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Skiptinám í Svíþjóð

During their exchange program with AFS, students will live in a host family, attend a local school and therefore experience a foreign culture up close. AFS á Íslandi provides a preparation camp before departure (Undirbúningsnámskeið) and a reorientation-camp (Heimkomunámskeið) where students can share their experience with volunteers and other exchange students.

The first meeting after arrival in Sweden takes place upon arrival and consists of three intense days during which the students exchange ideas and deepen their knowledge of the culture and customs of their host country.

Halfway through the programme, the students meet again for a mid-term evaluation of the first part of their experience. The third and final training meeting is scheduled just before they return home. It is intended to be a time for discussion and review of their experiences in Sweden and is attended by students from all over the world.

 

Each student will be assigned a volunteer (liaison) to accompany them throughout their journey, helping them to understand the local reality and overcome difficulties in cultural adjustment.

skilyrði

Each country may have different eligibility criteria for the students; you can find the general criteria here. Some AFS countries have stricter requirements for applicants than others, the main reason being that it can be difficult to find host families or schools. 

For example, some countries prefer not to accept vegetarians, applicants with certain medical conditions, certain allergies, or students with special dietary requirements.  

In Sweden, for instance, it is hard to find families willing to host students who smoke or have severe allergies. Students should also be prepared to live with pets, as many families have them.

We would prefer that these factors not prevent exchange programs, but at the same time we need to take into account local conditions in each country. You can contact our office to find out what are the specific criteria for the country you are interested in.