HOST A NORWEGIAN EXCHANGE STUDENT FOR THE 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR!

UPDATE 07/10/2023: HOST FAMILIES HAVE BEEN FOUND FOR 2 OF THE STUDENTS (BUT MORE ARE NEEDED). IF YOU CAN HOST A NORWEGIAN STUDENT FOR THE 20023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR, PLEASE DO!

CHICAGO AREA HOST FAMILIES NEEDED: AFS is a non-profit student exchange organization that has been around for 75 years
6 Norwegian AFS Exchange students (3 boys and 3 girls ages 16, 17, and 18) will be arriving to the Chicagoland area for the 2023 school year.

If you are interested in hosting a student, it's important that your decide fairly soon, so AFS can coordinate with the you, the school, and the student and their family.

Please review their profiles and see if there is a student you or your extended family, or the families of others you know, would enjoy hosting, and also help by sharing this information further into the your community through sports, school, church or other connections. Some frequently asked question are below, but to learn much much more, we suggest a visit to the AFS website.

AN IMPORTANT NOTE: You don't have to be the "perfect" host family with teen-age children of similar ages going to the same school. Your family may be perfect for them. In the past, families with small children, empty-nesters, and couples without children have been and can also be great host families. Families can host for:

  • An academic year
  • A semester
  • or 8-12 weeks.

<Click/Tap HERE> to go directly to the student profiles.


By hosting an AFS Exchange Student in your home, you will start seeing the world differently.
Photo attribution: Creative commons CC0 / Pixabay.com

AFS-USA (formerly the American Field Service), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is a leader in intercultural learning and offers international exchange programs in more than 40 countries around the world through independent, nonprofit AFS Organizations, each with a network of volunteers, a professionally staffed office, and headed up by a volunteer board.

We’ve been exchanging students throughout the world for 75 years. That’s seven decades of history and experience in international education with an exemplary record of safety, security, and service to students, parents, and educators.

Want to learn more? Go to www.afsusa.org/host or call 1.800.AFS.INFO. Or contact Traci Larson-Lee using the following information (also found on the student profile sheet):
Traci Larson-Lee
Senior Director of Field Operations
AFS Intercultural Programs USA
120 Wall Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10005
www.afsusa.org
Phone: 646-381-3313
Email: tlarson-lee@afsusa.org


STUDENTS SEEKING HOST FAMILIES

<Click/Tap on the image for student details>

MEET THE STUDENTS FROM NORWAY! -- <Click/Tap> on the image to see the profile of each of the students needing a host family.
An example: from the 2023 list:
Maja
Female ∙ Age 16 ∙ Norway
Fall Year 2023
Maja sees herself as a normal teenager – a loving, supportive friend and a person with varied interests. She plays handball, enjoys walking her dog and reading romance novels and watching sappy movies. Maja is a joyful person, and loves the adrenaline rush of dipping into cold rivers or lakes. She’s low-key and a dedicated student, sometimes outspoken and sometimes quiet. She enjoys time together with family, and
especially family meals, and can’t wait to experience family meals with her host family. She’s hoping to make new connections that will last a lifetime beyond this experience.

FAQs
  •     The students are here for a total of 10 months (mid-Aug - end of June). 
  •     They bring their own spending money for personal purchases, etc. 
  •     AFS provides health insurance coverage for medical needs (doctor visits etc.) while they are here. 
  •     Students can share a room with a sibling of the same sex, but need to have their own bed. 
  •     Families can host for an academic year, a semester, or 8-12 weeks. 
  •     It is not necessary to have high school age children of your own to host. 
  •     Families with small children, empty-nesters, and couples without children can also be great host families.

HELP BY SHARING THIS INFORMATION

If you or your organization would be willing to send an email to your membership it would be very much appreciated.


A sample email follows:
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SUBJECT LINE: HOST A NORWEGIAN EXCHANGE STUDENT FOR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR.

Six Norwegian students (3 boys and 3 girls ages 16, 17, 18) hope to attend high school in the Chicago area for the coming school year. Full details including the profiles of each student are posted at http://skjoldlodge.com/afs.html. Hosting can be very flexible - you don't have to be the "perfect" family with teen-age children of similar ages going to the same school. Different types of successful host families include families with small children, empty-nesters, and couples without children. If you can't host for an entire school year you can host for a semester or even as little as 8-12 weeks.

It would be great if you could help.

Learn more at http://skjoldlodge.com/afs.html

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