Will you be a hero today?
As AYA exchange students prepare to arrive in the U.S., we are working around the clock to help find families for our remaining students! Students are eagerly awaiting news of their placements so that they can start packing, say goodbye to their friends and get ready for the most exciting adventure of their lives! Students will be arriving soon, and we are looking for short-term host families to open their homes short-term for 4-6 weeks to welcome students to the community.
What is a short-term Welcome Family and why are they so important?
A Welcome Family, also known as a short-term-arrival family, is a family who “welcomes” an exchange student to their local community while the AYA team finalizes a permanent placement for the student!
- Welcome families are an essential part of the program — they serve as the bridge that allows students to arrive on time and begin the program year on a positive note!
- Welcome families are especially important in areas where schools are still enrolling exchange students. This year, many schools decided not to enroll or have been unable to process exchange student enrollments due to administrative burdens resulting from the pandemic, so welcome families in areas with open schools make all the difference in the world!
- If your school is enrolling, your family can become the conduit that allows a student to make his or her dream come true!
- Being a welcome family is an awesome opportunity to make a huge impact by giving just a few weeks of your time and space to a deserving student!
- This is a great volunteer opportunity for your entire family to make a difference in the world!
Who can become a Welcome Family?
- Any family or individual who is able and interested in helping support a young person’s dream of studying in the U.S!
- Families who have other obligations and can’t commit to a full semester or year, but still want to help.
- A family who is new to hosting and would like to try it out to see what it’s like!
- Host parent(s) must be 25 or older, have a room and bed (student can share a room with a sister or brother of the same gender), be able to provide a safe and nurturing home environment, and provide three meals a day. Students will attend the Welcome Family’s local high school while a permanent host family is finalized.
Hello,
I’d be interested in learning more about hosting a student.
Thank you.
Jeff
Hi Jeff! Thanks so much for your interest. We’d be happy to talk to you about hosting! A member of our team will be in touch with you via email at the contact info you provided to write your comment. Stay tuned!
I am interested in getting more information about the host process and requirements!
Hi Pamela! Thanks so much for your interest! A member of our team will contact you shortly at the email address you provided to write your comment. Stay tuned!
Hi,
I’m interested in getting more information about the requirements and process.
Hi Andrea! Thank you very much for your comment. You can learn more about the process by visiting our website, academicyear.org.
Hello,
When I called about becoming a host family, I was told I need to set up an exchange program at my local high school before you could work with me. I wouldn’t even know where to begin doing that. Is there any guidance on how to get started as a host? Thank you!
Sarah M
Hi Sarah! Thanks so much for your comment. You would not need to set up an exchange program at your high school as the host family, but the high school in your area would need to approve the exchange student’s enrollment. We will have someone on our team contact you via the email you’ve provided here to give you more information about getting started. Thanks!
I’d like more information about hosting. I’m a retired teacher.
Hi Susan! Thanks so much for your comment and interest in hosting an exchange student! A member of our team will be in touch shortly.