Change the world by changing minds. Help AFSers and your community appreciate and celebrate cultural differences.
Volunteer to create change
Join a movement of active citizens helping people and communities learn to live together
Apply now!AFS transforms volunteers into global citizens and changemakers
We call that the #AFSeffect!
Create change
Create community
Join a global community of change-makers and people like you. Serve as a change agent in your community.
Create yourself
Develop practical cross-cultural skills and find your place as a global citizen, leader and changemaker in your community.
Create future
Lead diverse teams at home or around the world and promote inclusive societies for sustainable development.
How to become an AFS Volunteer
Send an inquiry
To ensure the safety of and support to AFS students, all volunteers must be registered. Our application process is thorough and provides what we need to make volunteers successful. Feel stuck? We’re here to help.
Meet AFS volunteers
Find out more about us and what volunteering with AFS is all about. Then together we can clarify the best role for you based on availability, and what you want to learn and do.
Get trained
Receive basic training to be an AFS Volunteer, including What Every AFSer Should Know About Intercultural Learning™, to prepare for an engaging, meaningful volunteer assignment.
Begin your journey
You will have an amazing time no matter what you do for AFS. You’ll meet interesting students, make friends from around the world, work with passionate volunteers and gain intercultural and other skills that will last a lifetime.
Every volunteer makes a huge impact at AFS
Support
- Match AFS students with host families
- Help host families get to know their AFS student
- Be a liaison for host schools
- Introduce international students to your community
- Check in with students or host families regularly to monitor programs
Plan
- Organize orientations for study abroad and hosting programs
- Arrange awesome social events and cultural trips
- Bring host families together to share experiences
- Set-up information sessions for students, families or volunteers
Train
- Guide AFSers and others through intercultural learning journeys
- Introduce students to your country’s culture
- Facilitate learning through creative activities
- Share your own global experience and cultural insights
Manage & Lead
- Launch community projects helping others learn how to respect, appreciate and value other cultures
- Serve on local AFS groups and boards
- Learn how to manage local volunteers
- Inspire others to serve their community
Volunteer on the other side of the world
Want to volunteer abroad to tackle issue that you are passionate about? AFSNext lets you choose your area of interest—from working with youth to environmental issues—in a part of the world that you would like to work in and learn from.
Challenge yourself while supporting others
By volunteering with AFS you can:
- Work closely with experienced volunteers to find creative solutions
- Take on challenging situations for personal growth
- Polish practical skills to gain a competitive edge at school or work
- Train to become an intercultural learning facilitator
- Learn how to make better decisions and solve problems
- Develop leaderships skills you will use forever
AFS Mission
AFS is an international voluntary, non-governmental, non-profit organization that provides intercultural learning opportunities to help people develop the knowledge, skills and understanding needed to create a more just and peaceful world.
AFS Communities
These are active communities with established sets of community officers.
LUZON
Laoag, Ilocos Norte
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
Baguio
Metro Manila
Cavite
Palawan
Naga
VISAYAS
Aklan
Antique
Roxas City, Capiz
Tacloban, Leyte
Negros Occidental
MINDANAO
Zamboanga City
Cagayan De Oro
Cotabato
Dapitan
Meet AFS volunteers and their projects
"What I love the most about AFS is that I never fail to leave an event feeling changed in one way or another. Every time I come in contact with these wonderful people I learn more about myself and the world and can only hope I have as big of an impact on participants and other volunteers." Vinni, volunteer of AFS Germany
Meet AFS volunteers
Change in the making
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ICL for All
Students from Infant Jesus Academy Marikina & Antipolo campuses, Lyceum of the Philippines Laguna and Cavite campuses, and Global Innovative… -
YES Abroad Language Camp and ACCESS Interaction
Last October 15-17, 2019, AFS Philippines conducted a three-day Filipino Language Camp for the YES Abroad participants hosted for the… -
ICL Workshop in Davao
Around 50 students and educators were present during the ICL Level W Workshop conducted on October 12, 2019. The said…
Engaging with my community; meeting people from around the world
Joining my local group of AFS volunteers gave me the opportunity to develop many skills, such as how to work in a team and interact with people from different backgrounds. As an AFS volunteer, I am more engaged in my community and I meet people from all over the world. Helping students, teachers and families embark on intercultural learning adventures makes me appreciate the importance of world peace and intercultural understanding.”
—Marcela Vazquez, AFS Argentina volunteer
AFS supports UN Sustainable Development Goals
AFS believes the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) #4 and #16 provide a roadmap to help make our world a better place for all people.
Global Goal #4:
QUALITY EDUCATION
Ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning
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.
Global Goal #16
PEACE, JUSTICE AND STRONG INSTITUTIONS
Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies
Goal #16 has three main objectives: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.
Empowering people of all ages to respect and appreciate differences
AFS is an inclusive community of global citizens committed to fostering intercultural learning as a powerful peace-building tool. Through AFS study abroad and changemaking programs, our volunteers help students, young adults, families and others take their first steps to becoming global citizens.
Partner Schools
LUZON
University of Northern Philippines
Northwestern University
Saint Mary’s University
University of Saint Louis Tuguegarao
University of Baguio
University of the Cordilleras
National University Baliwag, Clark, Dasmariñas, Laguna, Lipa, Manila, Nazareth, MOA, Asia Pacífic College, Fairview
Crecencia Drusila Lopez Senior High School
De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute
Lyceum of the Philippines University – Cavite
University of Batangas Lipa, Batangas City
Batangas State University
Life College
Bicol University
Universidad de Sta. Isabel
De La Salle Santiago Zobel School
Polytechnic University of the Philippines
Raja Soliman Science and Technology High School
World Citi College
Xavier School San Juan
De La Salle Lipa
Cainta Catholic College
Catanduanes State University
City College Calamba
Mariano Marcos State University
Escuela de Sophia of Caloocan
Brightwoods School
VISAYAS
Technological University of the Philippines Visayas
Carlos Hilado Memorial State University
Southland College
National University Bacolod
STI West Negros University
University of St. La Salle Bacolod
Negros Occidental Language and Information Technology Center
Angelicum School
Northwestern Visayan Colleges
University of Antique
Filamer Christian University
St. Paul University Dumaguete
Tanauan School of Craftsmanship and Home Industries
San Policarpio National Highschool
San Isidro National High School
Tolosa National High School
St. Anthony’s College
University of San Jose – Recoletos
Silliman University
Marie Ernestine School
Negros Oriental State University
MINDANAO
Jose Rizal Memorial State University
Xavier University- Ateneo de Cagayan
Liceo de Cagayan University
Capitol University
University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP)
Brokenshire College
Philippine Nikkei Jin Kai International School
Holy Trinity College
Mindanao State University – GenSan
What is an AFS School Club?
AFS School Club is a school-based support-system of the National Office to carry out the organization’s mission through the synergy of committed, responsible and motivated volunteers. It is established within the partner school and is under the direct supervision of the Volunteer and Community Development Program of the National Office.
Resources and Good Reads
Volunteer Voices
This volunteer-driven blog is a platform where AFSers exchange ideas about their local and global changemaking and social impact activities. At the start of every dream, change and impact, there is a good story.
Connect: Intercultural Insights for Global Citizens
This digital magazine explores intercultural and global citizenship education, voluntarism and social impact, through articles, interviews, and learning tools created by respected thought leaders and experts.
AFS Perspectives: Helping the world learn to live together
Written by AFS experts from around the world, this blog champions diverse perspectives about culture and education, inspiring readers to become intercultural leaders of their communities.
Intercultural Learning (ICL) for AFS & Friends
Series of insightful and concise essays on key intercultural concepts based on research and practical experiences. The series is produced by AFS education experts for anyone studying about or working with intercultural topics.
The Volunteers: Americans Join World War I, 1914—1919
This Curriculum for secondary school educators takes a unique approach to volunteerism, intercultural competence and global citizenship education, since the volunteer efforts of young people during World War I until today.