The Exchange Experience.

The program fosters understanding between nations as the students act as ambassadors and it aims to provide a safe and healthy environment for these kids, which is where it gets difficult. Sometimes we don't have enough host families and for this program to succeed it has to be embraced by the entire club. If you can't host a student, invite them to participate in something you're doing anyway. It doesn't have to be something specially organized but with the host family as a base, if each club member involved a student in one event they'd be doing something every week. The Club is notified months in advance who is coming and given a profile of our visitor. They need a counsellor and at least two host families and we need to assure the student that plans are in place so they know they have places to go to. Jamie said his family felt they are paying back a debt. They've hosted 4 out of the last 5 and he feels his kids have benefited and these visitors have provided a tonic to the family in some difficult times. They have watched each of these kids grow and enjoyed the teaching opportunties that go both ways. The kids are usually good students, they will help out (though they are not to be taken advantage of) and there is an allowance made to the family to help defray expenses. He encourages everyone to take part. Roland said his family is still in touch with a student from Holland after 30 years. Alex suggested more reports to keep the membership posted so they would be reminded to help out. Maureen agreed, saying that she didn't know that a student had no host family organized and was concerned till her daughter heard about it. There was some discussion about having students in households with no children and Jamie said they would adapt and might actually like the change.