Pacific Cascades Area
AFS Intercultural Programs

AFS is the leading high school foreign exchange program, with opportunities to live and study in over 50 countries worldwide. 

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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, AFS has financial aid and scholarships for committed students who have made strong fundraising efforts. Show you’re serious and AFS will be there for you. Remember, AFS has helped thousand of student overcome financial barriers to an AFS experience.

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 ($100-$250 per month depending on the country.

2. Figure out what you can contribute. Include saving and what you can make on a job. 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.

Call 1-800-AFS-INFO or visit www.afs.org/usa for a free copy of our booklet, Financing Your AFS Experience. (Extracted from the AFS catalog 2006)

This book will give you some tips and guidelines on different ways to finance your experience including:

• Scholarships and financial aid from AFS
• Summer or after school employment
• Organized fundraising activities you can do by yourself or with a groups
• Letter writing to companies and organizations for donations. Things to remember

How Much Will It Cost?

How much will your AFS experience cost? Here is a worksheet to help you assess your financial needs.
_______ 1. AFS Program Fee
_______ 2. Spending money for the program (an average of $125 per month is usually recommended)
_______ 3. Transportation from your home to the U.S. departure city (and back)
_______ 4. Medical exam, tests, immunizations (if not covered by your insurance)
_______ 5. Passport/visa fees
_______ 6. Total funds you will need (Add up lines 1-5)
_______ 7. How much your family/parents will be able to contribute
_______ 8. How much you personally plan to contribute from: From Part-time jobs; from. Savings
_______ 9. Total you and your family will contribute (line 7 + line 8 = line 9)
______ 10. Remaining funds needed (Subtract line 9 From line 6)

For More Information, email the AFS Pacific Cascades Area team at info@afscascades.org to find out how local volunteers can help you..

Last revision November 5, 2006