Families who host international high school students often tell us about the joy of experiencing another culture while sharing the American way of life. You can host for a full school year, or a partial year. You can host someone from a country you’d like to learn more about or travel to one day, or who speaks a language you want to learn. You can host a foreign student in the same grade as your high schooler, or with the same interests as your family.
Families who host foreign exchange students often develop relationships that last far longer than the program. Cultural exchange experiences can be life-changing for the high schooler, and for the host family. Open your heart and home to a student and perhaps you will find yourself halfway across the globe celebrating with them and their family in the years that follow your hosting experience.
“We are truly blessed with the experiences that the Greenheart Exchange program has brought to our lives.” — The Lowry’s, a Greenheart Exchange host family in Texas
Greenheart Cares About the Safety of Our Students and Hosts
The Department of State implemented a toll free number (1-866-283-9090) for secondary school students, which was effective August 1, 2009. The toll free number can be used by host families, exchange students and the public to report circumstances impacting the students’ health, safety and well being during their exchange visitor programs. You may also email the Department at jvisas[at]state[dot]gov.
Meet some of the students we have available to host! Let us help match you with a foreign exchange student who shares your family's lifestyle and common interests:
Bulgaria
Meet Alex from Bulgaria. He is a very mature, thoughtful, well spoken and social person who is interested in politics, computer science and business. Alex hopes to become more independent and learn about other cultures during his exchange year. Alex enjoys being with friends when he is not studying or participating in his schools debate club. Alex feels that debate has taught him to know different words and opinions, his teachers feel he works well with others and is very much a team player.
INTERESTS
France
Anais is a 17 year old girl from France and excellent student (A-) who will have graduated upon arrival. She comes from a large Muslim family of 7 with both older and younger siblings. Her interests are many, including piano, reading, theater, cooking, baking, gardening, and watching movies with her family. She loves helping people and doing volunteer projects and will participate in the Greenheart club. She is very family-oriented and excited to join her American host family in all they do.
INTERESTS
Ukraine
Danylo is a 16 year old boy from Ukraine. Danylo loves staying busy and active. He enjoys basketball, cycling, hiking and camping. At school, he is involved with student council, organizing activities such as dances (including being the DJ) & runs an orphanage supply drive. He loves helping others which is why he would like to be a psychologist as his future profession. *Danylo has a cat allergy so must be with a non-cat family*
INTERESTS
Poland
Kalina plays violin and attended a music school. She has a mathematical mind-. Kalina is open, kind, and cheerful. She also seems to be mature and flexible.
INTERESTS
Japan
Kota is a 15 year-old Japanese boy who enjoys English club, video games and reading comic books. He is mature, friendly and enthusiastic. He delivers newspapers as a part-time job, is Christian and willing to go to church with his American host family.
INTERESTS
Spain
Meet Marta, she is 16 years old. She is close with her family and hopes to build a close relationship with her American family. Her two brothers have been exchange students and she is excited to be one too. She loves playing volleyball, skiing, going to the gym and visiting historical cities.
Marta is interested in knowing the American culture and going to high school in the USA. She likes to do different activities with her friends and is very active with them. Marta is mature, responsible and easy going.
INTERESTS
In a normal year, hundreds of international students come to the U.S. on our Short-term Cultural Exchange programs. These are students traveling in groups or independently, who are visiting the U.S. to experience American culture and to improve their English language skills.
Hosting one of these students is a great way to get a taste of what it’s like to be a host family. Greenheart Exchange seeks families in various U.S. communities to host for a few short weeks during the summer, or over a holiday break.
2022 INFORMATION COMING SOON.
To learn more about hosting a group homestay participant, click here. If you are ready to begin hosting a group student and want to fill out an application, click here.
Greenheart Exchange also needs host families for international high school exchange students in these scholarship programs:
Both programs are administered by a consortium of nonprofit organizations led by American Councils for International Education.
The Department of State recognizes that youth exchange is a key component to building bridges between citizens of the U.S. and countries around the world.
The FLEX and YES scholarship programs are designed to bring understanding to individuals, families, communities, and the world.
FLEX and YES students are recruited and carefully selected as the top students in their home countries. They go through a rigorous selection process before they are awarded a scholarship to participate in the program.
Here are just a few reasons why you should host a FLEX or YES student:
Fill our “Host Now” inquiry form to get started!
The Future Leaders Exchange Program (FLEX) was established in 1992 shortly after the fall of the Soviet Union. The program provides an opportunity for students to gain leadership experience, learn about American society, and foster mutual understanding across cultures.
FLEX students are from the following countries (may vary annually): Armenia, Azerbaijan, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Ukraine.
The Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Program (YES) was established in October 2002, in response to the events of September 11, 2001. The program awards scholarships to high school students from countries with a significant Muslim population.
YES students come from more than 40 countries.
Interested participants should apply through American Councils, as Greenheart Exchange only acts as an approved placement organization–we are not responsible for recruitment of participants.
Anyone with an open mind, open heart, and willingness to share their home and culture may be a host family. Located in every state, volunteer host families provide our young ambassadors a wide range of landscapes, climates, activities, and lifestyles. Greenheart Exchange Host Families are also flexible and open-minded, are age 26 or older, and represent the diversity of American culture. Our families are of varied economic, religious and racial backgrounds and include working parents, empty nesters, singles and single parents.
The health and safety of each student is our highest priority and so we ask our host families to abide by regulations of the U.S. Department of State and policies outlined by Greenheart Exchange and the Council of Standards for International and Educational Travel (CSIET), as well as, provide:
Most students are attending high school for a full school year, which is 10 months, generally September through June. A handful of students come for only one semester (5 months) and start in either the fall or winter semester. We also have participants who come on short term (2 – 8 week) programs, primarily in the summer.
Greenheart Exchange students come with their own spending money and are responsible for paying for their own activities and costs incurred for school functions. You will need to pay the extra, minimal costs, associated with housing another person, such as utility bills, increase in groceries, etc.
Students have their own accident and health insurance coverage during their stay. They will not have to join your health plan.
Generally, hosting on Greenheart programs is a volunteer opportunity. For J1 high school programs, the Internal Revenue Service has authorized families to claim a $50 per month charitable contribution deduction on their itemized tax returns.
Host families and students have access to 24-hour support from your Local Coordinator, who will help pair you with a student, and advise, guide, and assist the host family and student during the school year.
First complete our inquiry form. You’ll receive an email with login information to our online database to begin the application. You will also be contacted by a Local Coordinator in your area to outline the program and answer your questions.
Call us toll-free at 800-634-4771. We’re more than happy to answer any questions you may have.
Greenheart was fortunate to be able to bring a small group of High School participants to the United States this year. Through careful consideration and cooperation, Greenheart has worked with host families, students, and schools throughout the U.S. to maintain this vital exchange program while keeping everyone’s health and safety at the forefront. We look forward to building upon our experience in 2021 and are grateful to all our stakeholders for their unwavering commitment to making the world a better place through cultural exchange.
We have begun placing participants for the 2021-22 school year. See how our organization is responding to COVID-19 by exploring the Frequently Asked Questions below.
Greenheart participants receive a pre-departure orientation from our Greenheart partners in their home country. This includes information regarding COVID-19 as it relates to their experience with their host family, time at school and within their American community. We also encourage participants and host families to connect and discuss any recent COVID-19 information or requirements within their community.
Participants agree to comply with all travel regulations from the time they depart home until they arrive in their host community. Everyone is expected to follow all local and state health guidelines.
Testing requirements for international travel are set by the US federal authorities and travel providers including airlines. As of January 26, 2021, all international travelers to the United States must provide documentation of a negative COVID-19 test or proof of recovery from COVID-19. Greenheart continues to monitor travel requirements on an ongoing basis. We expect that all participants will comply with travel requirements.
All participants are expected to follow all local and state health guidelines. This may include self-isolating in the home and/or testing.
All Greenheart participants are required to have health insurance to participate on the program which will cover for their care when ill. COVID-19 testing (if not medically necessary) and vaccines are not generally covered. If anyone within the host family home is exposed or has a confirmed case of COVID-19, they should notify Greenheart immediately and follow the guidance and requirements of local health authorities.
Vaccine availability varies widely throughout the world, and many countries are far behind the United States in their vaccine rollouts. Additionally, many vaccines have so far only been confirmed to be safe and viable for those age 18 and older. Until we see material changes in the situations in other countries, Greenheart will not be requiring the vaccine for our high school participants before their arrival.
Vaccine updates seem to occur daily. Greenheart will continue to monitor developments and communicate with host families, participants, and our partners abroad about the feasibility of students receiving the vaccine while on program in the United States. Currently, vaccines are not readily available for our participant population. Greenheart will continue to update our policy as the situation evolves.
Due to the nature of vaccine availability around the world, Greenheart deals with hundreds of students every year who are not able to get all the school required vaccines (non-COVID) in their home countries before they depart for the U.S. Upon these students’ arrivals, their host family and Local Coordinator will work together to ensure the student receives all the necessary vaccines to be able to attend school. If an American high school is requiring their students receive the COVID vaccine to attend classes, and the vaccine is safe, effective, and available for high school students in that area, Greenheart would treat the situation the same way as any other vaccine and help the student receive the COVID vaccine upon their arrival before the beginning of school.
No, Greenheart will not be requiring host families or coordinators to receive the vaccine.
Want to help find host families for high school exchange students?
If you are extroverted and a self starter with a passion for cultural exchange, maybe placing and supporting high school students during their exchange year is for you.
Local Coordinators help find host families who are perfectly matched to incoming international exchange students. Our best Local Coordinators are curious and motivated individuals. In addition to the rewarding experience of finding families in their community who are interested in hosting a foreign exchange student, Local Coordinators also monitor and supervise exchange students and help them adjust to their new life in America.
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