Founder Note
Our Story
About SFYI
Learn more about SFYI by calling 1-877-997-7686 or emailing us at
info@sfyi.org - Also, see our
Frequently Asked Questions
About SFYI
Our Mission
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SFYI instills in students a better understanding of themselves in the
context of a global community through multi-cultural immersion
opportunities in its semester and year abroad academic programs as well
as our unique summer sessions.
Founded in 2003 by French native and American psychologist Dr. Nicole Fons, SFYI provides
life-changing cultural immersion experiences for young people. Nicole founded SFYI after seeing the powerful effect summers
living in France and traveling Europe had on her American-born sons and
their friends. The adolescents
she brought on these family trips returned from France calm, confident,
and with a mature worldly perspective. Over time and beginning in 2000, Nicole evolved these trips into a highly successful
summer adventure and learning program for adolescents.
The program was so effective and so popular that Nicole decided to make it a semester and year-round
cultural immersion and travel program with a US-accredited high school.
Today, SFYI is a study-abroad program for adolescents and young adults who are eager to experience authentic, traditional French culture while studying, interning, and traveling. Participants live in a small French village where life has remained virtually unchanged hundreds of years. While experiencing authentic French living, SFYI students can earn their high school diploma or improve their transcript for college through our US accredited school, learn experientially through art, cooking, and other internships, and travel widely throughout France and other European countries, as well as Africa. Our small size (18 students) affords the opportunity to forge deep friendships while developing confidence, life and travel skills, and a mature cultural perspective.
Today, SFYI is a study-abroad program for adolescents and young adults who are eager to experience authentic, traditional French culture while studying, interning, and traveling. Participants live in a small French village where life has remained virtually unchanged hundreds of years. While experiencing authentic French living, SFYI students can earn their high school diploma or improve their transcript for college through our US accredited school, learn experientially through art, cooking, and other internships, and travel widely throughout France and other European countries, as well as Africa. Our small size (18 students) affords the opportunity to forge deep friendships while developing confidence, life and travel skills, and a mature cultural perspective.
