Madison families can make a difference

In August, Academic Year in America (AYA) is looking for Madison families to play host to Germany.

This year, AYA is bringing hundreds of German high school students to the U.S. to learn about American culture while living with volunteer host families and studying at high schools across the nation. American families have the unique opportunity to learn about the German culture during this mutually rewarding exchange.

To learn more about hosting a German exchange student with AYA, contact Local Coordinator, Ecleave Jackson at (256) 859-3202 or ecleave@mchsi.com.

AYA can help families find the ideal student for their home. The result is an enriching, lifelong relationship with a young person from abroad. In addition, for families looking to learn more about the German culture or language, hosting a student is a fantastic way to experience Germany without leaving home.

Students are ages 15 to 18 and arrive with full medical insurance, spending money, and the hopes of experiencing life in America through the eyes of a caring host family. The students stay with their host for five or ten months and attend the local high school.

Who can host a German student through AYA? According to AYA Director, Melanie French, an important aspect of the AYA program is that there are many types of people who can host.

“Just as there is no typical American family, there is no typical host family,” states French. “Retirees, single parents and young couples are all able to give an international student a good home. Some host families may not even have children of their own. Bringing a German student into your home can mean giving the gift of culture to yourself, your family, your community—whomever would benefit from exposure to a new culture.”

Visit AYA on the web at Academicyear.org.