Improve your English! Discover the Sami culture and their unlimited territory! Increase your awareness on environmental sustainability! Start your journey as Global Citizen!
The program allows the participants to explore Sweden, its culture and landscape in different ways.
Age 15years 8month(s) to 18years 8month(s)
Language Basic knowledge of English is required. No knowledge of Swedish is needed upon arrival: a brief introduction to basic greetings and everyday vocabulary in Swedish is given during the first two weeks.
The participants will spend the first two weeks at the Sigtuna Folkhögskola (Stockholm county), where they will have English classes daily (Monday to Friday), totaling 50 hours of teaching. As most Swedes speak English, the students will practice their language skills also besides classes. During the weekend between these two weeks at the Sigtuna Folkhögskola, a homestay-weekend is planned; host families will be in the Stockholm and Uppsala counties.
The students will spend the next two weeks in Jämtland. At the beginning of week 3, the students will move to Östersund for a homestay-week: they will enjoy Swedish family’s life, discover Swedish culture and traditions and have the chance to train their English and Swedish skills. During the stay in Östersund, the participants will also approach the Sami culture and history through several outdoor activities organized by AFS in the surrounding area. The Sami people are the only indigenous people in Scandinavia that are recognized and protected under the international conventions of indigenous peoples, and are hence one of the northernmost indigenous people of Europe, living in parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. Traditionally, the Sami have pursued a variety of livelihoods, including coastal fishing, fur trapping and sheep herding, but their best-known means of livelihood is semi-nomadic reindeer herding.
Week 4 will be spent in a hostel-camping close to the Norwegian border in a fabulous natural environment. The Camp has a long history behind in organizing outdoor training and the participants will experience several activities in the wilderness and will have the chance to explore this wonderful part of Sweden beside clear waters, through forests and mountains.
Throughout your time in Sweden you will have the chance to live with host families and have the incredible experience of immersing yourselves in the local lifestyles.
In week 1 and 2, you will stay in a boarding school in Sigtuna (Stockholm county) with a homestay-weekend. You will be hosted in the Stockholm or Uppsala counties.
During week 3, you will be placed in Östersund (Jämtland) and hosted by local families.
During week 4, you will live in a camping-hostel in Ånn (Jämtland).
“Life-changing” is hard to describe, yet it’s nearly always the first thing that AFSers say when asked about their experience abroad. “Transformed” is another one. When you return home, if you’re like most AFSers, you’ll bring with you a sense of accomplishment unlike any other. You’ll have gained maturity and independence, discovered new passions, and feel like you can do anything you set your mind to. That transformation isn’t visible only to you, though – others see it as well. AFSers gain critical skills for college and careers, ranging from language fluency to intercultural competence and critical reasoning. “Life-changing” means it’s only the beginning.