, sponsor of the silver medal-winning Paraguayan 2004 Olympic Soccer Team, AFS Paraguay is proud to offer this program to both male and female participants. You will practice soccer techniques, hone technical skills, share in professional players’ expertise, and work with younger soccer students. There will be plenty of opportunities to compete in games including other soccer schools and teams, as well as attend First Division games of the Paraguayan Soccer Association.
Summer Community Service :
This is a unique program designed to offer participants the opportunity to perform volunteer work, as well as live with a family for a week in the capital area of Asunción. In coordination with the Moises Bertoni Foundation, participants will have the chance to perform different jobs inside a natural reserve. These could include visiting surrounding communities and interacting with indigenous people; assisting with the reforestation of native trees; maintaining camping, recreation, and visitor areas; preparing the paths used by visitors; participating in preservation activities; assisting with maintaining and building bridges; or working with the local community in soil conservation and agriculture.
