What is the financial aid offered by AFS?

Thanks to fundraising campaigns carried out by program participants, AFS Interculture Canada can offer reduced participation fees. AFS also makes a generous grant program available to all participants.

How are the grants distributed?

All AFS program participants can obtain a grant, according to the following selection criteria:

• Social and economic situation of the participant and his family (applies only to Youth Programs)
• Overall quality of the participant’s application file
• Quality of the academic record – (applies only to foreign studies programs)
• Quality of the grant request application

What is the procedure to follow to obtain a grant?

1. When the preliminary application form has been received at the office, AFS will then send a final application file to be completed by the participant. This file contains a grant application form which will allow AFS to evaluate the eligibility of the participant. All participants will have to fill it out and return it to the AFS office with their file.
2. The participant must then prepare his fundraising campaign. AFS provides a fundraising guide that will help in this project.
3. The participant launches his campaign: he should contact potential donors, do follow-up, and he can also organize fundraising activities. He must submit lists of his donors and sponsors, as well as amounts collected, to the AFS office on a periodic basis.
4. The participant must send the total sum of funds collected, along with details of his fundraising activities, to the AFS office before the expiry date (which will be communicated).
5. The selection committee studies the requests received and communicates its decisions to the AFS office.
6. The AFS office will inform the winners.

When AFS will advise me if I am sucessul?

AFS will advise the participants chosen on:

• November 15th for Winter departure
• April 30th for Summer departure

What are the chances of obtaining a grant?

The probability of getting a grant is high, higher than in the past. AFS is undertaking an important effort to help the youths who want to go abroad. AFS envisions awarding 40 grants for 2007 departures and believes that one participant in four registered in an AFS program will get a grant.