Greek Students Encouraged to Apply for SNF Study Abroad Opportunities

Through the generosity of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, Greek high school students can now apply to take part in student exchanges in one of eighteen destinations across Europe, Asia, North America, and Central and South America, as part of American Field Service Intercultural Programs.
The SNF sponsors the Global Citizen Scholarship Program, which made possible a three-year grant to the AFS to offer scholarships to Greek high school students. The deadline to apply for all the spots is January 31, 2021.
All Greek high school students are encouraged to apply for this program, which are geared to help them develop the global competencies needed to excel in the world of higher academia and international business world.
Student exchange programs also help young people to communicate with those from different cultures and forge personal ties which may last a lifetime.
Eight full scholarships are available from the Global Citizen Scholarship Program; nine additional partial scholarships and paid program opportunities are also available.
Research has shown that exchange programs have been proven to broaden young people’s perspectives on the world and allow them to experience different cultures in a unique and unforgettable way.
The opportunity to equip Greece’s youth with the people skills needed to enable them to understand and work with those from different backgrounds and perspectives is not to be missed, according to the program’s organizers.
Those chosen to participate in this program will attend high school abroad alongside students from that country and live with a local host family for the entire academic year.
Applications are now being taken from those who are currently attending the first or second grade in Greek high schools. The AFS will conduct a competitive selection process which focuses on diversity, inclusion, and academic merit.
Their aim is to allow students who might not otherwise have opportunities to participate in education abroad to have the chance to do so. The AFS will also locate host families and host schools in the destination countries and provide a guided intercultural education curriculum for the student.
AFS Greece celebrated its reopening in Greece in early March of 2020, after 28 years of not operating in the country. It was able to place a total of 14 students in high school exchange programs in the nations of Denmark, Ireland, Italy, Hungary, Serbia and Uruguay last year.
Applications last year rose to 274, from more than 90 high schools and 53 cities across Greece. The competition for the available spots is expected to be even higher this coming year.
SNF Program Officer Casey Russo states “SNF is proud to support AFS in building on the success of the first year of the program by providing even more scholarship opportunities to Greek high school students.”
“The immersive experience of studying abroad and living with a host family for a full academic year provides opportunities for robust personal and cultural growth that extend far beyond the classroom, and the global outlook it cultivates benefits us all.”
Addressing the many problems associated with the pandemic this year, she continued, “After a fruitful year since reopening, AFS Greece continues with enthusiasm and optimism amidst these challenging times as we believe it is of great importance for students around the country to have the opportunity to study abroad.”
Vali Papadimitriou, an AFS alumna and the program manager at AFS Greece, says “Studying abroad with AFS helps students develop multiple personal skills and virtues which are essential for them to pursue their goals with confidence but also in order for them to build a more just and peaceful world.”
“Furthermore, there are unique opportunities for volunteers to play an integral role in AFS Greece, either by hosting a student from abroad for up to one year or by offering their assistance in a wide range of hosting and sending activities,” she adds.
For academic programs that begin in the Autumn of 2021, the online application process will be open until January 31, 2021. To apply, learn more about the ins and outs of student exchange, to volunteer, or to sign up to receive updates from the programs, please visit the AFS site by clicking here.