Global Families, Global Impact: The Experience of Host Families in International Youth Exchange, surveyed over 3,000 former AFS host families across 76 countries.
According to the report, 60% of respondents said that they noticed an “increased curiosity about different languages and cultures” in host siblings – as well as almost half saying their social emotional skills had also been enhanced by the experience.
“It opened the minds of our children to the huge diversity of people in the world, of how people can be so different and from other cultures, but at the same time so close and similar.
“We created bonds for life. That is indescribable!” said Susana Liepa, a host parent responding to the survey from Latvia.
Multiple host families also said after the experience they’d noticed personal growth attributes such as open-mindedness, empathy and “valuing differences”.
Daniel Obst, the CEO of AFS – which won the PIEoneer of the Year award in 2023 – said that the world needs more “intercultural understanding and empathy” in response to the report’s findings.
“By participating in international youth exchange experiences, host families can have more impactful experiences and be better equipped to contribute to a more just, equitable, and sustainable world,” he continued.
One anonymous respondent whose family hosted a student in Colombia said it was an “experience that makes the family grow in tolerance, patience and understanding” – but it took effort.
“[It] helps create lasting bonds. However, for this to happen, the family must be aware that it is a difficult challenge and must prepare for it, and understand that the host student is not a guest or tourist but rather another ‘son’ – a member of the family,” they said.
[It] helps create lasting bonds. However, for this to happen, the family must be aware that it is a difficult challenge
Anonymous AFS host parent, Colombia
“If you live like this and if you get the young person to join this community effort, the experience is more than enriching and fruitful – that’s how we have lived it,” they added.
Some 62% of the host families that responded to the survey are still connected to AFS, and said there was still a “higher impact than in families who have lost contact”.
The study said that while there are challenges of hosting, as the respondent from Colombia detailed, the benefits “far outweigh the difficulties”.
AFS is, in response to the report, “enhancing its training and support tools… to better prepare local volunteers and staff to deliver” the programs.
“International education is the best investment we can make, and we encourage governments, educators and others to help ensure that intercultural exchanges and global citizenship programs are accessible to all,” added Obst.
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