Host Families Needed for Inbound Summer Youth Exchange Students
Posted by John Pokorny
on Feb 02, 2016
This year the district has 15 inbound your exchange students for students from multiple countries throughout the world.
Please read the information in this article to consider if your family might be interested in being a host family.
Interested Families should complete the form at this Host Family Application Link
Our Host Families
Host Families are the key component of the Rotary Youth Exchange Program. Without Host Families this program would not be possible. Host Families are our most precious resource. We cannot completely express the importance of and our appreciation for your role in the Youth Exchange Program. We want to do what we can to support you during your hosting experience.
Host Families are set forth as one of the key components of the Visitor Exchange program as set out by the U.S. State Department. When you host a student from another country you act as our U.S. representatives and Host Families become the de facto face of our country. While hosting a student you are acting as an ambassador and representative for our nation, it is your family and the life you show them that these students will take back with them to their home countries.
Before the student arrives:
- Complete the Host Family Application.
- Criminal background check is performed on each permanent resident of the home over 18.
- Interview, Home Inspection and Orientations are performed.
- Rotary Chain of Command is explained and points of contact are established.
- Make contact with student and begin establishing a welcoming relationship.
During students Exchange:
- Provide safe welcoming environment to encourage development of trust and friendship.
- Help student become a part of the family.
- Provide room and board, meals and reasonable access to communication with their home.
- Provide transportation or facilitate transportation to and from school.
- Provide a sounding board for the students concerns and struggles with language, culture etc.
- Introduce student to local customs and traditions.
- Make sure student follows and obeys Rotary rules and local and state laws.
- Maintain clear contact with Rotary Counselor and Rotary District support.
We feel this program is as instrumental in teaching the students about the US as it is in our learning about the student’s country of origin. Our goal in Rotary is that each one of these exchanges would help us achieve the ultimate Rotary goal of World Peace.
If you have any questions regarding any of the above items please contact the District Youth Exchange Officer, Norm King, 817-781-3327 / YEO_5790@yahoo.com.
- See more at: http://rotary5790.org/SitePage/host-family-info#sthash.0BlAL5cB.dpuf
