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Skiptinám í Paragvæ

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.

Volunteers in Asunción welcome AFS students for two days of preparation for the experience they are about to undertake.

After about a month, they meet again near the capital for two days of group discussions on lifestyles, culture, family life and Paraguayan schools.

AFS Paraguay also brings students together halfway through the programme for a local reflection session to evaluate the progress of the experience together. The final opportunity for discussion and debate is generally held at a tourist location and involves the final evaluation and preparation for returning home, which takes place about a month after the programme ends

AFS Paraguay and its local centres may organise other optional activities throughout the year, which may incur a cost not included in the participation fee.

As part of the programme, AFS Paraguay provides all foreign students with an online introductory Spanish course.

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 Paraguay, for instance, Paraguayan families prefer to host non-smoking students. Due to the humid and dusty climate, as well as the prevalence of pets in many households, it can be challenging to find suitable accommodation for students with asthma or allergies to dust, mould, and animals.

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.