AFS Intercultural Programs: Brazil High School and Gap-Year Programs

  Brazil

• Southern Brazil: 
Brasilia

Durations of Program: 3-6 months and 7-12 months
Dates: Year High School (Fall): Jul. 2010- Jul. 2011; Year High School (Spring): Feb. 2011- Jan. 2012; Semester High School (Fall): Jul. 2010- Jan. 2011; Semester High School (Spring): Feb. 2011- Jul. 2011

Description: Come to the country that celebrates life everyday! From Carnaval, one of the world's most famous celebrations, to the hospitable nature of the Brazilian people, to the ever-present futbol (soccer) culture, Brazil never fails to excite all the senses. Brazil is the largest, most populous, and the only Portuguese-speaking country in Latin America. It is a land of diversity, present in its Amazon rainforest, beaches, cities, and the people, who include native Indians and people of Portuguese, European, and African ancestries. You'll easily make friends, since Brazilians love to share their culture and learn about others. You will be invited to join in soccer matches, traditional dances, festivals, street parades, guitar gatherings, barbecues, parties at the beach, and much more. If you're up for a challenge, try your hand at capoeira, the 400-year-old Afro-Brazilian art form that combines martial arts, music, dance, and ritual. Family life is important here, so don't be surprised if many extended family members want to get to know you during your stay. AFS host family placements are located throughout Brazil.

Highlights: This program is offered to high school students who wish to experience a country with a diverse cultural background. Students will attend carefully selected private or public schools. There will be a compulsory curriculum of 8 to 10 subjects per year that all students must follow. AFS Volunteers may create opportunities for short-term exchanges to different AFS Chapters provided the students shows good cultural adaptation and school attendance. A regional orientation will be held about six weeks after your arrival orientation. Optional trips are offered through an AFS Brazil third-party provider at an additional cost and may include the Pantanal, one of the largest and most ecologically diverse wetlands on the planet; the amazing Amazon region; or the awe-inspiring Iguazú Falls, the widest waterfall in the world. This trip is designed for people who want to see and experience the Brazilian/Amazonian reality and its mysteries. AFS students will be placed with volunteer host families, located throughout Brazil.

Programs do accept recent high school graduates.

Cost in US$: Year (Fall): (USD 10,500); Year (Spring): (USD 9,250); Semester (Fall): (USD 9,500); Semester (Spring): (USD 8,500)

This Program is open to American Participants.

Application Process Involves:

• In-Person Interview Required
• Written Application

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network

AFS Intercultural Programs/USA's Mission Statement: AFS Intercultural Programs 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 Intercultural Programs is a leader in intercultural learning and offers international exchange programs in over 50 countries around the world through independent, not-for-profit AFS organizations, each with a network of volunteers, a professionally staffed office, and headed up by a volunteer board.

Year Founded: 1947