Benefits of being a host family
Getting involved in international exchange is rewarding for your whole family. Below are just some of the benefits of hosting an exchange student with EF Foundation.
Create a Volunteer Family
Families of all shapes and sizes benefit immensely from doing good together. This is especially true when you volunteer to be an EF Foundation host family. Parents experience the joy of sharing in another child’s development. Children of all ages benefit from bonding with a student from another country. And by sharing a desire to understand other cultures and make an impact, your family will grow together.
Live Life to the Fullest
Families with grown children or without kids of their own love hosting too. Having an exchange student in your local high school provides a great way to stay involved with your community. Many people also find they start living life to the fullest with a new son or daughter to share experiences with.
Share Your National Pride
When you host, you play a direct role in promoting the values of your home country. Living with a family is the best way for students from around the world to become immersed in New Zealand entertainment and lifestyle. When the young man or woman you host goes on to university and a career, the lessons they’ve learned abroad will help to shape their decisions for a lifetime.
Learn More About the World
Hosting is an excellent way to learn about the world without leaving home. Parents and children alike can learn a new language, get personal insight into the world beyond their backyards, and even become excellent international cooks! Living with a student from another culture is an education in itself, and it doesn’t cost a thing.
Earn Scholarships for Study Abroad
In exchange for hosting, the high school students in your household become eligible for EF Foundation Outbound (link) scholarships. With EF Foundation, your teenager can travel to Canada, Australia, the United States, Great Britain, Ireland, France, or Germany. An academic year or semester abroad gives your child the chance to live with a host family, become fluent in another language, learn about a different country and culture, and meet people from all over the world.
Have Fun
Host families and exchange students laugh. A lot. Whether giggling over the mispronunciation of words or sharing students’ excitement about prom, host families have a tremendous amount of fun.
Change the World
It sounds ambitious, but it’s true: when you host an EF Foundation exchange student, you gain the power to change the world, one student at a time.
Get a Monthly Donation
To thank you for all the hard work that you as a host family do for volunteering with EF, we provide a monthly donation of $230 a month for each student in your home. It's just a small way that we can show our appreciation!