Hi, I'm Lydia, a local coordinator for CIEE, Council On International Educational Exchange, in So California. We offer:
• Reliable expertise.
Having hosted four students myself, I found the experience to be gratifying and enriching for the student, my children and my husband and I. About CIEE: Founded in 1947, CIEE is a non-profit organization with a mission to help people gain understanding, acquire knowledge, and develop skills for living in a globally interdependent and culturally diverse world. With over 65 years of experience, CIEE
is the largest and longest running sponsor of exchange programs in the U.S. We place international exchange and grant students for 10 or 5 months at high schools all over California and I'm looking for high schools to welcome students starting in August. As the leading J-1 sponsor in the country, CIEE partners with schools across the country to bring international students to the U.S. We provide reliable local support for students, host families, and schools alike throughout each student’s stay. From the start of the application process through the student’s trip home, our staff is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. With 70 years of experience, we carefully select students who are well-positioned to succeed within an American school during their time abroad.
• Local support. As your local coordinator, I live right here in your community, so you always have someone to turn to for immediate guidance.
• Peace of mind. All CIEE students have full travel insurance that covers them in case of an emergency or medical need, to give you confidence and eliminate hassles. Students on CIEE’s High School Exchange program are smart, engaged, and excited to share their countries’ unique cultures. Each student meets rigorous academic requirements and demonstrates intermediate-level or above English proficiency to ensure their academic success in the U.S. Many of our students even compete against hundreds or thousands of others to receive prestigious grants to study here. When schools host CIEE exchange students, everyone benefits. Our international students represent over 60 nations, bringing new perspectives that can open students’ minds, and create opportunities for cross-cultural engagement and understanding at school and throughout the town. Schools often find that students build meaningful friendships with exchange students that last well beyond their visit. We are looking for volunteer Host Families and also referrals for host families. If some families are popping into your head, please feel free to share this info with them! A few important notes:
Students attend local high schools (for which their families are zoned)
Students can take school transportation, walk, or carpool.
Students have their own medical insurance and their own spending money to cover personal expenses. There are several ways a family (or single person, too!) can be involved:
Full time host (5-10 months – semester or school year)
Welcome family (welcome students to the community for up to 6 weeks –this helps to secure school enrollment and settle into the area)
Back Up Family (for short term care in case of emergency or travel. Referrals are a fantastic way to find some of the best families and we definitely trust your judgement 😊
When your referred family is approved for hosting, I’d love to share our $200 referral bonus with you and/ or your school. Here is general information about our host families and an application to become a host family: https://www.ciee.org/partner/hosts/host-families
