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

  Belgium

• Other Cities in Belgium: 
Bruges,  Antwerp,  Ghent
• Brussels: 
Brussels

Duration of Program: 7-12 months
Dates: Year High School (French/Flanders): Aug. 2010- Jul. 2011

Description: As one of the multicultural microcosms in the heart of Europe, mixing contemporary society with a rich history, Belgium provides an enjoyable and exciting study abroad experience. You'll walk through medieval town squares and streets in the midst of a thoroughly modern country that has influences in its culture from the French, Dutch, Austrians, and Spanish. Many towns stage reenactments of medieval times once a year, when the whole town is set to look and live as centuries before. Belgium's cuisine reflects its varied people and history, boasting one of the best experiences for your palate imaginable. And, of course, there's chocolate!

Belgium consists of three regions: Flanders in the north where most of the people speak Dutch; Wallonia in the south, where the majority is French speaking; and Brussels, the bilingual capital located in the center of the country. Both the AFS Flanders and Wallonia programs host students in Brussels, as well as their own areas. In the north, Dutch-speaking Flemings live in a flatland crisscrossed by canals. It boasts the medieval cities of Antwerp, Bruges, and Ghent. Being hosted in the French-speaking Community of Belgium, you'll get to know the Walloons who live among the rolling hills of the Ardennes sprinkled with castles and the capital city of Brussels - home to both the European Union and NATO.

Highlights: School runs from early September to late June and you'll study a standard curriculum, with possible courses in ethics and religion. Electives like art, music, and drama are taught in the evenings at special academies. You'll also celebrate an AFS Community Service Week.   AFS students are placed with volunteer host families throughout the respect regions.

Does accept recent High School graduates.

Cost in US$: Year Program- Flanders: (USD 10,500); Year Program- French: (USD 11,750)

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