"Being a host family was one of the most enriching experiences of our lives."

 For many families, hosting a foreign exchange student is an engaging and enriching
experience that has many benefits that continue for decades after the initial hosting
period is over:

• You get to be a global ambassador for the USA and shape people’s perception of our country for the better;
• You and your family members get a chance to broaden your horizons and learn about another country and culture;
• You get the satisfaction of knowing you have helped to shape a young person’s perspective, broaden their views, and influence their future.
• You do not need to be a Rotarian or have children at home to host. Some of our best host Families have been those that are empty-nesters or retired- they have extra time to engage with the student.
• That said, if you do have children in your home:
  • They will learn how to live and thrive with someone from a different country and cultural background, which can be an invaluable life skill;
  • They may develop an interest in becoming a RYE student to another country, which can have lifelong benefits for them personally, academically, and professionally

"I am confident our families will now be connected for the rest of our lives. I really had no idea going into it what we would get out of it. I would definitely do it again! "

What You Can Expect As A Host Parent:
Each inbound exchange student lives with three host families over the course of their stay in the US. This means that over the 10+ months they are here (mid-August to mid- or end-of-June), each family will host for approximately 3+ months - that is only about 12 weeks, and it goes FAST. During those 3 months, the student will live with you in your home as a member of your family. As the host parent, you are responsible for taking care of them as you would your own children. This includes:

• Feeding them, both at home and at school (they can pack a lunch, or you can give them lunch money).
• Providing them with a room with a real bed (they can share a room with a same-sex sibling, but no more than two kids to a room), space to do their homework, and access to laundry facilities to wash the clothes they bring with them.
• Getting them to school and to extracurricular activities. If there is a school bus, they can ride it with the other kids. If you need assistance with transportation to get them to activities, Rotarians from our club can help.
• Full participation in family activities, including helping with household chores. Treat them the same as your own children, that’s part of the point of RYE.

Although you don't need to think of yourself as a tour guide, it’s great to include your RYE student in the full variety of experiences your family enjoys. This could be everything from volunteer experiences to a vacation, but even going on a hike, to a local baseball game, or making pizza from scratch is an experience that they may not get in their home country. Small things can become memorable moments when shared with an exchange student. We had a student who developed a hankering for burgers from Boomers Drive-In which is definitely not an experience he would have had back home in Peru!
You are not responsible for the following:

• Clothing them, they will bring their own clothes and any additional clothes should be purchased with their own money.
• Medical expenses (each student is required to carry pretty comprehensive travel and medical insurance)
• Spending money: The student will receive a monthly stipend from their Rotary Club to use as spending money for incidental expenses (typically $100+/month). Any additional spending monies needed would be provided by the natural parents.
• They are permitted, under the terms of their visa, to do informal work for pay, such as babysitting or mowing the lawn for you or your neighbors, to make some pocket money for incidentals, but they are not permitted to hold a real job.

Support for Host Families
It is also important to know that each student will have their own Rotary counselor who will work with the student on things like school issues, making sure they are doing what they need to, visa requirements etc. You also have the entire Rotary Youth Exchange Committee and Clubs available for support. Imagine the pit at the Indy 500 with a team at the ready to do what needs to be done to keep the car on the road- that’s us! We are all invested in making sure that both the students and the host families have a phenomenal experience. 

Host Family Application Process

The host family application process begins with completing an online application.  You will provide personal information about you and your family, your home, and you will be asked to provide two references who will be contacted. You and your family will take an online training course in Youth Protection Awareness, and a background check will be performed. Start the process early as it takes time for all of the pieces to be completed.We will also visit with you and your family at your home, and provide you with printed and online resources to assist you.  We will provide an orientation session for all family members so that everyone is well prepared and comfortable. Start the process by beginning your online application HERE!

The application process may seem long and complex, but you will be guided through it and have the Rotary Club and Youth Exchange volunteers to help you.  The process is thorough to ensure that you, and your student have the best experience possible.