Exchange student program in need of host families

(WWLP) – More than 100 students from across the world are looking for host families here in Western Massachusetts.

Non-profit, cultural homestays international, needs the community’s help to grant these student’s American dream.

One host parent from East Longmeadow says she’s had the pleasure of welcoming teenagers from Spain and France.

“I have a daughter who’s 13 and a son who’s 15 and these two children that we’ve hosted are now their brother and sister, we just are trading information constantly, cultures and traditions and food and music and dance and hobbies and interest”, says host parent, Bonnie Rivera.

Within the program all host families are volunteers. Students traveling to the U.S. range in age from 15 to 18-years-old. The organization says the qualifications to extend your family are simple.

“We have empty nesters we have same sex couples, we have single parents or you know um grandparents so you know really anyone can be a host family”, says Mallory LaBonte, Academic Administrator with Cultural Homestay International.

“I’m a teacher at east long meadow high school I have been for 22 years and to bring these kids into east long meadow high school that community learns from this child too”.

“They’re so excited, one of my first students said I cant believe I’m going to get on a yellow school bus because they don’t have yellow school busses where he’s from”, says Mallory LaBonte.

The deadline to find these students a host family is August 31st. For more information email Cultural Homestay International’s Academic Administrator at mallory.labonte@gmail.com.

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