Please note that AFS-USA cannot guarantee access to a sport or activity, nor can we guarantee that extra-curricular activities will be offered by the local host school. As such, we want to encourage volunteers, families, and students to create platforms for student engagement in the host community, be it virtual or in person. Talk to your Support Coordinator or Support Specialist if you need help.
We encourage local volunteers to work with the host family, local schools and other local/community institutions to assist in identifying opportunities for your student to engage. We anticipate many students may struggle with the social aspects of their program, especially early on. Having identified various activities or environments where students can safely interact with other peers their own age may assist tremendously in allowing a participant to make social connections and provide a sense of belonging and connectedness to their local community.
If local and state guidelines permit, and if the student and host family feel safe, in-person gatherings may be allowed. However, in-person gatherings should not take place unless all involved feel safe doing so, and unless it is allowed under state and local guidelines.