World Heritage Currently Seeking Host Families for Exchange Students for 2011-2012 School Year

Many people dream of spending some time in a distant country. Once there, they will sample delicious food, explore many new sights, possibly learn a few phrases of a foreign language and grow to understand a new culture.

This is exactly the goal of exchange student programs, one of which is represented in Connecticut and beyond by a Stratford resident.

Each year thousands of students between the ages of 15 and 18 years old, from around the world, apply to be exchange students in America.

They are eager to learn more about American culture, way of life, interests, favorite foods, and to experience firsthand what America is all about. They then wait by the phone to hear that an American family has chosen to host them!

Stratford is an ideal community for exchange students. Suburban and seasonal, its family-oriented town offers many 'real-American' as well as many unique opportunities for exchange teens.

Home to Bunnell and Stratford high schools, Stratford is able to accommodate a greater number exchange students. Hosting more teens increases the exposure and learning opportunities for these student's and our Stratford residents already enrolled in these schools.

A wonderful resource for both the community and exchange students is the Stratford Public Library, which offers an array of teen-centered, enriching programs. There are numerous interest-related organizations and schools in Stratford providing exchange teens an opportunity to continue to pursue their favorite past-times, as well as discover new ones.

These opportunities include dancing, martial arts, performing and creative arts centers and schools, and so much more! Stratford is also home to various non-profit organizations that provide the scholarship students with an array of public service opportunities. The proximity to Long Island Sound and many large cities further enhances the attractiveness of spending a exchange year with a Stratford family.

Unfortunately not all of the students in the program will be able to find an American host family.

But the exchange student program does so much more than provide an experience in a foreign country. It opens people’s eyes and minds, promoting mutual understanding and peace. Myths and prejudices about each other’s cultures are dispelled.

And each host family grows plus one as a foreign child becomes an extended member of the family. Many of the students return to their homes beaming about their experience in America. Not only does this further encourage foreign understanding and promote peace among our global youth, but these students return home and begin powerful social movements.

Some families are able to afford to send their children overseas, others apply for scholarships. Each year, the United States Department of State sponsors and provides more than 1,000 scholarships to students who would otherwise not have the opportunity to travel to America. The teen, their host family, the community they assimilate into in America and the community they return home to. These aspects, among others, were recently emphasized in a video by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

World Heritage currently has students eager to experience life in America. Three such students are Oksana, Anna and Yernur. Oksana is a very athletic teen who loves being outdoors. She dreams about becoming a dentist to “endow people with a wonderful smile” and to one day own a dog. Anna is very creative, immersing herself in painting and photography. She is from a coastal city and enjoys roller skating, basketball and cooking. Yernur is a very community involved student who hopes to one day be a doctor. He enjoys music and a number of sports.

World Heritage is a non-profit organization that offers international exchange programs to students between the ages of 15 and 18 years old. Students have their own pocket money, health and travel insurance, and most importantly an appetite to learn about a foreign culture.

Programs are available for one year, one semester or three month durations. Summer programs are also available. A local area representative (LAR) guides host families and exchange students through the application and selection process. The LARs also conduct orientations and meetings, and are available to host families and exchange student throughout the exchange experience.

To host an exchange student, “host families” must be over 26 years of age and be able to provide the student with their own bedroom (students may share with host siblings of the same sex, within three years of their age), meals and a huge heart. Hosts must have an interest in taking these students into their families, while teaching them about American culture, through your normal everyday life and activities. All students have had at least three years of English instruction.

If you have a son or daughter who wants to be an exchange student, he/she must be between 15 and 18 years old at the time of departure and have a B average in school. He/she would not need to have had foreign language instruction. Scholarships are available for outbound students.

Samantha Pitera of Stratford is the local area representative for Connecticut and its surrounding areas. She can guide applicants through the application and selection processes. She is available to talk to families about potentially being a Host Family or sending their son/daughter overseas as an exchange student. 

Exchange countries include: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Canada, China, Denmark, France, Gaza, Georgia, Germany, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Krgyzstan, Kuwait, Mexico, Moldova, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Syria, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, West Bank and Yemen.

Contact Pitera for more information about the World Heritage Exchange Student Program or to receive an application to host a student: worldheritagect@yahoo.com or 203-916-3004. More information is also available at www.world-heritage.org.