PUPILS' EXCHANGE PROGRAMME BETWEEN

GERMANY AND SOUTH AFRICA

2023

June 2023 – July 2023 (4 weeks)

November 2023 – January 2024 (10 weeks)
November 2023 – January 2024 (6 weeks
December 2023 – January 2024 (4 weeks)

The Headmaster / Headmistress and Staff,

The FSA Youth Exchange, once again, invites learners from your school to apply for participation in the FSA pupils’
exchange programme between South Africa and Germany.

German as a school subject is not compulsory to take part in the 4-week programs.
German as a school subject is compulsory to take part in the 6- and 10-week programs.

The FSA Youth Exchange (FSA = Freundeskreis für Südafrika / Friends of South Africa) is a non-governmental, non-
political and non-denominational pupils’ exchange organisation, registered in South Africa, registration number (1997
/ 06295 / 23).
2022 top schools in the FSA programme
Helpmekaar Kollege, Johannesburg – 15 participants
Pretoria High School for Girls, Pretoria – 12 participants
Die Hoërskool Menlopark, Pretoria – 10 participants

22.11, Schloss Benrath (Düsseldorf), Beaulah Shaw, Bloemfontein.

1
To date, an impressive number of 5 030 learners 2.3 We expect the German families to con-
took part in our exchange programme from South tinue with their normal way of living while the
Africa to Germany. guest is there.

1. THE PURPOSE OF THE VISIT 2.4 Private visits are allowed only during the
last 4 days, and 3 nights of the programme.
1.1 Exposure to the way of living and reason-
ing of a different culture 2.5 Depending on interest, we will offer a short
tour to Switzerland and/or France at the end of the
The stay with an ordinary German family enables November - and December programs. Seats are
the participant to broaden his / her views, limited and participants will be invited to apply for
knowledge and opinions on various cultural back- a seat on the tour.
grounds.
3. CONDITIONS FOR PARTICIPATION
1.2 Young Ambassadors for South Africa
3.1 The FSA is a cultural exchange programme
Participants experience the different educational and not a travel agency. We do not offer a tour
systems first-hand and have the opportunity to of Europe. Our participants stay with ordinary
educate German learners about South Africa in German families. The allocation of participants
the form of a presentation in class. School attend- to families is done by the FSA. Participants are not
ance is compulsory when school is open. Only in allowed to use the families for free accommoda-
exceptional cases will schools be closed for the du- tion while travelling through Europe/Germany.
ration of the visit. The programme is aimed at the youth; parents are
not allowed to stay with host families.
1.3 Personal growth and development of parti-
cipants 3.2 South African citizens aged 15 to 19 years,
registered at a school in South Africa, may apply.
The impact the stay abroad has on the intellectual
and personal development of our participants is 3.3 Application does not automatically mean
noteworthy. The feedback and achievements of participation. Candidates have to complete our se-
ex-participants are testimonials to this effect. lection process. Details about the selection pro-
cess will be available later. The results are final
2. DETAILS ABOUT THE PROGRAMME and no correspondence will be entered into.

2.1 Participants stay for 4/6/10 weeks with a 3.4 A working family can’t entertain the guest
German host family, depending on the relevant 24 hours per day. A certain degree of independ-
programme. Participants are considered a mem- ence and self-confidence is vital, especially if the
ber of the family and not a guest or a tourist. This family has only younger children. Participants
includes sharing the normal household duties and must be prepared to stay in a city or country and
German cuisine. with a family with or without children.

2.2 Although the participants in the 4-week 3.5 A shy person will find it hard to adapt to the
programs do not formally participate in tuition, German way of living. There will be trying times.
school attendance is compulsory when schools are The ideal participant should be able to handle
open. Participants attend a local German school these situations without withdrawing himself/her-
to experience the difference in educational sys- self.
tems. Participants in the 6- and 10-week programs
formally take part in tuition.

2
3.6 Participants must be well informed about 4. PROGRAMME DATES
South Africa and Germany. Good communication
skills are necessary. June/July (4 weeks)
22/06/2023 – 21/07/2023*
3.7 Participants must be fluent in English. Ger- November/January (10 weeks)
man as a school subject is not compulsory for the 02/11/2023 – 11/01/2024*
4-week programs. It is compulsory for the 6- and November/January (6 weeks)
10-week programs. 30/11/2023 – 11/01/2024*
December/January (4 weeks)
3.8 Participants will act as ‘Young Ambassa- 14/12/2023 – 11/01/2024 *
dors’ for South Africa. The relevant headmas-
ter/mistress, therefore, needs to approve the par- * Provisional dates! Denotes the day of departure
ticipation of candidates. We will send the list of from and arrival in South Africa.
names to the school for approval.
5. THE COSTS
3.9 An email address is compulsory for all can-
didates as all communication is by email. The final cost of the flight ticket will be available
closer to the departure dates. The quote is based
3.10 In Germany pets are seen as members of a on estimates. We distinguish between pro-
family and participants need to accept and live gramme cost (fixed), flight ticket cost (estimate)
with pets. and compulsory travel insurance (based on the
previous year).
3.11 Participants share German cuisine and no
special meals are provided. Programme costs
4-week programs R 7 000
3.12 The programme does not make provision 6- and 10-week programs R 7 500
for special training programs e.g., sports or music. (Deposit of R 1 000.00 included)

3.13 Although it is expected of participants to

have their views about various subjects, no racism Return flight ticket R17 800
or sexism will be tolerated. (Estimate, airport tax included)

3.14 An exchange programme is a reciprocal Participants are not allowed to make use of their own
agreement. flight tickets, including tickets obtained with rewards
programs. Our German partner does not accommo-
date participants not making use of an FSA ticket.
Participants have to host a German FSA participant
during the same year as their participation for the
Compulsory travel insurance R945 – R1 165
same period or provide a suitable host family. A
surcharge of R3 800.00 will be levied if you are not
Included
available to host an FSA German exchange stu-
dent.
• Direct return flights from Johannesburg to
Frankfurt.
Hostel learners: The surcharge is levied.
• Compulsory travel insurance.
Gr 12 participants: If you can’t host before your
• Selection and preparation of the South Af-
participation, the surcharge of R3 8000.00 will be
rican participants and the organisation of
levied automatically.
the visit to Germany.
• The selection of host families in Germany
and the organising of the programme in
Germany.
3
 • Meeting of the groups on arrival and de- 8. CLOSING DATES 2023
parture in Frankfurt by our German col-
leagues. June 2023/July 2023 (4 weeks) 3 March 2023
• Preparation of train connections from the Nov 2023/Jan 2024 (10 weeks) 31 May 2023
airport to the host families. Nov 2023/Jan 2024 (6 weeks) 30 June 2023
Dec 2023/Jan 2024 (4 weeks) 31 July 2023
• Assistance to students with train connec-
tions from the airport to the host families.
9. REFERENCE
Excluded
Our ex-participants and their parents are available
to share their experiences with the FSA. Should
• VAT on the South African part of the pro-
you wish to contact them, please contact us for
gramme cost (+/- R1 080 – R1 155).
this information.
• Domestic flights within South Africa, if you
have to fly to Johannesburg.
10. CONTACT US
• Spending money (2022 recommendation
ranged between Euro 30 – 60 per week). FSA Youth Exchange
• Your train ticket from Frankfurt airport P O Box 511
to/from your host family/ies (2022 the cost Naboomspruit
of a single train ticket ranged between 0560
Euro 45 – 70 with an average of Euro 70). Tel 014 / 743 1081
• Bus/train ticket to/from the school (2022 Email [email protected]
ranged between Euro 50 – 100 per month). Website www.fsa-youthexchange.co.za
• Cost of Schengen (German) visa approx. Facebook www.facebook.com/fsayouthexchange.co.za
Euro 90. Instagram www.instagram.com/fsayouthexchange_friendsofsa/
• Any eventual increase in international air-
fare.

6. DEPOSIT AND CANCELLATION FEES

A non-refundable deposit of R 1 000.00 must ac-

company all applications. The deposit is refunded
only to unsuccessful candidates. A cancellation
fee of R3 000.00 for the host family and a cancel-
lation fee as determined by the airline will be lev-
ied for cancellations received after the names of
the successful candidates have been announced.

EFT payments are preferred. Banking details are

on the application form.

All cash deposits: Please ensure that the required

amount appears on the FSA bank statement.

7. FINAL PAYMENT

All outstanding fees must be settled eight weeks

before departure. Unfortunately, we do not ac-
cept any credit card payments.