Opening Your Heart and Home

Without the willingness and sincerity of families who have opened their hearts and homes to students they have never met, the Rotary Youth Exchange Program would not exist.  In an ever-changing world, it is important that we expose our children, our students and ourselves to areas and people unlike us—it’s how we open our eyes to a global community that shares the same hopes and dreams that we do.

In the landscape of today, adults and children alike must learn about others and reaffirm their faith that people from all over the world are good. What better way to do that than becoming a host family?

Becoming a Host Family

A variety of family structures are perfect for being host families—small, big, with many children, or no children. We aim to reflect real-world families to students, and we know that real families come in all shapes and sizes.

Why host?

Becoming a host family isn’t just about supporting students. Becoming a host is a mutually beneficial experience–it will open your eyes to a whole new perspective. You’ll see similarities in culture, celebrate differences, and learn from each other. From sharing meals to spending leisure time together, every day will be an incredible new learning experience. You and your student will both act as teachers and ambassadors about their cultural background, opening each other’s hearts and minds through new ideas and experiences. No matter your age, your background, or your experience abroad, you will yourself become a student of culture.

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