Countries

Host Family

 

Students will live with host families in order to experience a true immersion into Indian culture. Families are selected based on recommendations from members of the local community, and each is carefully screened by AFS staff and volunteers. Many families hold a position of influence within their community, and all are highly regarded by their relatives and neighbors. Hosting communities exist through the presence of a strong volunteer support network, with a local volunteer, or “liaison,” available to each student hosted in the community.

 

Support Structure

 

Students are supported through a strong network of AFS staff and volunteers both in the United States and in-country in India. Within the larger volunteer community, each student will have a local volunteer, or “liaison,” assigned to him or her, who is often either an alum of the YES program, a past host parent or a teacher at the student’s school. Each student will be given a cell phone after arriving, and will have the contact number for the AFS-India office. In the case of emergency, a Duty Officer is on-call 24/7 in both India and the U.S., and this number is made available to both students on-program as well as their parents.

 

Cultural Activities

 

Numerous cultural excursions will be organized by volunteers in the host community of Chennai that will frequently include participation by Indian YES Program alumni. Students will have the opportunity for deep cultural immersion through experiencing activities such as Indian dance, drama, music, and arts and crafts. Organized excursions will include a trip to the Taj Mahal in Agra, Delhi, as well as visits to the U.S. Embassy in India.

 

School Life

 

Students will attend one of two ‘public’ schools in Chennai, which are the equivalent of private schools in the United States. The language of instruction will be English, though Indian cultural topics will be covered through a vast variety of theme-based projects and classroom activities. Most Indian schools offer four curriculum tracks, and YES Abroad students are usually enrolled in the Arts track. Classes in this track include history, geography, Indian government, psychology, and a variety of humanities electives.