Families who host international high school students often tell us about the joy of experiencing another culture while sharing the American way of life. Cultural exchange experiences can be life-changing for the high schooler AND for the host family. Host Families often develop long-lasting relationships with their foreign exchange students and their families. Open your heart and home to an international exchange student and perhaps you will find yourself halfway around the globe celebrating with them and their family in the years that follow your hosting experience.
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. You can host a high schooler from a country you’d like to travel to one day, or who speaks a language you want to learn or practice. You can host if you are an empty nester, or have a young family, or if you have a high schooler too. And you can choose a foreign student to host who has the same interests as your family! Curious? Meet our Students who need Host Families!
“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:
Pakistan
I enjoy activities but personally my favorite one is engaging in sports. Sports is one of the best activity to keep mind fresh. I enjoy playing cricket and football too with my siblings. Cricket is one of my favorite sports as it can be easily played in any outdoor place. It keeps me physically fit and boost my stamina too. *No pork #170913
INTERESTS
Germany
My name is Aaron, I am 17 years old and I live in Germany with my mom, dad and my three sisters. We live in a wooden house in a small village so I have to go to school by bus. Currently I am a student in 10th grade at a Gymnasium. I like computers and technical devices in general so I write programs or do other fun stuff with it. I also like to meet friends or go to the gym. I love traveling, meeting new people and getting to know other countries but I have never been to the U.S. so it is why I want to do the exchange year. I also want to do the exchange year in the U.S. because it is a great opportunity for me to experience a live-changing adventure. Special request states: NC, NY, and VA. #167175
INTERESTS
France
My name is Abby, I'm 15 years old. I have one big brother and my parents are divorced. I'm passionate about reading. I also like to go to school and learn new things. I am a school person. I practice handball and I have a really good team. When I'm not at home, I'm going to do shopping because I love buying new clothes. I'm doing outdoor activities like bowling and ice skating. I love spending time with my friends for to chat and laugh. I like cycling with father and brother and I love traveling. I really love the United States since I was little, I can't wait to live there and meet my new family. #164324
INTERESTS
Czech Republic
Hi, I'm Adam. I'm a 17-year-old boy from the Czech Republic. I used to play tennis for 7 years, and now I enjoy going to the gym and playing basketball with my friends. I like listening to music, making new friends, and reading. I love improving my athleticism and learning new things. My favorite subject in school is social science, especially political science and sociology. I'd love to be placed with a sibling. #163315
INTERESTS
Czech Republic
I´m sociable, funny and friendly 17 years old student. I love sports and I want to try as much sports as I can. I like to hangout with my friends, watch movies and sometimes I play computer games with my friends. I like summer and all the activities that are associated with it. I care about others and I always want to help. #163297
INTERESTS
Czech Republic
Hi, my name is Adam, I am 17-year-old student from the Czech Republic. I am very extroverted and sporty person. My passion is going to the gym, swimming, cycling, building websites and working in a cafe. I am disciplined, competitive and willing to do anything to succeed. I like to spend time with friends or family and I always like to meet new people. I don't consider myself a boring person on the contrary, I'm up for any sport and any activity. I also like to read, listen to music, travel or just go for hikes and walks. I'm a summer enthusiast and I love sun and positive mood. I am generally sociable, funny, sensible and mature. I am happy to help others. *Roger White Scholarship Winner - must be placed in Northern Colorado. #169168
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.
2023 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.
Do you know a family who you think would be a great host family?
Complete this form and you can earn $300 if they decide to host!
The details:
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.
Hosting with Greenheart 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.
Write to us at ops@greenheart.org. We’re more than happy to answer any questions you may have.
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.
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 are grateful to all our stakeholders for their unwavering commitment to making the world a better place through cultural exchange even as we navigate a global pandemic and it’s aftermath.
Greenheart will not be requiring host families, participants, or local coordinators to receive a COVID vaccine. However, everyone on the BridgeUSA program through Greenheart Exchange is expected to follow all local and state health guidelines, as well as international travel requirements.
Please refer to current Centers for Disease Control guidelines for international travel to/from the USA, as well as Greenheart’s “Update on the Reopening of Travel to USA” post.
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