Message from Chairman

It has been over six decades since AFS Intercultural Programs Thailand started organizing student exchange programs in accordance with our mission to provide intercultural learning opportunities to help our youth develop the knowledge, skills, and understanding needed to create a more just, united and peaceful world.

AFS firmly believes that the development of core foundation values whilst still at a young age will eventually contribute towards the sustainable growth of our country. Hence, AFS continues with several scholarships to help enhance the potential of our new generation.

In 2020, we will be celebrating the 10-year milestone of our boarding school program in China. With over 1,000 alumni completing this successful program, we have become the top Chinese language program in the country.

The unprecedented crisis related to the Covid-19 pandemic has affected AFS and the entire field of international education. Our AFS Board is closely monitoring this global emergency to ensure appropriate risk management in relation to the safety of AFS Thailand participants. We are strongly committed to ensuring that all safety protocols are in place for all our students and staff.

Nonetheless, we shall continue to stay alert during these challenging times. I am confident that with the robust experience of our management team, we will overcome and continue to advance and develop our exchange programs to help maximize the potential of each student. We remain firmly committed to developing our future global citizens by providing a world-class intercultural experience.

On behalf of AFS Board Members and executives, I would like to extend our gratitude to the Royal Thai Government, the Thai Foreign Ministry, AFS International and all AFS chapters who hosted our Thai students. A big thank you also for the wonderful cooperation we receive from the parents and volunteers. Our work is made possible by your outstanding support

Difficulties have the potential to help us grow, therefore we must not allow them to hinder us. Let us all continue to join hands to overcome this historical challenge we are facing for the sake of our future generations. I am confident that with faith and a strong spirit, victory is in sight.

Yours sincerely,

Sanan Angubolkul
Chairman
AFS Intercultural Programs Thailand

Message from National Director

The year 2019 marked another year that AFS Thailand has continued to pursue AFS mission and remained committed to implementing intercultural learning opportunities. The next mission of AFS is managing new normal challenges.

With the impact of the Coronavirus outbreak, our top priority is the wellbeing and safety of our participants. We have been monitoring adjacently since the coronavirus emerged in Wuhan in December 2019. We felt grateful to each of our AFS Network Partners who worked closely and collaboratively with us throughout this difficult period. With support and collaboration of Ministry of Foreign Affairs the repatriation of our participants across the globe, the most complex logistical tasks in AFS history, eventually and safely happened.

AFS Thailand has begun our transformative journey to respond to the era of disruption. AFS Thailand has initiated on the project of developing organizational capability through enhancing employees’ potential to become an agile organization and leveraging digital technology in all operations. We successfully introduced a new online registration in First Orientation of AFS participants, launched youngsters social platforms such as Instagram, and many internal-use digital projects.

AFS Thailand has maintained its focus on core program like year program. More than 10,000 students have applied for and more than 1,000 have been well qualified and selected. We also provide 48 Kakehashi scholarships participants to Japan for the third successive year, 16 YES scholarships to the United States of America, 12 AFS full scholarships and 9 corporate scholarship programs to various countries.

In addition, AFS Thailand intends to broaden educational programs by launching Spanish Language Summer Camp in Spain, academic summer program in Germany, three-month school based program with UN’s sustainable development goals content in Italy. In terms of social contribution, AFS Thailand supports volunteers and returnees in implementing 45 projects across the country.

Moreover, AFS Thailand takes its responsibilities regard the requirement of General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Personal Data Protection (PDPA) very seriously to protect all personal data of our stakeholders.

With strong determination to continue development of higher quality to become the top international education provider, AFS Thailand is now ready to proceed towards the new challenging era.

I wish to thank all AFS Board of Directors, management, staff and volunteers for the commitment and dedication throughout 2019, as a result in the accomplishment of the AFS mission. All is definitely an important factor of AFS success which contributes to the educational system of the nation.

Yours sincerely,

Chirawatana Charoonpatarapong
National Director
AFS Intercultural Programs Thailand

Full Annual Report 2019 version download here!

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