‘Open your heart and your home’
South Shore searches for families to host international high school students
It might be for practical purposes, but hosting international students is also a rewarding experience for participating families. That’s the message from the South Shore Regional Centre for Education (SSRCE) as administrators try to recruit families to host junior and senior high school students arriving in the area early in the new year and beyond.
With the SSRCE, Carolyn Bolivar-getson is the program manager for the Nova Scotia International Student Program.
She discussed the hosting process in a question-and-answer interview with the South Shore Breaker.
BREAKER: How many host families are needed, and for which schools or communities are you searching? BOLIVAR-GETSON: We are looking for host families for our international students for all school-catchment areas in the South Shore Regional Centre for Education.
If you are interested in hosting a student, we have a group of international students (Grades 7 to 12) arriving on the South Shore in February 2023, and we are in need of host families. These students will be here for a minimum of four weeks to a maximum of five months. We are limited to the number of students we accept by the number of approved families we have in our region.
BREAKER: What are the basic requirements to become a host family?
BOLIVAR-GETSON: The basic requirements for becoming a host family are: an application process to be completed by an assigned homestay co-ordinator, a spare room and a desire to open your heart and your home to a student.
BREAKER: I understand these are volunteer commitments, though there is financial remuneration for expenses. Please explain. BOLIVAR-GETSON: We compensate our families $725 per month to offset the costs associated with hosting a student. If you’re interested in trying out hosting, but aren’t sure about making a longterm commitment, please let us know. For example, there are times when we also need a few families to take students while another family is travelling, just for a day or two.
BREAKER: Is this search for later in the current school year and the 2023-24 school year? Is the need greater than usual?
BOLIVAR-GETSON: We are currently recruiting for students arriving in February and September of 2023. However, we are always looking for respite families.
We are currently rebuilding after being closed for two years due to provincial restrictions related to COVID and are happy to welcome new families to host our students.
BREAKER: The program has been described as enriching for the families involved. Please elaborate on that concept.
BOLIVAR-GETSON: The Nova Scotia International Student Program is a rewarding program that allows a host family an opportunity to learn about a new culture, experience their language and food and have the experience of a lifetime.
We have had students from over 32 different countries. Families not only host a student, but gain an international son or daughter. Host families have visited their students in their home countries and students have returned years later to visit their Canadian family. A truly rewarding program.
BREAKER: How should interested families apply? BOLIVAR-GETSON: We look forward to having you as a host family. For more info or to apply, visit www. ssrce.ca/host/or email Steven Mcgill: mcgills@ssrce.ca