Deprecated: Return type of Pimple\Container::offsetExists($id) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetExists(mixed $offset): bool, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /var/app/current/wp-content/plugins/core/vendor/pimple/pimple/src/Pimple/Container.php on line 128 Deprecated: Return type of Pimple\Container::offsetGet($id) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetGet(mixed $offset): mixed, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /var/app/current/wp-content/plugins/core/vendor/pimple/pimple/src/Pimple/Container.php on line 93 Deprecated: Return type of Pimple\Container::offsetSet($id, $value) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetSet(mixed $offset, mixed $value): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /var/app/current/wp-content/plugins/core/vendor/pimple/pimple/src/Pimple/Container.php on line 74 Deprecated: Return type of Pimple\Container::offsetUnset($id) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetUnset(mixed $offset): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /var/app/current/wp-content/plugins/core/vendor/pimple/pimple/src/Pimple/Container.php on line 138 Deprecated: Constant FILTER_SANITIZE_STRING is deprecated in /var/app/current/wp-content/plugins/gravityformscoupons/class-gf-coupons.php on line 480 Deprecated: Return type of ModularContent\Sets\Set::jsonSerialize() should either be compatible with JsonSerializable::jsonSerialize(): mixed, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /var/app/current/wp-content/plugins/panel-builder/ModularContent/Sets/Set.php on line 30 Educating active global citizens to make a real difference | AFS Intercultural Programs Educating active global citizens to make a real difference | AFS Intercultural Programs
EDUCATION

Educating active global citizens to make a real difference

Learn more

Explore our innovative offerings

Picture1

Global Up: a blended learning program for all ages

Global Up is a research-based interactive program that equips learners with tangible global competence skills through versions developed for different age-groups (adults and teens) and audiences (HEI, workplaces, schools, and more). At the end of the program, learners earn the AFS Global Competence Certificate.

Find out more
FRA 1

AFS Effect+ Program: bringing Active Global Citizenship to schools

AFS Effect+ Program is a hands-on learning program that introduces students to the UN SDGs and how to work together to help advance these goals in their communities. The current AFS Effect+ versions include workshops for teens led by AFS facilitators and a fully free Classroom Edition of the Program for high-school teachers with training and resources.

Find out more
a517e04d-211e-4fd3-b3f5-1ca1d315ed97

AFS Global You Programs: fully virtual exchanges for teens

Now teens don’t have to travel to become exchange students. Teens can experience intercultural learning, meet peers around the world, and become Global Citizens from home! AFS Global You are high-impact, educational, fun, and truly global virtual programs based on decades of expertise in the field, these programs build personal and professional changemaker mindset and skills.

Find out more

Our curricula ensure students, families and volunteers gain key competences

  1. AFS Student Learning Journey & Curriculum

  2. Host Family Intercultural Learning Journey & Curriculum

  3. Training Programs for AFS Volunteers and Staff

Our educational methodology: How we help students become global citizens

AFS empowers students, families, volunteers, staff, and all people it touches with essential global skills—and the passion for making a difference.

As a global education organization with 100+ years of experience, we envision a world in which people from all backgrounds embrace differences and believe that we are stronger because of them, a world where individuals and institutions are empowered to actively work towards advancing global understanding, and take action for collective well-being and sustainable development.

AFS educational programs and initiatives offer a transformative learning journey: through our educational programs and initiatives, we put learners at the center of their learning journeys, guiding and supporting them along the way. Learners reflect on how they impact the world around them and learn how to build bridges among cultures and work together to create positive change. They are then encouraged to experiment and put into practice based on insights gained—and continue the cycle of learning.

OUR APPROACH IS THEN:
  • Transformative
  • Goal-based
  • Non-formal (a complement to the classroom)
  • Experiential
  • Lifelong

These principles guide the AFS Student Learning Journey in which student participants work toward the AFS Educational Goals in a progressive, developmentally designed manner to become interculturally competent, responsible global citizens and agents of positive social change.

AFS believes that intercultural challenges and learning moments are inevitable parts of our everyday lives, our classrooms and public spaces. To prepare students to engage effectively across cultural and other differences, we take our young participants on a transformative learning journey. Through our programs and other offerings, we help participants:

  • Learn firsthand about the impact of culture on values and the decisions
    they make,
  • Gain the ability to better see themselves through the eyes of others
  • Challenge assumptions,
  • Broaden their views on cultural stereotypes and global issues,
  • Begin to understand how to shift perspectives effectively, appropriately and
    authentically.

Intercultural education reinforces 21st century education goals

We empower people from all backgrounds to:
12185390_1092479060776216_7653810579463545328_o

Broaden perspectives

about themselves and the world around them

1-qabpQKyiM01aB-IysH1oLQ

Learn and respect differences

and believe a diverse world is a stronger and more interesting place

12186322_1090865200937602_1142071203018483546_o

Communicate and collaborate across cultures

in a sensitive and mindful way

12186745_1090866624270793_253147403824816725_o

Appreciate other cultures

and encourage others to be open to new ideas, attitudes and traditions

11722400_1090369610987161_831319071677959310_o

Build skills to use in STEM and other key areas

by using critical thinking and problem solving activities

11699066_1031817343509055_4153953790175570550_o

Become part of the AFS global community

to build bridges across cultures and bring diverse communities together

GOAL4

AFS Global Citizenship Education Agenda supports

UN Sustainable Development Goal #4

Ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning  

Specifically, Goal #4 focuses on the knowledge and skills needed to promote “sustainable development” and “sustainable lifestyles,” human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development.

Learn more about Goal #4

AFS Alliances & Partnerships

“There is a clear relevance of AFS’ work to the current programs and activities of UNESCO, particularly in the fields of education, youth, and intercultural dialogue. Indeed, cooperation between UNESCO and AFS has a solid foundation based on many areas of common interest, synergies and previous collaborations.”

—Irina Bokova, Director General, UNESCO

AFS has official recognition by Ministries of Education in 24 countries
_94A9020

AFS & UNESCO

As of 2015, AFS is proud to have entered into a “consultative status” partnership with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). This status enables both organizations to collaborate on initiatives of mutual interest and social good.

AFS works closely and creatively with schools, universities, humanitarian and peace groups, governments and other NGOs on the issues that reflect our mission.

Go to UNESCO's Global Citizenship Education site

Latest education blogs and articles

  1. AMERICANED_SKYLINE_007

    How to Start Bridging Cultural Differences in the Classroom

    by Andrés Peñaloza Lanza, Educator and School Relations Consultant at AFS Intercultural Programs According to the United Nations, three-quarters of the world’s major conflicts are rooted in cultural differences. Learning how…
  2. 22852200_1866802226681966_1614459038879954009_n

    Leveraging Global Competence to Teach Science

    by Andrés Peñaloza Lanza, Educator and School Relations Consultant, AFS Intercultural Programs   What are the intersections of global competence, sustainable development and science? AFS’ Andres Lanza recently sat down for…
  3. Educación ALEI-01 copy

    Empowering Latin American Teachers to Deliver Global Education

    Educators and schools have long been demanding effective intercultural learning programs and tools that will support them in building global competence in their students. To address these growing demands, the…
Read more
  1. AMERICANED_SKYLINE_007

    How to Start Bridging Cultural Differences in the Classroom

    by Andrés Peñaloza Lanza, Educator and School Relations Consultant at AFS Intercultural Programs According to the United Nations, three-quarters of the world’s major conflicts are rooted in cultural differences. Learning how…
  2. 1wDprDmHHEXJGWvnqFoMiKg

    The Challenge of Assessing Intercultural Competence

    AFS has a long-standing history of significant contributions to the research of intercultural education, often working in partnership with leading institutions and notable researchers. In an effort to get a better…
  3. Untitled.001

    AFS and UPenn Partner to Empower Young People to Change the World

    Young people all over the world are calling for change – but do they have the skills they need to create the change they want to see? Last month, AFS…
Read more

AFS Now: Insights for Active Global Citizens

Stay updated on AFS educational offers and initiatives and how AFS is making an impact around the world.

Subscribe now!

  1. Work with us

  2. AFS research

  3. AFS Global Conference

  4. Center for Intercultural Learning & Global Competence Education
Deprecated: Function wp_make_content_images_responsive is deprecated since version 5.5.0! Use wp_filter_content_tags() instead. in /var/app/current/wp/wp-includes/functions.php on line 5453 Deprecated: Function wp_make_content_images_responsive is deprecated since version 5.5.0! Use wp_filter_content_tags() instead. in /var/app/current/wp/wp-includes/functions.php on line 5453
Deprecated: Function wp_make_content_images_responsive is deprecated since version 5.5.0! Use wp_filter_content_tags() instead. in /var/app/current/wp/wp-includes/functions.php on line 5453 Deprecated: Function wp_make_content_images_responsive is deprecated since version 5.5.0! Use wp_filter_content_tags() instead. in /var/app/current/wp/wp-includes/functions.php on line 5453 Deprecated: Function wp_make_content_images_responsive is deprecated since version 5.5.0! Use wp_filter_content_tags() instead. in /var/app/current/wp/wp-includes/functions.php on line 5453