Egypt
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Country Information
- AFS Country Code: EGY
- See http://www.usa.afs.org/usa_en/view/8265 for more information on Egypt.
Placement
- Age requirement: 15.0-17.0 years for school program
- Language requirement: Proficiency in English. AFS-EGY office does not sponsor Arabic lessons. However, upon the participants' request, they can arrange for a professional Arabic tutor at students' own expense. Some host schools will offer Arabic as a Second Language classes to students, but this is left up to the decision of each school.
- Health restrictions: Please communicate with our office for the required vaccinations. Any pre-existing conditions must be clearly communicated to our office with a doctor's report and recommendation before guaranteeing a student.
- Graduates: No. Local schools do not accept placing graduates.
- Smoking: Smoking among young people and females in particular is not accepted. Participants who smoke MUST indicate so in their application. It is very difficult to place a smoker.
- Dietary Restrictions: Please be as specific as possible when stating a participant's dietary restrictions.
- Location: 50% urban, 40% suburban, 10% rural. Students are placed in different parts of the country: urban, suburban and rural. Egypt has active hosting chapters in: Alexandria, Cairo, El Fayoum, El Menya, Giza, Ismailia, Port Said and Tanta. It is foreseen that more hosting chapters will be activated as well.
- Dress:
- Religion/Spirituality: Participants are not required to attend service on a regular basis, but they may be expected to attend the religious service at least once to have an understanding of the family's practice (only if hosted by families).
- Other: Students must have the ability to accept and share other communities. Ability to be responsible for oneself, interact with different people and adapt to different life styles. Students must be willing to accept and adapt to Egyptian traditional and conservative culture and families and to be active and perform well in school, even if the language of instruction is Arabic. Activities might be held on a local level, and all information will be communicated to students.
Travel Information
- Visa:
- Departure Preparation:
- Arrival & Orientation: Participants will need approximately US$25 upon arrival for the visa. School uniform- varies from each school- but on average costs $75.
- Departure:
Host Families
- Transportation:
- Hosted-in:
- Extracurricular:
Support Information
AFS-EGY: Students will be supervised by a counselor (volunteer) who will touch base with the student at least once a month (unless more visits are required). Students are encouraged to contact their counselors anytime they have a question, face a problem or need to talk.
Academics
- Transcript/Diploma: Students will receive certificates of attendance, but they will not receive any academic certificates, nor will they graduate at the end of the academic year. All students are expected to attend classes on a regular basis, to complete the work assigned in and out of class, and to show effort in its fullest potential. Students will be expected to wear school uniform. Students will receive a transcript, but will not receive a diploma.
- School: Most schools assign their students to a particular grade, and to certain subjects that they must study.
- Experimental schools: public owned schools where language of instruction of some classes are in English, and for most classes are in Arabic (offering students the opportunity to learn Arabic and English)
- Private/International schools: where the language of instruction is English (offering students the opportunity to improve their English and learn Arabic outside of school)
- Transportation: Students will either take the school bus, or will be trained to use public transportation to school. The commute might be long, and could require changing means of transportation and waking up early.
- Dress: School uniform- varies from each school- but on average costs $75.
Scholarships & Sponsored Programs
See Scholarships or Sponsored Programs for Sending for more information.
General Country Information
- Description:
- Language:
- Religion:
- Climate:
- Politics:
Program Information
- School Program Description: Egypt's year program offers such a good opportunity for young people to live with an Egyptian family and to explore the culture and traditions of Egypt. Their host family base is very diverse in terms of socio-economic level, size, education, religion, etc. Egypt has single parents, and two-parent households. Egypt expects students to adapt to their host family conditions and realities.
Return to the Country Information page.
For information, questions or concerns, contact the Program Information Specialist or countryinfo@afs.org.
