Afs Intercultura Brasil

What Afs Intercultura Brasil does

AFS Intercultura Brasil is the Brazilian chapter of the international AFS network, a non-governmental, non-profit organization founded in 1956 and headquartered in Rio de Janeiro. It delivers intercultural exchange, education, scholarship, and volunteer programs targeting primarily high-school-aged students (14–18+) and young adults, while also serving host families, educational institutions, and a community of nearly 1,000 volunteers distributed across more than 100 Brazilian cities.

The organization's product portfolio spans outbound high-school exchange programs (4 weeks to a full academic year) across 60+ global destinations, language courses, gap-year options, vacation/holiday exchanges, and inbound programs to Brazil including vocational high-school tracks, paid internships in Manaus and Recife, the Brazilian Amazon Expedition, community-service projects, and the Efeito+ classroom-based global-citizenship curriculum that has reached approximately 150 teachers and 4,000 students. It also delivers the BP Global STEM Academies scholarship program in partnership with BP, the Programa Bom Aluno scholarship pipeline for low-income students, and online learning tooling introduced during the COVID-19 disruption. AFS does not build proprietary technology; operations are delivered through a website-plus-WhatsApp sales funnel, school partnerships (~3,000 schools), volunteer committees, and recurring AFS Day events.

Revenue is generated primarily through participant program fees covering placement, orientation, host-family matching, insurance, and support services, with partial/full subsidies sourced from corporate (BP) and social-program (Bom Aluno) partners to expand access. The organization operates with a lean paid staff of ~18 supported by ~1,000 volunteers, has received no external investment funding, and is governed as part of the parent AFS (International) non-profit network. It is recognized as one of Brazil's 100 Best NGOs (2019, Instituto Doar/FGV) and is currently celebrating its 70th anniversary of Brazilian operations.

Name

Afs Intercultura Brasil

Legal name

AFS Intercultura Brasil

Website

https://afs.org.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

AFS Intercultura Brasil is a Rio de Janeiro-based non-profit (founded 1956) that delivers intercultural high-school exchange, language, gap-year, scholarship, and volunteer programs for Brazilian students, host families, schools, and volunteers across 60+ global destinations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Intercultural Exchange Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAIAAAE

Hybrid, Multi-Location & Multi-Country Study Abroad Programs

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/Study Abroad Program Providers (Multi-Country & Multi-Discipline)

SECONDARYEDAIAAAG

Gap Year + Study Abroad Hybrid Programs

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/Study Abroad Program Providers (Multi-Country & Multi-Discipline)

SECONDARYEDAIAAAF

Short-Term & Summer/Winter Multi-Country Study Abroad Programs

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/Study Abroad Program Providers (Multi-Country & Multi-Discipline)

SECONDARYEDAIAFAA

Provider-Run International Internship Programs (Multi-Country/Multi-Industry)

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/International Internships, Co-ops & Work Placement Programs

Keywords

• International exchange programs
• Intercultural education
• High school exchange
• Host family programs
• Cultural immersion programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Rio De Janeiro

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Exchange Program Fees: AFS generates revenue through fees charged to participants for exchange programs. These fees cover program costs including placement, orientation, host family matching, insurance, and support services. Partial and full scholarships are available, subsidized through partnerships (e.g., with BP for STEM programs).

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

AFS Intercultura Brasil is a non-profit intercultural exchange organization that organizes international study abroad programs for Brazilian high school students in 60+ destinations, with program durations ranging from four weeks to a full academic year. It also runs inbound programs in Brazil for foreign students (high school, vocational, university, internships, community service, Amazon expeditions), places exchange participants with vetted host families, and delivers global citizenship education through the AFS Effect+ classroom initiative. Programs are supported by a nationwide network of nearly 1,000 volunteers, partnerships with roughly 3,000 schools, and scholarship collaborations including the BP Global STEM Academies.

Product overview

AFS Intercultura Brasil is a non-profit cultural exchange organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of international exchange programs. The core offerings include High School exchange programs (ranging from 4 weeks to a full academic year), Vacation/Holiday Exchange programs, Language Courses, and Gap Year programs across 60+ destinations. For inbound programs to Brazil, the organization offers High School abroad in Brazil, High School Vocational (at federal technical institutes), Brazilian Amazon Expedition, Internship Programs (paid positions in Manaus and Recife), Community Service Projects (2+ weeks in various Brazilian regions), and University Year in Brazil. Specialized programs include the BP Global STEM Academies (in partnership with BP, focusing on STEM education in Egypt, USA, and India) and AFS Effect+ in the Classroom (reaching 150 teachers and 4,000 students). During the COVID-19 pandemic, AFS launched an online learning tool to support students. The organization connects participants with host families and provides intercultural learning journeys.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• High School Exchange Programs Full exchange programs for high school students to study abroad in over 60 destinations worldwide, with durations ranging from 4 weeks to a full academic year. Designed for Brazilian students seeking international cultural immersion, language learning, and personal development.
• Vacation/Holiday Exchange Programs Short-term cultural exchange programs during school vacations, allowing students to experience life abroad for 1-8 weeks. Designed for students seeking shorter-duration intercultural immersion experiences.
• Language Courses Language learning programs combined with cultural immersion abroad, including English, German, and other language instruction. Designed for students seeking foreign language acquisition through immersive study.
• Gap Year / Ano Sabático Extended exchange programs for students taking a gap year between high school and university. Designed for young adults seeking deeper intercultural experience before starting higher education.
• High School Abroad in Brazil Programs for international students to attend high school in Brazil, living with host families and experiencing Brazilian culture. Designed for foreign exchange students seeking inbound study experience.
• High School Vocational Vocational and technical high school programs in Brazil at federal technical institutes, covering areas such as Web Design, Tourism, Chemistry, Building Construction, and Oil and Gas. Designed for international students seeking technical education combined with cultural exchange.
• Brazilian Amazon Expedition Educational expeditions to the Amazon region combining environmental education with cultural exchange experiences. Designed for participants interested in Amazonian biodiversity, sustainability, and intercultural learning.
• Internship Program Paid internship opportunities in Brazilian cities such as Manaus and Recife, combining professional experience with cultural immersion. Designed for international students and young professionals seeking work-based exchange experience.
• Community Service Projects Volunteer programs allowing participants to engage in community service for 2+ weeks in different regions of Brazil, including environmental, educational, sports, and social assistance areas. Designed for participants seeking service-learning exchange experiences.
• University Year in Brazil Academic programs for international students to study at Brazilian universities for one or more semesters. Designed for foreign university students seeking academic exchange in Brazil.
• BP Global STEM Academies Scholarship program in partnership with BP focusing on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education, with study destinations including Egypt, the United States, and India. Provides full and partial scholarships for Brazilian students, with 10 designated spots for Brazil.
• AFS Effect+ in the Classroom (Efeito+) Educational program that trains teachers and engages students in global citizenship development and intercultural learning. Reaches 150 teachers and approximately 4,000 high school students. Designed for schools integrating global citizenship into their curricula.
• AFS Online Learning Tool

Quantifiable outcome

• 14,000 exchange students sent and received since 1956
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BP (British Petroleum)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBP partners with AFS for the BP Global STEM Academies program, providing full and partial scholarships for Brazilian students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The partnership enables Brazilian students to study abroad in Egypt, the United States, or India. The program has provided scholarships to 200+ students globally, with 10 spots designated for Brazil. BP also funds specific placements for children of its employees.
• Sinepe-AM (Sindicato dos Estabelecimentos de Ensino Privado do Estado do Amazonas)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSinepe-AM partners with AFS Intercultura Brasil to organize study tours for Brazilian educators to China. The initiative allows educators to exchange experiences with Chinese schools over 10 days. The partnership targets private school educators in Amazonas state.
• IFTM (Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Triângulo Mineiro)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIFTM's Centro de Idiomas e Relações Internacionais (CENID) partners with AFS Brazil for the Exploradores Culturais program, enabling students to participate in cultural exchange activities.
• Programa Bom AlunominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrograma Bom Aluno, a social program for low-income students in Curitiba (PR), partners with AFS to provide full scholarships for university students to participate in English immersion holiday programs in Cardiff, Wales.
• UNHCR (UN Agency for Refugees)minorOthersAFS alumna Marcelo Lopes works at UNHCR Brazil after his exchange experience in Hungary (2011), demonstrating the organization's impact on alumni careers in international organizations.
• UN Population Fund (Fundo de População da ONU)minorOthersAFS alumna Clara de Oliveira Cunha (exchange in Italy, 2008) now works at the UN Population Fund, assisting with youth and population development programs.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• World Learning (Experiment in International Living): World Learning's Experiment in International Living is a long-running non-profit running high-school homestay and gap-year intercultural programs — a direct mission-aligned peer to AFS in the youth-exchange category.
• Greenheart Travel: Greenheart Travel runs non-profit-affiliated high-school exchange, language, and volunteer programs globally, with a similar host-family model and intercultural-learning mission to AFS.
• Rotary Youth Exchange: Rotary Youth Exchange offers long-running high-school exchange programs through local Rotary clubs worldwide, directly competing with AFS for participants, host families, and school/community partnerships.
• CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange): CIEE is a major non-profit international exchange organization operating high-school, university, and work-abroad programs across many of the same destinations as AFS, with comparable host-family and intercultural-learning frameworks.
• Youth For Understanding (YFU): YFU is one of the oldest and largest non-profit student exchange organizations globally, offering semester, year, and short-term high-school programs in dozens of countries — directly competing with AFS for participants, host families, and school partnerships.
• Nacel Educational: Nacel Educational is a non-profit international student exchange organization offering high-school homestay programs, host-family placement, and F-1 student services in many of the same destinations as AFS.
• AFS Intercultural Programs (AFS International): AFS International is the global parent network of which AFS Intercultura Brasil is a member chapter. It operates the same intercultural exchange model across 50+ countries and shares program curriculum, brand, and host-family infrastructure.
• AIESEC: AIESEC is a global youth-run non-profit operating international volunteer and internship exchanges in 100+ countries. It overlaps with AFS on youth mobility, intercultural learning, and volunteer-driven program delivery.

Broad incumbents

• EF Education First: EF Education First is the largest global commercial education company offering language courses, high-school exchange, and degree programs. It competes with AFS in Brazil's outbound language and high-school exchange market, but with a much broader commercial product portfolio and stronger digital funnel.

Emerging players

• Programa Bom Aluno: Programa Bom Aluno is a Brazilian social program for low-income students that partners with AFS to deliver funded English-immersion holiday programs. It is comparable as a domestic counterpart channel reaching AFS's target scholarship demographic.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/afsbra
• YouTubeyoutube.com/afsbra
• Facebookfacebook.com/afsbra
• Instagraminstagram.com/afsbra
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/afs-intercultura-brasil

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Afs Intercultura Brasil