Indiana 4-H International Programs Creating Friendships Around the World

4-H Summer Japanese Exchange

Fact Sheet

Institutions:  

• Purdue University Department of 4-H/Youth in cooperation with:
  • Labo International Exchange Foundation, Tokyo
  • WorldWise Exchange Services, Seattle
  •  Meiji Gakuin High School, Tokyo

Purpose:                   

To provide an opportunity for youth to become more aware of the globalization of the world by participating in a cross-cultural, family-based experience.

Age:                           

Delegates are between the ages of 12 and 17

Dates:            

Students arrive in mid to late-July and depart in mid to late-August. This is when the schools in Japan are on vacation.

Hosting:                    

Youth stay with one family for the entire month.
Adult chaperones stay with two families for two weeks each.

History:                      

During the past 18 years, Indiana has hosted over 1000 Japanese youth.  Over fifty counties have participated in the program to date.  Indiana expects to host 70 delegates in 2001.

Reciprocal:               

Families can participate in both inbound and outbound exchange programs.  In even numbered years, Indiana sends students to Japan.  Indiana students and chaperones will travel to Japan again in 2002.

Cost:

The exchange here in Indiana is a self-supporting program.  Both inbound and outbound delegates pay a fee to travel.  Families who host students from Japan are responsible for meals and lodging.  The delegate will have funds to pay for incidental expenses.

Discounts:

  Families who have hosted a year-long student are eligible for a substantial discount on outbound travel.

Summer Hosting Program

The 4-H Japanese Exchange Summer Hosting Program

A Family-Based Experience that Opens the World for Young People

The focus of the 4-H Japanese Exchange is friendship, but lasting friendships and warm memories aren’t the only results.  Young people who have the opportunity to host enjoy a priceless educational experience that better prepares them for life in a global society.

Since 1972, more than 30,000 families in North America have hosted Japanese teenagers during short summer stays, and more than 6,000 students have made reciprocal visits to Japan.  The program links three well-respected, active youth organizations in Japan – Labo, Lex, and Utrek – with 4-H.  Meiji Gakuin High School, a private school in Tokyo, also sends students to Indiana to be hosted for the summer.

The homestays are short, summer ones.  The Japanese delegates come for just one month, running from the third week of July through the third week of August.  This is the period of time which the Japanese youth are off school.

Delegates are accompanied by adult chaperones.

The Japanese Delegates

• Ranging in age from 12 to 18, these young ambassadors are eager to learn about life in Indiana.
• They are well prepared.  Through their organizations in Japan, these young people have worked hard to study both our language and culture.  Their adventure begins long before they ever step on an airplane.  They exchange letters and photos with their host families and participate in a series of orientation programs in Japan.
• They have their own medical insurance and spending money.
• They are here to experience everyday family life.  The students want to be part of a family and take part in daily family life by sharing chores and activities.  They don’t expect to be entertained, just welcomed.
• They are “matched” with a host family.  The Japanese students are placed with families who share their interests and have a child of the same gender and approximately the same age.

The Host Families

The families who host are as different as the young students they welcome.  They live on farms and in cities.  They have a variety of interests and come from different economic backgrounds, but all are eager to share their lives and their culture.

• Families host just one student and keep them for the entire 4-week homestay.
• Enthusiasm is the main qualification.  Families don’t need a fancy home or a separate bedroom to host, just a desire to make room in their lives for a new family member.  Learning a little about Japan and its customs will make the family experience even more valuable.  There’s no need to take a crash course in Japanese, but learning some key phrases is certainly recommended.
• Families don’t need to plan special activities.  The students aren’t here as tourists, they are here to live with a family and participate in normal summer activities.  The key is for families to continue with normal activities and include a new family member.
• Host families aren’t alone – 4-H has a variety of supporting programs.  Part of the fun of hosting is your involvement with other 4-H families and leaders.  Host families attend orientation sessions and have an opportunity to learn about their student though letters and photos.  The students are accompanied by English-speaking adult chaperones who, along with the County Coordinators, are available to help throughout the exchange.
• Host families don’t need to incur extra expenses.  The costs of having an exchangee are minimal.  Students bring their own spending money and the focus of this program is on family activities, not extravagant outings.  In fact, hosting is actually a very affordable way to “visit” another country and experience another culture.

Interested in hosting?  Fill out the Host Family Application Form and return it to the address that is printed on the form.