Volunteer to create change

Join a network of active citizens who help people and communities live together

Apply now

Create change

Change the world by changing the way people see things. Help AFS participants and your community appreciate and celebrate cultural differences.

Join a community

Join a global community of change-makers just like you. Become an agent of change in your community.

Redefine yourself

Develop practical intercultural skills and find your place as a global citizen, leader, and change-maker in your community.

Design the future

Guide diverse teams here and around the world to promote inclusive societies for sustainable development.

How to become an AFS volunteer?

Apply Online

To ensure student safety and support, all AFS volunteers must be registered. Our process is rigorous to ensure a successful experience for everyone.

Meet AFS volunteers

Learn more about AFS volunteering and how you can make a meaningful and satisfying contribution to our committed organization.

Complete your training

Participate in our training program and prepare for a rewarding and engaging experience with AFS. You’ll be equipped to make a real difference among international students.

Start your experience

Join AFS for an unforgettable experience. Meet international people, develop intercultural skills, and build lasting connections with friends from around the world.

Description of Volunteer Roles

Explore the available roles below to find the one that best matches your skills, interests, and availability.

Camp and Orientation Facilitator

  • Objective: Support AFS Participants on their AFS journey from start to finish.
  • Activities: Organize camps and local orientations, lead activities.
  • Availability: Subject to the region and needs, usually weekends.
    • Sending: Spring for Canadian students going abroad.
    • Hosting: August to June for hosted students.
  • Requirements: Complete the necessary trainings.

Host Family Interviewer

  • Objective: Meet with families interested in hosting an AFS Participant.
  • Activities: Conduct interviews, write an evaluation report, and visit families’ homes.
  • Availability: As-needed, February to August.
  • Requirements: Complete the necessary trainings.

Temporary Respite Family

  • Objective: Provide short-term accommodation to an AFS Participant while they wait for a permanent family.
  • Availability: As-needed, August to June.
  • Requirements: Complete an interview, criminal record check, and host family application.

Student Information Sessions

  • Objective: Introduce the AFS program to prospective participants.
  • Activities: Deliver presentations in schools, represent AFS at activity fairs, deliver information sessions.
  • Availability: Daytime, evening, weekend.
  • Requirements: Complete all required trainings.

Scholarship Selection Committee (Montreal office)

  • Objective: Select scholarship recipients for the AFS study abroad program.
  • Activities: Review and evaluate scholarship applications.
  • Requirements: Fluency in French and English, maintain confidentiality.
  • Availability: Schedule is flexible, must be able to travel to the AFS office in Montreal.

Local Contact

  • Objective: Support an AFS Participant and their host family.
  • Activities: Act as a listening ear to your student, facilitate communication, write monthly reports. 
  • Requirements: Knowledge of AFS values ​​and procedures, listening skills, and discretion.
  • Availability: 2-3 hours per month from mid-August to mid-July.

Participant Interviewer

  • Objective: Meet with prospective AFS Participants and their families during the application process.
  • Activities: Conduct interviews and write an evaluation report.
  • Availability: As-needed throughout the school year, done in-person and virtually.
  • Requirements: Complete the necessary trainings.

Airport Facilitator

  • Objective: Assist AFS Participants upon their arrival and departure at major airports such as Montreal, Ottawa, and Toronto.
  • Activities: Greet AFS Participants upon arrival in Canada, connect students with their rides, assist students with lost luggage, assist with check-in.
  • Availability: Arrivals–August, departures–January and June.
  • Requirements: Be welcoming, resourceful, and good at problem solving.

Intercultural Certificate Mentor

  • Objective: Support AFS Participants who choose to complete the Intercultural Certificate in their learning throughout the AFS experience.
  • Activities: Meet with student (virtually) periodically throughout their AFS program, read and comment students’ reflection papers.
  • Availability: Full-year commitment.
  • Requirements: Knowledge of intercultural competence and good communication skills–all new mentors will be supported by a coach.

Translator

  • Objective: Translate and edit documents for the AFS office.
  • Activities: Translation from French to English and vice versa–registration documents, guides, brochures, etc.
  • Availability: As-needed.
  • Requirements: Excellent command of written French and English.

All volunteers are important at AFS

Support

  • Matching AFS students with their host families;
  • Helping host families get to know their student;
  • Liaising with host schools;
  • Introducing international students to their new community;
  • Serving as a liaison between the student and their family.

Planning

  • Organize orientation sessions for students in both the sending and receiving programs;
  • Prepare cultural events and activities;
  • Connect host families to share their experiences;
  • Offer information sessions for students, families, and the volunteer network.

Training

  • Guiding AFS students in their intercultural experience;
  • Sharing your culture with host students;
  • Supporting learning through creative activities;
  • Sharing your own cultural experiences and insights.

Build

  • Create community projects that help people learn about, respect, appreciate, and value other cultures;
  • Serve on an AFS committee or board of directors;
  • Learn to manage a local volunteer network;
  • And inspire others to get involved in the community.

Engage in the community and meet people from all over the world

« Meeting people from here and elsewhere allows me to be a fulfilled person and to offer an education open to the world to my children. In my opinion, culture, humanist values ​​and open-mindedness facilitate peace and generosity in people. AFS allows me to be part of this and to promote a social vision adapted to a better world.”

—Maggy O’Grady, volunteer at AFS Interculture Canada

 

Challenge yourself by helping other people

By volunteering with AFS you can:

  • Helping international students achieve their dreams and integrate into a new society;
  • Working closely with experienced volunteers to find creative solutions;
  • Transforming challenging experiences into opportunities for personal learning;
  • Improving your practical skills at work or school;
  • Training to become a resource person in intercultural learning;
  • Learning to improve your decision-making and problem-solving skills;
  • Developing leadership qualities you will use for a lifetime.