Finances

AfL is a programme within the framework of Initiatives of Change. It therefore benefits in many countries from charitable or equivalent status as defined by respective national legislations.

Less than half of the total AfL3 budget of approximately US$245,000 comes from participants’ fees and seed money from the previous program. The remainder has to be raised by support from around the world. Costs are kept to a minimum through the generosity of local hosts and through travelling and living as simply as is practicable. The budgeted operating cost for AfL3 over nine months comes to just US$5,550 per participant.

Participants are asked to raise their airfare to Asia and home again, travel insurance, and US$2,600 (slightly variable with exchange rates) towards their costs during the program. AfL undertakes to subsidise the remainder of each participant’s expenses; some coming from countries with weaker currencies require additional support.