Change Your World by Hosting an Exchange Student

CHICAGO, March 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Center for Cultural Interchange (CCI), the well-respected, nonprofit student exchange organization, seeks volunteer host families, to host exchange students for the 2012-13 school year. Each year, CCI provides nearly 1000 exchange students from over 50 countries the opportunity to study in local public high schools for a five-month semester or a 10-month Academic High School Year.

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"Host families make all of the difference," said Allison Graham, outreach and training manager for CCI. "They influence a young adult's life, changing world views and making dreams come true. When the family is so willing to give, they have just as many rewarding and enriching experiences as the student."

Volunteer host families come from varied economic, religious and racial backgrounds and include working parents, empty nesters, singles and single parents.  They are to provide:

• Open communication, encouragement, patience and sound advice
• A separate bed, which can be in a shared room with a host sibling of similar age and same gender, and a quiet place to study
• Three daily meals
• Local transportation (students are not permitted to drive while on the program) 
• Treatment as a member of the family, which may include household rules, responsibilities and privileges

While host families are not compensated, the Internal Revenue Service has authorized families to claim a $50 per month charitable contribution deduction on their itemized tax returns.

Students have their own accident and health insurance and bring their own spending money. Students are encouraged to participate in school-sponsored activities, community service and environmental programs. CCI provides regular communication and support to both host families and students. Host family applications are being accepted now.

For more information, visit http://www.cci-exchange.com/usprograms/host.aspx, email [email protected] or call 800-634-4771.

Center for Cultural Interchange (CCI) is a non-profit international educational exchange organization dedicated to the promotion of cultural understanding, academic development, environmental consciousness and world peace. CCI is recognized by the U.S. Department of State as an official Exchange Visitor Program sponsor. Based in Chicago, Illinois, CCI organizes high school exchange, short-term group homestay, intern and trainee, work & travel in the U.S. and travel abroad programs in over 30 countries around the world.

SOURCE Center for Cultural Interchange (CCI)