NATIONAL VOLUNTEER HOST FAMILY WEEK
Each year during the second week of May, we celebrate National Volunteer Host Family Week. It is a time to honor the families who volunteer to open their heart and homes to host an international student from across the globe. When you host, you open yourself and your loved ones to a new world of culture, including unforgettable experiences!
Over 30,000 families from across the United States accept an international exchange student into their home and provide a loving, nurturing family environment. Host families are the heartbeat of global diplomacy. Not only do they promote goodwill both domestically and abroad, they promote cultural immersion and education for all ages.
Foreign exchange students leave home to experience the culture of everyday American life in and out of school. Leaving one’s home country and family can be difficult, however, arriving to a welcoming, loving host family makes the experience fun, easy, and exciting!
PARTICIPATION
Host families are members of the community they live in, which is why your involvement is important. In fact, the success of the international student exchange program is a community effort. In other words, be supportive of your local program.
- Attend a meeting in your area about becoming a host family.
- Learn about the Fulbright-Hays Act.
- Volunteer to become a host family.
- Read about BridgeUSAPrograms.
- Donate financially to a cultural exchange program.
- Become a host family coordinator.
- Share #VolunteerHostFamilyWeek on social media.
HISTORY BEHIND NATIONAL VOLUNTEER HOST FAMILY WEEK
The international student exchange program began in 1961 with the Fulbright-Hays Act, also known as the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961. The act was created to increase a mutual understanding between the people of the United States and other countries, with the goal of expanding cultural horizons of students through academic experiences abroad has been successful.
Since 1989, Foreign Links Around the Globe (FLAG Intl.) has been dedicated to providing high-quality international exchange experiences that transform the lives of high school students, host families, and communities throughout the world. Each year, FLAG hosts over 500 students from more than 25 countries. FLAG programs are devoted to the development of interpersonal, intercultural and lifelong relationships around the globe.
The Registrar at National Day Calendar proclaimed National Volunteer Host Family Week to be observed the second week in May each year. Join National Day Calendar and FLAG International as we celebrate all volunteer host families and their contributions on #VolunteerHostFamilyWeek.
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