NC 4-H International Exchange

North Carolina 4-H International Exchange Program
Would you like to learn about people in other countries, host an Exchange student from Japan, or one of the Newly Independent States such as Russia or Ukraine, travel to Japan or just learn more about the world? North Carolina 4-H offers you that opportunity through the 4-H International Exchange Program.

CSIET
The North Carolina 4-H International Exchange Program and Cooperative Extension Youth Exchanges are a fully accredited member of the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel and strives to maintain thoses standards of high quality in the operation of its program.

HOSTING OPPORTUNTIES:

• SUMMER MONTH LONG

1. JAPANESE Exchange through LABO, a Japanese youth program. The program is designed for youth between the ages of 12 and 17. It offers young people and their adult advisors the opportunities to live with host families and to learn the American way of life. The program is approximately four weeks long and begins in late July, coinciding with the summer break of the Japanese school year. Host families must have a child of the same gender and within 2 years of the same age as the Japanese exchange student. Families without children who would like to host may host a chaperone. Host families provide all meals, supervision, transportation to/from the pick-up point, a bed (students do not need to have their own room), and love and support. Families must fill out an application, undergo a in-home interview and if selected attended required orientation trainings.
2. FINNISH Exchange through Finland 4-H is a program designed for youth 15 to 19 years of age. It offers young people the opportunty to live with an American family for four weeks begiing in mid-June through mid-July. Host families must have a child of the same gender and within 2 years of the same age as the Finnishe exchange student. Families without children who would like to host may host a chaperone. Host families provide all meals, supervision, transportation to/from the pick-up point, a bed (students do not need to have their own room), and love and support. Families must fill out an application, undergo a n-home interview and if selected attended required orientation trainings.
   

• HIGH SCHOOL YEAR LONG There are two programs available one with Japanese and perhaps Korean students and one with FLEX (Future Leaders Exchange). Both programs are for approximately one year. The student must be accepted into a public high school. Students may NOT be homeschooled. All families must fill an application, undergo an in-home interview, and undergo criminal background checks. If selected for the program they must also agree to attend orientation trainings, fill out monthly reports and attend a mid-year gathering of host families. Host families do not have to have children of the same age or gender as the Exchange student. Families with young children, older adult children no longer at home or no children are welcome to apply to host. Host families provide all meals, transportation, supervision and serve as guardians for the student through the year. Health insurance is provided. Students must have their own bed and storage space for personal belongings. Ability to provide a private bedroom is preferable, but not required. All year-long Exchange students are expected to participate in local, district and State 4-H activities through their County 4-H program.

• Japanese High School Exchange : Japanese (and a few Korean) students ages 15 to 18. The students come through a partnership with the LABO and LEX program. The exchange student's family pays for the student to participate in the exchange.
• FLEX High School Exchange is coordinated through the US State Department. Students from the Newly Independent States such as Russia, and Ukraine are selected through a rigorous application process to participate in this program. The US State Department provides grant money to help finance this program. Students are required to participate in community service, school, and community actiivties.

2008 OUTBOUND TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES:

These are programs for North Carolina 4-H members. Youth should be active members of their County 4-H program. Please read program brochures carefully. Each trip has a different cost, different ages requirements, and different dates. Scholarship money is available on a VERY limited basis. Youth wishing to travel must fill out an application, write an essay, obtain two references from non-relatives to be considered to take part in any trip.

• Summer Four week outbound Program to Japan for youth ages 13 to 17. A 500.00 non-refundable deposit is due by January 25, 2008. Click here for a flyer about the program that gives more details. (Microsoft Word Document)
• Summer four week outbound program to Finland for youth ages 15 to 18. A 500.00 non-refundable deposit is due by January 25, 2008. Click here for a flyer about the program that gives more details. (Microsoft Word Document)
• Summer four week outbound program to Norway for youth ages 17 to 18. A 500.00 non-refundable deposit is due by January 25, 2008. Click here for a flyer about the program that gives more details. (Microsoft Word Document)
• Summer four week outbound program to Australia for youth ages 16 to 19. A 500.00 non-refundable deposit is due by January 25, 2008. Click here for a flyer about the program that gives more details. (Microsoft Word Document)
• Summer four week outbound program has been planned to Costa Rica for youth ages 15 to 18. A 500.00 non-refundable deposit is due by January 25, 2008. Click here for a flyer about the program that gives more details. (Microsoft Word Document)

Since 1972, more than 48,000 families in North America have hosted Japanese teenagers during short summer stays and more than 7,500 American students have made reciprocal visits to Japan.

If you would like to learn how to involved or have questions, please email Carolyn Langley or call her at 336-318-6000

NC 4-H Home Page

• 1/20064hweb@ces.ncsu.edu