Programme details
| Programme length | Start | End | Price | Age on departure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community Service Programme | February 2008 | August 2008 | $8,250 + $225 visa | 18 - 26 |
As one of the multicultural microcosms in the heart of Europe, mixing contemporary society with a rich history, Belgium provides an enjoyable and exciting exchange experience. You’ll walk through medieval town squares and streets in the midst of a thoroughly modern country that has influences in its culture from the French, Dutch, Austrians, and Spanish. Many towns stage re-enactments of medieval times once a year. Belgium’s cuisine reflects its varied people and history, boasting one of the best food experiences imaginable. And, of course, there’s chocolate!
Northern Belgians speak Flemish, a Germanic language, and they tend to be formal and more reserved than southern Belgians, who speak French. Local towns retain ravishing medieval streets and squares, and Belgium’s quality of life – as measured by education, food, health care, housing, infrastructure, high productivity and low poverty – ranks with the world’s best. According to international polls, Belgians are among the most satisfied with their lives of any nation’s citizens, and with good reason.
Belgium consists of three regions: Flanders in the north where most of the people speak Dutch, Wallonia in the south, where the majority is French speaking and Brussels, the bilingual capital located in the centre of the country. In the north, Dutch-speaking Flemings live in a flatland crisscrossed by canals. It boasts the medieval cities of Antwerp, Bruges, and Ghent.
Community Service in Belgium Flanders
There is a range of work for AFS volunteer participants in Belgium Flanders which includes working with children, youth and the elderly or people with disabilities as well as working within education, the arts, music, and theatre. Also included are community development projects such as the integration of immigrants and environmental projects.
Family life
Family life is very important in Flanders. Both the parents in your household usually work and as a community service participant in a host family you will be expected to do your share of the housework and daily chores like the rest of the people in your family.
Participants older than 26 may be considered, so please contact 0800 600 300 or email info-newzealand@afs.org.
