Looking to help a foreign exchange student connecting talent and enthusiastic teenagers, you can, volunteer by being a host family.
Regional Radio News spoke with Renee Brennan an Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant in Bloomington-Normal. Brenan is the local coordinator for Education First High School Exchange Year in Central, IL looking for 4-5 host families to welcome a foreign exchange student into their home.
The foreign exchange program works with 13 different countries from Europe and Asia between the age 15-18. The students that would come to the family have to go through a process before coming to the families.
To host a student, EF High School would screen the host who has to be over the age of 25. The host must be financially stable and able to provide bed and food for the student coming in. The host is responsible for providing transport to school. As far as spending money if the student wants to spend other money the family is not responsible to pay for "extra expenses."
If a host or family is interested they will be asked to fill out an application including a background check and provide two references. Then Brennan or someone EF would meet up to ask some follow up questions.
If any family is interested Brennan said that you can email her at renee.brennan@efexchangeyear.org or by calling her at 1-800-447-4273.
