Programme details
| Programme length | Start | End | Price | Age on departure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFS year programme (academic year) | September 2009 | July 2010 | $11,250 + $225 visa | 16 - 17.9 |
| AFS Intensive Programme (up to 3 months) | December 2008 | February 2009 | $6,750 + $225 visa | 16 - 17.9 |
Venezuela’s varied terrain is made up of Caribbean beaches, tropical rainforests, snow-capped mountains, parched deserts and fertile farmland. Even so, 83% of Venezuelans live in northern cities, making their country the most urbanised nation in Latin America. Because oil production is Venezuela’s chief industry, more people moved to the cities in the 1970s when international petrol prices quadrupled. The surging export income, however, failed to benefit all Venezuelans, which has led to political and social tensions. Nonetheless, most Venezuelans are laid-back, friendly, young (half the population is under 18) and unpretentious. They also love to dance; even toddlers try salsa and meringue. And although Venezuela starts its workday an hour or two earlier than most other nations, unhurried workers often take extended lunch hours, sometimes returning home.
Family life
Venezuelans are generally very affectionate and expressive, and their families are close-knit. In a typical Venezuelan family, the wife usually has a job, supervises the children and manages the household while the husband is involved with work outside the home. Children are expected to help with the household chores, to make their beds in the morning before leaving the house and to keep their bedrooms tidy. Families are protective of their children, particularly the girls. There are often clear hierarchical relationships among sisters and brothers. Older sisters and brothers are expected to protect and help educate the younger ones. When grandparents grow old, it is common for them to move in with the younger generation. Venezuelan young people are expected to consult with their parents before going out. Venezuelan parents expect their children to know and respect family rules.
School life
Secondary school is divided into two areas of study: sciences and humanities. There are no optional subjects, and all students choose a specialty field and study all subjects. For the most part, schools offer few extracurricular activities. AFS volunteers, however, have established relationships with local community organisations that allow students to take part in sports, aerobics, music and the arts. The most popular sports are baseball, basketball and boxing.
The Intensive Programme to Venezuela is a language-based programme and pre-existing Spanish skills are required. On top of visa costs, a document translation fee of up to $500 may also apply .
