ALEXANDRIA, VA – Ever dreamed of traveling the world without leaving your home? Hosting a foreign exchange student might be the next best thing—and families in Alexandria have the opportunity to do just that this coming school year.
World Heritage International Student Exchange Programs, a nonprofit public benefit organization, is currently seeking caring, curious, and welcoming host families to open their homes to international high school students ages 15 to 18. Students come from more than 60 countries around the globe—including France, Japan, Italy, Denmark, Spain, and Australia—ready to embrace life in America and share their own traditions.
The experience is more than just a place to stay. “Being a host family isn’t just about providing a room—it’s about making a student from another country part of your family,” says Debra Garbon, National Director of World Heritage. “The bonds formed often last a lifetime.”
Exchange students are carefully selected based on academic achievement, English language proficiency, and personal character. During their stay, they attend local high schools and fully participate in American family life—bringing with them new perspectives, energy, and enthusiasm.
Families who host an exchange student provide a safe and supportive home environment, daily meals, and a willingness to share their way of life. Students arrive with their own spending money and health insurance, making the experience culturally rich without a financial burden for the host.
Anyone with a warm and open heart can host—married couples, single parents, retirees, same-sex couples, and families with or without children are all welcome.
In addition to hosting, World Heritage and its parent organization ASSE offer American students the chance to study abroad for a summer, semester, or academic year—giving Alexandria students the opportunity to experience life in another culture firsthand.
Interested in Hosting?
Families interested in learning more or beginning the application process can visit www.host.world-heritage.org or contact Debra Garbon at (800) 888-9040 or [email protected].
Whether you’re curious about global cultures, want to make a difference in a young person’s life, or simply looking for a meaningful way to bring the world to your doorstep, hosting an exchange student is a powerful way to build lifelong memories—right from your own home.
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