Did you know that each year, international students are invited to attend Indian River Charter High School in Vero Beach, (FL). This exciting initiative is part of the school district’s efforts to expand its global education program. For many years, these dynamic international students have engaged with our community and formed relationships that go well beyond the walls of Indian River Charter High School.
Often, they volunteer within our community, participate in school and town sports and share their culture with everyone they encounter along the way!
Local host families help make this program a success and are in need for the 2021-22 school year. Welcoming an international student into your home is like gaining a son or daughter! The relationship you build with a student can last a lifetime as you become their “home away from home.” It’s hard to teach our own children important life lessons such as acceptance, tolerance and the power of diversity. Hosting an international student is “hands on” teaching, and a great way to fill your home with joy and laughter while realizing that what makes us different can also bring us together.
To attract host families, Indian River Charter High School is working with Educatius Group as an organizational partner on this program. Founded in 2003 and continually listed by CSIET (Council on Standards for International Educational Travel) for 7 consecutive years, Educatius Group (www.educatius.org/Host-Families ) is the largest organization welcoming international high school students from over 50 different countries to the USA. Each year, Educatius Group recruits, trains and supports host families wishing to open their homes to international students while students study a full-time program at a local high school.
Commonly asked questions answered by Regional Manager Stephanie Burleson
Why would American families welcome an international student into their homes? Families host for a range of reasons. Some aim to give their own children exposure to international culture, to share American and local culture, and others enjoy filling their empty nests. Almost all host families agree that they have made a profound difference in a child’s life while enriching their own family and home. Many families keep in close contact long after the student has moved on. Our students are eager to live with and be part of an American host family and experience American life and traditions with you!
USA Headquarters 50 Congress St, +1.617.292.0035 info@educatius.org Boston, MA 02109, USA +1.617.292.0047 www.educatius.org
What type of support does Educatius Group offer for host families and students? Educatius provides each host family with their own dedicated “local coordinator” who works closely with the host families, students, and schools to ensure the program is an all-around success. Local coordinators provide an orientation and ongoing support for each host family and the student before and during the student’s arrival. In addition, Educatius has an entire department dedicated to ensuring all students have a successful program. Our Student Experience team is always prepared and available to support our students and host families. Our Regional Managers are also readily available to students and host families and we have a 24-hour emergency line available to all students and host families. Once you decide to be part of this program you will have support from start to finish. As an organization, we are proud of the support we provide and this is a pillar to our success.
This experience positively shapes our own community as well. There are different types of exchange programs. Educatius Group, enrolls international students at Indian River Charter High School and arranges and supports welcoming families to host them. It operates an “F-1 visa” foreign student program. This means that Educatius Group’s fees pay the full tuition amount to local high schools (even at public schools!) for each student on our program. A monthly stipend is also included to help offset the cost of hosting and Educatius students spend their “pocket money” in our community. So, Educatius Group encourages cross cultural understanding amongst people of diverse cultures, while also bringing direct economic benefits to communities like Vero Beach (FL).
Caring host families in Vero Beach and surrounding cities are now needed for talented international students arriving for the 2021-22 School Year. Families of any background, size or shape are welcome; but must have a separate bedroom for the student and speak English at home. Students are well screened and must demonstrate high academic, health and English standards in order to be accepted into the program. All students have health insurance and come with their own spending money. Educatius provides a monthly stipend to host families for hosting. Although many families appreciate the monthly stipend, the value of sharing their home with an international student goes well beyond!
If you’d like to talk to someone about hosting an international student, contact us today! Reach out to Stephanie Burleson at: stephanie.burleson@educatius.org.
