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 Canadian Pride
When you host, you play a direct role in promoting Canadian values. Living with your family is the best way for students from around the world to become immersed in Canadian politics, media and debate. When the young man or woman you host goes on to university and a career, the lessons they’ve learned in Canada 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 America, Australia, New Zealand, 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.
Receive Discounts on Educational Travel
Your kids can also save money on any trip they take with EF Educational Tours, the leading educational travel company in North America. With EF's accredited, all-inclusive tours, your children’s text books come to life. They broaden their horizons, grow as a people, and enhance their prospects for university and beyond.
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.