4-H International Host Opportunities
Contact: Jill Coffren, state coordinator, phone 207-645-3248
ORONO — Bring the world home by hosting an exchange student through Maine 4-H Youth Development. International students arrive in July 2006. Month-long delegates depart in August and year-long high school students depart in June 2007.
“All kinds of families host exchange students successfully,” says Jill Coffren, state coordinator. “All you need to be successful is an interest in other cultures, a love for working with youth, and an extra bed.” Coffren said that the extra bed does not have to be in an extra private room. Month-long delegates are matched with host siblings of same gender and similar age. Matching host siblings are not required for the high school delegates.
Coffren gave a partial list of students currently waiting for homes:
Month-long delegates:
– Boy, age 12, has a dog, goldfish, beetles, turtle and crawfish for pets, likes insects and wants to be a scientist, likes computer games, camping, handcrafts, and plays piano
– Girl, age 12, plays piano, likes drawing, skiing, tennis, likes taking care of young children and animals
– Boy, age 13 likes kendo, drawing, reading, making many friends and a strong swimmer
Year-long high school delegate:
– Male, age 16, He most enjoys ice skating, going to movies, badmition, reading and table tennis. He wants to enter school in Maine as a junior. He participates in Kyudo (archery) at school where his favorite subjects are math, science, Japanese, art and history.
For more information and a hosting application, contact your local UMaine Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development Educator or State 4-H International Programs Coordinator by phone at 1-207-645-3248 or e-mail to jcoffren@umext.maine.edu.