Hi, everyone! We are looking for volunteer host families for boys and girls like Aitbeck. Here is his bio. If you know of anyone who might like to host a student, please let me know! Smiles, Dorothy Aitbek – Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan Mother’s Name & Occupation: Zuhra, Engineer Father’s Name & Occupation Sapar, Builder Siblings: None Sex: Male Birthdate: 6/22/1991 SLEP Result: 59 Current Grade: 11 GPA: A- Major interests and activities: soccer, tae kwon do, swimming, karate Special Notes: Wants to go to the American University in his country, doesn't have any allergies, has no religious preference. Can adjust to smokers? Yes Can live with indoor pets? Yes Height: 5’9” Weight: 132 pounds I am originally from New Jersey and moved to Goldsboro in February of 2005. While living in New Jersey, I enjoyed working with the Center for Cultural Interchange managing an International Exchange Student program for more than 14 years. I made many lasting friendships with both host families and the families of my “exchange kids”. My “kids” have been back to spend time with me and I have visited them in their home countries. Some have even been to visit me in North Carolina! These have truly been some of the most wonderful experiences of my life. I would like to share some of our information with your members. We have hundreds of students from around the world still anxious to connect with their future volunteer host family. To that end, I would be extremely grateful if you could put any potential volunteer host families that you may know of in contact with me. I am also available to visit your group and present information about this worthy program to your members. I will even supply flyers to be distributed to your members! I am willing to do whatever it takes to get the word out to our community! My contact info is: dhcimino@nc.rr.com 919-921-7151 Thank you so much!!!
Who is the exchange program that you are with? I work w/ many different international agencies on a different program but am familiar w/ quite a few exchange programs. How long would this one be for the host family and what countries would these children be coming from? I figured I'd ask these questions as others on this board may have the same questions. My kids love meeting others from Russia and EE countries. So if you know of any in the area, do let me know. We know we'll most likely host an exchange student in the future but not this year. I have heard from everyon who has hosted that it is such a wonderful opportunity for all involved. Hope many people come forward on here to host. Good luck! Stephanie--mom to 7
Please dont take offence, but do you get paid to place the children? I was reading about a program where they hire people to place this children and it raised some red flags for me. I am just trying to learn how it all works. We have done ABRO and brought children from Belarus over and had wonderful experiences.
Yes, we get a very small stipend for placing students. That is not why I do this! I love the kids and have great fun with them. One of my "kids" from the Ukraine came to see me last year and I am expecting my other girl from there to spend Easter with me! I am so excited! My Ukrainian kids were on a US Department of State grant program called FLEX (Future Leaders Exchange). They are really smart kids! The program starts out with about 50,000 applicants and only 1,200 make the grade for a scholarship to come here. One of my best friends (yes, I met her through the exchange program!) hosted a student from Belarus, too, and she loved her! The organization I work with is one of only 8 or 10 in the entire country that is recognized by the Department of State to place these students so you know they are a reputable company. They are also non-profit and big into the environmental type programs. You should check them out on their website www.cci-exchange.com. I would not still be working with them if they were not a good company. I have met the best people doing this. You get to network with great people-most of my dearest friends I met because they hosted a student for me or their children met my exchange students at school. And these people hosted over and over every year (when I lived in NJ) and we had Christmas parties and pool parties and just wonderful times. I don't have any natural children of my own but I have lots of kids around the world! I have found out over the years that only people with big hearts will open their homes to the kids. Trust me, whatever I get paid does not cover gas to make the home visit, advertising (I have just spent over $1,000 of my own money on mailings and advertising), and all of the other things I need to get the word out. Not to mention, I have taken my kids to Disney World and Disneyland over the years...really, you do this kind of thing for love. People who are in it for the "money" don't stay the course over the years and keep trying to find host families. Which is good, they don't need to be doing this! It really is very time consuming to get the program well organized, etc. So, ask me anything you would like to know! I am always happy to talk about my kids!
Check out the student bio at the top! Hi, everyone! Please let me know if you have any friends, relatives or church buddies that might want to host an exchange student for a semester or the school year. I have put some info about one of my "kids" in at the top! Smiles, Dorothy
