Experience #AFSEffect | Read the Words from the AFSers

AFS programs help to transcend one’s singular worldview, to see afresh, to learn more about others and oneself. As students develop friendships across cultures and become comfortable with differences, they contribute to the much needed goals of peace, social justice, and equality. This is my takeaway from the AFS association till date.

- Amrita Burman

Chandrajit Chingakham (AFS Alumni 2011-12)

Amrita Burman (Deputy Director, Sunbeam Group of Educaonal Instuons)

Amrita Burman says, “Over the past fewyears with AFS programs becoming popular and more parents and students geng interested in Inter-cultural exchanges, the intercultural immersions have really taken root in Sunbeam Schools. Increased contact among people of the world…. while, we have hosted children from abroad orwhen our children have gone abroad, has promoted understanding, tolerance, and respect among people of different cultures in a big way.

I feel developing intercultural competencies has become absolutely important and imperave for today’s students, in a world which is fast becoming a global village. I have seen students returning back from such programs have a biggervision, are more independent and risk taking and have greater decision making abilies. They also become very adapve and flexible in thought and approach and are problem solvers.

I have also seen them take bigger pride in being an INDIAN and make that bit of extra effort to project their country in beer light. At the same me they respect other naons and naonalies and appreciave of their culture and tradion.

While on a program and living with a host family, I have seen my students develop love and proficiency for the host language which becomes a key to developing intercultural communicave competencies, which also leads to lifelong relaonships across cultures.

Staying with host families are the most excing component, helping parcipants to merge into the culture, developing life-long relaonships, aiding language learning, and providing a sense of security.

It’s also very heartening to see that on return from programs, children engage in acvies that impact others through educaon and service having engaged in serious community development program while on an exchange.

For me as an educator, AFS programs help to transcend one’s singular worldview, to see afresh, to learn more about others and oneself. As students develop friendships across cultures and become comfortable with differences, they contribute to the much needed goals of peace, social jusce, and equality. This is my takeaway from the AFS associaon ll date.”

Chandrajit says, “I went on AFS program in 2011. MyAFS journeywas a foundaon to become a responsible cizens and a responsible child for my parents. Before going on AFS program, I was shy, mid and I was not able to make a good decision. The transion is unbelievable when I look back today and it was a year of self discovery.

AFS helped me to realize the value of other cultures and focus on more learning. I have developed the value of respecng small things in life with the help of doing projects and connecng with AFSer from other communitywithin India.

I have just graduate with the bachelor in Business Administraon and also studied postgraduate Diploma in hospitality. I just finished one year food and beverage internships at the Roosevelt AWaldorfAstoria hotel in New Orleans. The experience I had with AFS really help me when dealing with customers as I learnt to be flexible in anyworkplace.”