Cosmopolitan host families wanted: Become part of the international exchange!

Cosmopolitan host families wanted: Become part of the international exchange!

From September 2023, international exchange students are expected to live with hospitable families in North Rhine-Westphalia. The initiative, which is supported by Gregor Kaiser, member of the state parliament for the Green Party, is in collaboration with AFS, a renowned volunteer organization. Around 200 young people, aged 15 to 18, are looking forward to getting to know Germany, making new friends and advancing their personal development. The opportunity to share your own culture and learn the German language at the same time makes this exchange program particularly attractive, as lokaldirekt.de reports.

The fall season provides an ideal opportunity for families who want to enroll in the homestay program. Regardless of whether you are a large family, a small family, couples, single parents, same-sex couples or seniors – everyone is welcome at AFS. The program emphasizes the diversity of host families, who can represent almost all lifestyles and interests. Having your own kitchen or a large garden are not mandatory requirements - an open heart and the courage to welcome a new family member are the most important things. AFS also ensures that the host families are comprehensively prepared and supported, which is reflected in the variety of training courses and contact persons offered.

The advantages for host families and exchange students

During the recording period, which ranges from six weeks to a year, not only unforgettable memories are created, but often lifelong friendships. “The intercultural gatherings promote international understanding,” emphasizes Kaiser, and this is particularly true of the enriching experiences that both host families and exchange students have, as afs.de explains. Mutual enrichment and the exchange of different perspectives help to deepen understanding between cultures.

The prerequisites for host families are manageable: the host child must have their own bed and a warm welcome is a must. The families receive support from the volunteer and full-time staff of AFS, who are available at any time. In addition, AFS provides a hotline to clarify all questions and concerns quickly and easily.

Commitment to a better world

However, the initiative goes beyond the exchange between host families and young people. AFS, as a non-partisan and non-profit organization, is passionately committed to a fairer and more peaceful world. The goal of AFS is to enable people to take responsibility for peace and better coexistence in a changing world through intercultural education programs. Values ​​such as dignity, respect, tolerance and empathy are central, as highlighted on the afs.at website.

The doors are wide open for anyone who is interested in the program and would like to offer guest children a place in their lives. A call to AFS on 040 399222-90 or an email to [email protected] is the first step to becoming part of this valuable experience. Further information can of course also be found on the website www.afs.de/gastfamilien.