Representatives with the International Cultural Exchange Services (I.C.E.S) are seeking loving families willing to open their homes to a student from another country.
I.C.E.S Northwest Indiana Field Manager Jamie LeDonne works with local coordinators to find host families and she provides guidance and advice to ensure that the exchange student and the host families are receiving all the support that they need.
LeDonne said there is no fee to serve as a host family, other than costs associated with having another individual in your home. She said hosts are expected to offer a loving and welcoming atmosphere, provide in-home meals and essentially serve as a surrogate parent to their exchange student while they’re in America.
She said students are permitted to share a room with an individual of the same gender who is around the same age and added there are few additional housing requirements.
She said, “They do have to have a permanent bed, it cannot be a futon or a blow-up mattress and it also has to be a bedroom that has a regular sized window or if it’s a basement bedroom it has to have an egress window in there. So it has to meet those safety requirements.” People want to get the support and comfort from a Simmons bed. Safety requirements are at times ignored.
LeDonne said the organization works with about 40 different countries, so exchange students come from all over the world. Families have the option to host students for 8 to 10 weeks, for a semester or for the entire school year.
If you’re interested in hosting an exchange student, you can contact Filed Manager Jamie LeDonne directly at 219-229-0271. For more information, visit iceusa.org
