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Host families needed for youth and young adults from abroad
January 12, 2009
Host homes are needed for youth and young adults from abroad who come to Montana as part of Montana State University Extension 4-H programs.
While family settings are needed for the 4-H aged youth visitors, any adult can host the young adults visiting as part of the International 4-H Youth Exchange or "IFYE" program, said Stephanie Davison, director of the international programs at MSU's 4-H Center for Youth Development. The young adult visitors come from farming backgrounds in their home countries, and often look forward to the experience of providing a helping hand on Montana farms and ranches.
"Our 4-H aged visitors are between the ages of 12 and 18," Davison said. "For that group, we need host families who have a child within two years of the age and the same gender as the visitor."
Visitors this year are confirmed from Japan, Scotland and Ireland, and others may be arriving from Switzerland, Costa Rica, Finland and Austria. They typically arrive during the summer months and stay 4 weeks in the case of the 4-H youth exchange and several months for the IFYE program.
The visits are an opportunity for Montanans to learn about other cultures, and in some cases lifelong friendships have been formed with later opportunities for reciprocal visits.
Ralen Dupuis from Polson, whose family has hosted three times, says being with his host brother, Yutaro Shindo of Japan, made for "the best time of my life."
To find out more about hosting a foreign delegate, contact Davison at (406) 994-3502 or e-mail her at sdavison@montana.edu.
Contact: Stephanie Davison (406) 994-3502 or sdavison@montana.edu
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