Maine Families Can Host a Japanese Exchange Student
Contact: Jill Coffren, state coordinator, Cooperative Extension 4H Japanese exchange program, 207-645-3248.
ORONO– Ryota Toda is a 12-year-old boy from Kyoto, Japan, who has a black belt in karate and is an avid stamp collector. This year he hopes to come to the United States and live with a Maine family. He can’t wait to attend a county fair and dreams of getting a chance to ride a horse. Ryota is one of 19 Japanese youngsters who will be staying with local families as part of a two-way exchange program sponsored by 4-H. The boys and girls will stay with their American host families from mid-July to mid-August.
This program is open to families in Maine with children close in age to the Japanese participants. Families without children in this age range will be considered as hosts for the adult chaperone from Japan.
“You don’t have to be involved with 4-H to host; you just need a willingness to share your home and your world. There is no need to know Japanese; the students have all studied English and are anxious to use it,” says Jill Coffren of Jay, state coordinator for the program.
“The program gives host families a chance to share their culture, friendship, and family life with an exchange student and at the same time learn about Japanese life,” Coffren adds. “The homestays only last a month during summer vacation, but the effects last a lifetime.” Host family applications and brochures about the program are available by contacting your local County Extension Office or Coffren at 207-645-3248.
The 4-H International Exchange Program is one of the largest exchange programs involving North American and Japanese youth in the world. Since it began in 1972, some 39,000 students have stayed with families in 39 states, including Maine, and more than 6,300 American students have made reciprocal visits to Japan. Last year Maine hosted 19 month-long exchange students.
As state program coordinator Coffren was presented with the National 4-H International Coordinator, “Rookie of the Year” award November 16, in Roanoke, VA at the National Coordinators’ Conference.