Families Sought as Hosts for Exchange Students

Families are being sought throughout Ventura County to host English-speaking foreign exchange students ages 15 to 18 for the spring academic semester.

High school-age students from countries including Spain, Russia, Argentina, New Zealand and Croatia are among those waiting to be matched with local host families through the Pacific Intercultural Exchange organization.

Students in the exchange program attend local high schools, have their own spending money and carry accident and health insurance.

Families participating in the exchange program are eligible to deduct $50 from their itemized tax return for each month they host a foreign student.

Exchange students are matched with host families through an informal meeting and a review of their applications. Pacific Intercultural Exchange is able to match students to a variety of family situations, from single parents and childless couples to households with several children.

Pacific Intercultural Exchange has sponsored more than 18,000 exchange students from 40 countries since its founding in 1975. The nonprofit educational organization is recognized by the United States Information Agency and is certified by the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel.

The organization also sponsors exchange programs for American students wishing to study and travel abroad, and is seeking volunteers to work with foreign students, host families and schools.

For details about the exchange program, or to arrange a meeting with a community representative, call (800) 631-1818. Information is also available on the World Wide Web at https://www.pieusa.org.