MONROE — ASSE International Student Exchange Programs, a nonprofit, public benefit organization, is inviting local families to discover the rewards of hosting a foreign exchange student.
The organization is dedicated to promoting closer ties of friendship between the United States and other countries by fostering intercultural understanding through youth exchange programs. Students come from more than 50 countries worldwide such as Australia, Denmark, France, Italy, Japan, Spain and Ukraine.
According to the organization, the students are between the ages of 15 and 18 years old, and are eager to experience American culture, family life, school and sports.
“They also love to share their own culture and language with their host families, who welcome the students into their home, not as a guest, but as a family member, giving everyone involved a rich cultural experience,” the organization said in a written statement. “Host families may be single parents, couples and single persons.”
The exchange students have money for personal expenses and full health, accident and liability insurance. ASSE students are carefully selected based upon academics and personality, and host families can select students from a wide variety of backgrounds, countries and personal interests.
ASSE also offers qualified American students the opportunity to learn another language and culture by spending a school year, semester or a summer with a host family in another country.
Students or families interested in learning more about becoming an ASSE exchange student or host family should contact Alina at 1-800-677-2773, visit asse.com or send an email to asseusasouth@asse.com to request more information or start the application process.
