Nothing compares to actually getting on a plane and traveling to a foreign country to experience the culture. However, in between your international travels there are ways that you can continue to learn about other countries without even leaving your neighborhood. I have had the privilege of volunteering with a group call Education First that helps match foreign students with host families. Below is some information about the organization and how you can get involved:
What is EF Foundation for Foreign Study?
EF Foundation is a non-profit high school exchange organization that works with
30 different countries to bring students to the United States, as well as send
American students abroad. Our students come with their own spending money,
are fully-insured, and spend a semester or an academic year. The students live
with non-paid host families while they attend local American high schools.
What are the responsibilities of a host family?
Host families must provide room and board and a loving home environment for
the student. One or both host parents must be at least 25 years of age or older.
Our students don't have to have their own bedroom, but if they do share a room it
must be with a child of the same gender who is at least 12 years old. EF
Foundation places students in all types of families and communities - single
parent, empty-nesters, big cities and rural areas. We just ask that the student is
treated as a family member, rather than a guest in your home. Families who can
provide room, board, and a loving home for a student will qualify to host!
How old are the students? What nationalities are they? How are they
chosen for your program?
Our students are between the ages of 15 and 18. They attend your local high
school and fully participate in regular classes and extra-curricular activities as an
American student would. Our students come from all over the world - from South
America to Scandinavia, and as far away as Asia and Australia. We have EF
offices in each country from which we bring students.
Our students are thoroughly screened by our foreign offices prior to acceptance
onto the program. They must pass an interview in English and complete a
lengthy application including recommendations, a timed essay, academic
transcript, and short-answer questions related to their family life at home. Our
foreign offices also judge students based on academic motivation, maturity and
realistic program expectations.
Can we choose which student we would like to host?
Yes! You will have a local coordinator called an IEC (International Exchange
Coordinator) who will help match a student to your requests. If you're searching
for a particular nationality, hobby, or age for your student, your IEC will work with
the Recruitment and Placement Manager in the Boston office to find student
applications fitting your requests. You then will have the opportunity to read
through several applications to find which student best matches your family.
Are host families paid?
No. All of our host families are volunteers. They agree to host because they are
passionate about student exchange and they want to bring a different culture to
their home and community. However, host families are eligible for a $50.00 per
month tax deduction per student.
Do we have support if there is a problem?
Your local coordinator is there to support you and help you to work through any
potential problems. Our coordinators are experienced in counseling host families
and exchange students, and know how to handle problem situations. If your local
coordinator is unavailable and you or your student needs advice or support, the
Regional Coordinator is also available to help and counsel on a local level. The
Boston office is your final support option if your local support network is
unavailable. During regular working hours, you are always able to reach our
Boston staff at 1-800-44-SHARE. If there is an emergency situation that occurs
after working hours and you need immediate assistance, there is always a
Boston staff member on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to help deal with the emergency.
If you are interested in hosting an exchange student or would like more information, Contact me today!
video e-brochure:
http://www.vimeo.com/1154826
No comments:
Post a Comment