American Field Service (AFS) has developed an exchange programme, which enables students to live with foreign families for close to a year.
During their stay, foreign students are treated as a part of the family. "Students stay with 'host' families, which treat them as their natural children. Foreign students reciprocate by treating their hosts as their parents," said AFS counsellor Tanee Trivedy.
This year Lucia Cannas,17, Bianca Palchetti,17, from Italy; and Eugenie Draelants, 18, Sebastien Anaet ,18, and Celine Zachary, 23, from Belgium are in India and will be here for a year. "I have visited the Golden Temple and Wagah border with my host family," said Palchetti, who is currently studying at St Xavier's College.
Sebastien, who works with the Spastic Society of India, terms his family vacation to Kerala as 'unforgettable'. "Travelling in the second class sleeper compartment is an experience that I will never forget," added Anaet.
The international, non-profit organisation has over three lakh participants and one lakh volunteers. "Security is a major concern when children are being sent to other countries. We have a network of volunteers who ensure utmost safety," said Trivedy.
The organisation has more than 3 lakh alumni from the programme. "A year-long stay creates awareness about the local conditions in a country. Currently we have more than 325000 individuals who have participated in the programme," informed Arvind Agarwal, president of the AFS (Mumbai Chapter), who has participated in the exchange.
Indian student Dushyant Karnik ,17, who stayed with the Stitt family in North Tonawanda, New York, cherishes his memories. "I was in tears when I had to leave my host family, since they had become an important part of my life," said Karnik.
The 90-year-old AFS began as a transport service for wounded soldiers during World War II. Between the two world wars, the service changed its format to a student exchange programme by sending 222 college students on fellowships to and from the United States.
After World War II, AFS drivers pledged to sustain their tradition of international
service and created the AFS international scholarships.
r_gauri@dnaindia.net
