Program Details
| Program Length | Start | End | Program Cost | Age on Departure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exchange Year | August | Early July | US$7,000 | 15 - 18 |
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.
Venezuela Details :
Venezuela’s varied terrain encompasses Caribbean beaches, tropical rainforests, perennially snow-capped mountains, parched deserts and fertile farmland. Even so, 83% of Venezuelans live in northern cities, making their country the most urbanized nation in Latin America. Because oil production is Venezuela’s chief industry, urbanization intensified during the 1970s when international petroleum prices quadrupled. The surging export income, however, failed to benefit all Venezuelans, which has led to political and social tensions. Nonetheless, most Venezuelans are laid-back, friendly, young (half the population is under 18) and unpretentious. In fact, they use “tú” (Spanish for “you” in the familial and intimate sense) more freely than Spanish-speakers anywhere else, who usually opt for the more formal “usted.” They also love to dance; even toddlers try salsa and meringue. And although Venezuela starts its workday an hour or two earlier than most other nations, unhurried workers often take extended lunch hours, sometimes returning home. In Caracas and other cities, this creates four traffic-clogged rush hours every workday.
Education Details :
The Venezuelan school system is based on 11 years of formal education: nine years of elementary school (compulsory) and two of secondary school. University is an
additional five years of study. Secondary school is divided into two areas of study: sciences and humanities. This is intended to lead the student to a vocational field. There are no optional subjects, and all students choose a specialty field and study all subjects. In Venezuela, the grading system is based on continuous evaluation, with no final exams. For the most part, schools offer few extracurricular activities. AFS volunteers, however, have established relationships with local community organizations that allow students to take part in sports, aerobics, music and the arts. The most popular sports are baseball, basketball and boxing.
