Financing Your AFS Experience—You Can Do IT!
Let your friends, family, school, and everybody in your community know you’re planning to study abroad with AFS. We can help by giving you strategies and ideas on ways other students have financed their programs abroad. While financing your AFS experience relies heavily on your ability to fundraise, we have scholarships and financial aid for committed students who have made a good performance during the selection process. Show you’re serious and we’ll be there for you. Remember, we have helped many students overcome financial barriers and go on an AFS experience. Click here to request more information on covering your AFS costs. Here are the key fundraising steps:
1. Plan and act early. The first thing to do is figure out how much your program will cost. Remember to factor in the required medical coverage, domestic airfare to the AFS departure city, visa and passport fees, and spending money (INR1000-INR2500 per month depending on the country).
2. Figure out what YOU can contribute. Include savings and what you may contribute from relatives. Ask your parents what they can contribute. Think of all the money your parents will save by not feeding, clothing, and entertaining you while you are abroad!
3. Raise money. AFS Returnees have developed many creative money-raising tips. Fundraising is about figuring out why you want to study abroad and then giving your friends, family, and neighbors the opportunity to help you. Here are some ways that students have worked with their friends and neighbors to help finance their AFS experience.
Where do you or your parents work?
Many AFS Participants find that their employers, or companies where their parents are employed, are eager to help by getting the word out to customers, or simply by providing advice or assistance with fundraising.
If you let AFS choose your destination,
you may eligible for a wider range of scholarships.
AFS is committed to making our programs available to qualified students through fundraising support, as well as financial aid and scholarship assistance.
Where Does the $Money$ Go?
Program Costs Abroad=37%
• Host family recruitment • Screening of host families • AFS application processing • Student placement • Orientation for students/families
• Counseling for students/families • Volunteer recruitment
• Volunteer training • Volunteer support • Domestic travel to and from host family
Program Costs in India=23%
• Promotion of AFS programs to students, parents, schools, and community representatives • Recruitment, screening, selection, and placement of students • Orientation for students and families
• Counseling for students/families • Volunteer recruitment
• Volunteer training • Volunteer support • Program and preparation materials • Host country information • Scholarships and support
International Travel=17%
• International airefare and related costs • Ticket handling and processing • Airport supervision and transfers
International Program Coordination=8%
• Coordinating AFS international exchanges • Coordinating emergency response services • Maintaining worldwide compliance with AFS program quality and operations standards
Management and Financial Support=15%
• Staff support for AFS programs and financial management • Office and equipment depreciation • Information services • Compliance with quality standards of U.S. Government • Compliance with Council on Standards for International Educational Travel
