Unique position

In 1948 the first four Belgian students left for the United States. The first American students came to Belgium in 1951. In 1958, an AFS Belgium office, supported by volunteers, was founded in Brussels.

The specific political situation in Belgium, with a special kind of autonomy for both the Flemish and Walloon community, resulted in 1978 in the foundation of two independent sister organisations: AFS Belgium Flanders (Flemish community) and AFS Belgium French (Walloon Community), both recognised by the Ministry of Culture of its own community.

AFS is a volunteer based organisation. AFS Belgium Flanders has about 800 active volunteers. These volunteers, who are program returnees, their parents and former host families, help Flemish and foreign program participants on their intercultural adventure. The volunteers are the first in line to be in contact with our participants. Next to support, education and information, they offer a whole lot of fun and activities.

The chapter members dedicate a lot of their free time to AFS. One member of the local committee will be personally responsible for keeping in touch with you: he/she is your youth counsellor.

Our volunteers get support from the professional staff in Mechelen.

They are organised in 14 local chapters. Each chapter has a youngster and a parents chapter. Next to this, there are three '18-plus' chapters for participants of the Community Service Program, the Vocational Program and the EVS Program.

Every year about 200 AFs-students from all over the world come to Flanders for their exchange year (or shorter stay). The past 60 years about 13.000 students and community service workers have enjoyed Flemish hospitality.

This year Flanders is only too happy to welcome students on the Year Program or Short Stay from: