2012 Summer Youth Exchange Programs
This summer CCWA will be welcoming two youth exchanges and we are looking for Host Families!
Jóvenes en Acción - Mexican Youth Exchange
Students arrive Friday, July 20 and depart Saturday, Aug. 4
Host Family Application Form - Mexico
Iraqi and American Young Leaders Exchange Program
Students arrive Thursday, Aug. 2 and depart Monday, Aug. 13
Host Family Application Form - Iraq
Hosting a foreign student in your home builds understanding between people of different cultures. While learning about your visitor's country and its people, the world becomes a smaller place and a friendship that lasts a lifetime is formed. For the foreign student, staying with families is the highlight of their program as it exposes them to everyday American life and culture that couldn’t be experienced in any other way.
Host Family Responsibilities:
1. Families are required to have at least one person in high school to act as a host ‘brother’ or ‘sister’. 2. Host families may indicate ‘gender’ preference for their exchange student.
3. Host families provide the students with their own bed, breakfast and dinner on weekdays and all meals on the weekends.
4. All host families are required to submit an application, references and undergo a criminal background check.
CCWA Responsibilities:
1. Will conduct a host family orientation session before the students arrive.
2. Will provide transportation to and from the host family's home each weekday for the student to attend leadership training and workshops.
3. Will facilitate a communication network among the area host families to support families with communication and possible shared planned activities.
To learn more about this unique opportunity, please contact Maura O’Donnell-McCarthy at 216- 255- 9004 or
modonnellmccarthy@ccwa.org
Jóvenes en Acción – Mexican Youth Exchange
Cleveland will host 11 Mexican high school students who were selected on their strong leadership potential as well as their commitment to community service and academic achievement. Special consideration was given to students who live in communities where gangs, violence and drug-related crime have had an impact. The Mexican youth will have an intermediate level of English proficiency - enough to ensure that they will benefit from workshops, peer-to-peer interaction and thrive in an American home living environment. While in Cleveland, the students will be attending a leadership program during business hours Monday – Friday. The program will focus on issues related to social and community development. This program is funded as a joint initiative between the U.S. Department of State, the Mexican government and the private sector.
Iraqi and American Young Leaders Exchange
Cleveland will host ten Iraqi and three American high school students who were selected on their academic achievement, community service involvement, commitment to volunteerism and English language abilities. Each weekday, the Iraqi and American students will spend a full day participating in community service and leadership skill development activities. Host families have a choice to host one Iraqi student or both an American and an Iraqi student. The American student would be from a city other than Cleveland. The program will focus on the importance of leadership, civic involvement, volunteerism and tolerance for diversity. This program is funded by the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.