International exchange program seeks students, host families

Lisa Vidaurri Bowling, The Monroe News
·2 min read

Qualified Monroe County high school students are offered a unique opportunity to explore the world by spending an academic year, semester or summer in Europe, Asia, North or South America, Australia or South Africa as part of the ASSE International Student Exchange Program.

The nonprofit, public benefit organization is dedicated to promoting closer ties of friendship between the United States and other countries by fostering intercultural understanding through youth exchange programs.

The ASSE International Student Exchange Program provides American families the opportunity to host an international student from Spain, Italy, Germany, Ukraine, Thailand, Japan, and many other countries.
The ASSE International Student Exchange Program provides American families the opportunity to host an international student from Spain, Italy, Germany, Ukraine, Thailand, Japan, and many other countries.

Students qualify on the basis of academic performance, character references and a genuine desire to experience life abroad with a volunteer host family. Prior knowledge of the host country’s language is not a requirement. Scholarships are available and are based on academic performance, leadership skills and financial need.

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Kacey Vanderkarr is the Michigan area coordinator and a host parent. She has been involved with the program for three years.

“We have an outbound program and an inbound program,” Vanderkarr said. “The outbound program is for students, 15 to 18 years old, and we offer several different countries and we offer scholarships as well.”

The program's inbound program is for families who are interested in host a student. Host families are sought for the 2024-25 school year.

According to a written statement provided by ASSE, families abroad are carefully screened, and students do not need to know the language of the host country prior to departure but will acquire the language skills through experiencing the day-to-day local culture and attending regular high school classes along with their new teenage friends.

ASSE also provides American families the opportunity to host an international student from Spain, Italy, Germany, Ukraine, Thailand, Japan, and many other countries. While staying with their host family, the young students will attend the local high school for an academic year or semester.

“I love being a host parent,” Vanderkarr said. “This is my third year. I had two girls from Spain, and now I have a girl from Denmark. They’re my kids. I’m very close to them. I’ve traveled to Spain to visit both of my previous exchange students and I am planning to go to Denmark to visit my current exchange student when she eventually goes home. It’s just really rewarding.”

Students or families interested in learning more about becoming an ASSE exchange student or host family should contact Vanderkarr at 810-869-1784 or the ASSE at 800-733-2773. More information is available online by visiting www.asse.com or sending an email to asseusawest@asse.com.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: International exchange program seeks students, host families