4-H International Exchange - Summer Inbound Program
SEEKING HOST FAMILIES FOR EXCHANGE DELEGATES!
APPLICATIONS DUE BY MARCH 31
For Questions, email Caitlin Clineff at: nc4-hinternationalprogram@ncsu.edu
It’s time to make plans for the summer! This year, we have exchange delegations of young people, ages 12-18, plus adult chaperones, coming to NC from Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan! Each of these wonderful people will need their own host family to stay with–that’s why we need YOU!
We know that hosting an international delegate requires a lot of schedule coordination on your end, so here are the dates for each country’s delegation:
Taiwan: June 30 - July 25 (4 host families needed)
South Korea: July 20 - August 15 (3 host families needed)
Japan: July 24 - August 16 (35 host families needed)
Special trips and tourism are not required to host a delegate. These young people are here to be members of 4-H families and experience American culture for a month, not to be tourists. It’s a great way to get everyone off of their phones and iPads and spend a fun summer together, creating lifelong memories. There is no fee to participate. Do you have room for one more?
We will have an Online Information Session for potential host families on Thursday, January 22, from 7:00pm -9:00pm. Please register to attend at this link: https://ncsu.zoom.us/meeting/register/1De7Xh5GRlSNbIk0QPDFtg
Not sure if your family is eligible? Please take a look at the checklist below.
Host Family Checklist
__ Host sibling must be same gender and within 3 years of age of the delegate (families with younger or older children can host an adult chaperone!)
__ Provide delegate with their own bed (can share room with host sibling, but needs own bed–air mattress is OK)
__ Provide delegate with three meals a day
__ Will have an adult or responsible older teen around at all times
__ Friendly, welcoming home
__ ENTHUSIASM for learning about another culture and sharing yours with your new “family member”!
The most important things for a successful experience are not having a perfect house and going on extravagant trips– it’s having a lot of enthusiasm and flexibility! These delegates are here for a short-term homestay to experience American life. Is your child going to a camp this summer? Send your delegate too! We do ask that trips and camps be limited to one week out of the exchange period. Take them to the grocery store, let them do chores like feeding the animals, go swimming or play frisbee at the park, take them to 4-H meetings! Treat this young person as you would treat your own child. The main requirements are just that the delegate has their own bed, three meals a day, and adult supervision.
Applications are due by March 31! Apply at https://www.states4hexchange.org/apply/host/. Host family selection is subject to the completion of the online application, an in-home interview, a background check, and delegate availability.
For more information, contact State Coordinator Caitlin Clineff at nc4-Hinternationalprogram@ncsu.edu. Follow our Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/nc4hinternational and sign up for updates at our NC 4-H webpage, https://nc4h.ces.ncsu.edu/youth-3/nc-4-h-international-exchange-program/. We look forward to hearing from you soon and starting your once-in-a-lifetime experience!
Frequently Asked Questions
I don’t have an extra bedroom. Does that mean I can’t host?
-Certainly not! Delegates do not expect their own bedroom. They can share with siblings of the same gender. If you don't have an extra bed, an air mattress is perfectly fine!
Why should I host?
-Create friendships with new people, learn about new cultures, learn more about your OWN culture, and make a difference in your family’s lives and the life of another young person. It’s a great family bonding experience!
What do I do with my delegate when they get here?
-Normal, everyday activities! Go shopping, cook dinner, do household chores, go to the park, play games, watch movies, visit friends and family, etc. Trips are allowed in and out-of-state, but it is recommended to keep it to 5 days or less. Trips and special activities are not expected!
Can my family host multiple delegates?
-In some cases, yes! A host family may host multiple delegates as long as they are not from the same country (i.e. not both from Japan), and each delegate has their own host sibling. If there is no overlap between the program dates, the same host sibling could host two delegates sequentially (for example, both a Taiwanese delegate and a Japanese delegate). In 2026, there will be a one-day overlap between Taiwan and Japan, so we would need to get special permission, but this would probably be approved.
My child is going to camp during the homestay, what would the delegate do during this time?
-Send the delegate to camp as well! Camp in different countries is very different so this would be a great learning experience and a fun way to make more friends for the delegate. If needed, camp costs can be covered by the international partner organization. However, camp time should be limited to one week or less so that the delegate can experience mostly the typical daily life of an American family.
How are delegate/host family matches made?
-Delegates are matched to host families based on similarities in interests and personalities, as well as any medical concerns such as allergies. Delegates for the summer program are the same gender and within three years of age of their host sibling. NC 4-H strives to collaborate and work with host families in order to make the best placement possible.
Do the delegates speak English?
-Expect very little English. One of their main goals in coming to the United States is to practice communicating in another language. The delegates are usually able to understand more than they can convey. You and your family can also come up with other means of communication such as charades and drawing pictures. Learning to communicate is part of the fun! Chaperones also travel with the delegation and are available 24/7 if you really need assistance with translating.
My kids aren’t the right age. Can I still be involved?
-Yes! There are no age requirements to host an adult chaperone, so it’s a great opportunity for families with young children, no children, or children who have aged out of the program. Chaperones do require their own bedroom, and will need some time to make phone calls to check in with their youth delegates (they will have their own cell phone to make calls). Otherwise, the experience is very much the same as hosting a youth delegate! Introduce them to your community, go shopping, cook together, play games, and have great conversations about culture and family life - similar to having an extended family member for a visit!
Caitlin Clineff, International 4-H Program Coordinator
nc4-hinternationalprogram@ncsu.edu
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