Host Families Sought for One-Month 4-H International Exchange Program
Contact: Jill Coffren at (207) 645-3248
ORONO — Maine families are needed to host Japanese exchange students, ages 12 to 18, for four weeks this summer as part of a two-way exchange program sponsored by the Maine 4-H program. The Japanese youth will stay with their American host families from mid July to mid August.
The exchange is open to families living in Maine with children close in age to the Japanese participants. Families without children in this age range will be
considered as hosts for adult chaperones from Japan. You don’t need to be involved in 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.
“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,” said Jill Coffren, state coordinator. “The homestays only last a month during summer vacation, but the effects a lifetime.” Host family applications are available by contacting the Franklin County Extension Office at 1-800-287-1478 or your local Cooperative Extension Office. If you have any questions you can email Jill directly at coffren@megalink.net. The application process includes a background check and home visit by a program representative. Besides the summer exchange there are high school students that need host families for the school year.
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 then 6,300 American students have made reciprocal visits to Japan.