Indiana 4-H International Programs Creating Friendships Around the World

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAM

The 4-H Japanese High School Exchange

High School in the States for Japanese Teens

• An Opportunity to Host
• An Opportunity to Learn
• An Opportunity to Share Your World with a New Family Member

Hosting a Japanese high school student is as great a learning experience for the host family as it is for their young visitor.  It’s an enormous responsibility, but it’s a unique opportunity to learn about another culture up close and very personally.

Hosting a Student for a Year

Hosting a student means making room in your family for a new member.  And “room” goes beyond simple bed and board.  Adults in the family become “parents” for the delegate; children become the delegate’s siblings.  Parents provide love, direction, advice, nurturing, discipline for the new teenager.  In short, the family is expected to treat their young visitor as they do other family members.

The physical requirements are few; families provide a room (private or shared) with a separate bed for the delegate.  It is not required to have a child of the same age or gender.  Students come with their own spending money and medical insurance.

Host families do not receive financial compensation for hosting, but they can take advantage of limited tax deductions for hosting.

The Support of 4-H

Host families have a big job, but they don’t face it alone.  A 4-H state coordinator is responsible for administering the program in each state and area coordinators work with the families, the delegates, and the schools throughout the year-long program.

The 4-H Support Program includes:

• Area coordinator to facilitate host family selection and school placement
• Orientation and cultural materials for host families
• Japanese-speaking counselors available to students and families
• School-based mentor to monitor students’ academic progress.
• Orientation classes, evaluation sessions, mid-term gatherings, and other 4-H sponsored programs.

The Participants

The delegates range in age from 15 to 18 1/2.  They are well prepared.  They have all completed the 4-H Japanese Exchange Summer Program and have demonstrated adequate English language proficiency.

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