Learning English as Exchange Students Cancel Title is required

As many of you know, both of my sponsored girls are only 9 and 4, so this wouldn't be an issue or a possibility for quite some time, but I'm wondering how CI/other sponsors feel about the kids coming to the U.S. as exchange students to learn English when they're older.  Like, I'd be happy to host either or both of my girls when they're old enough.

I mostly ask because I was an exchange student in Germany as a 16 year old, and, while it was a mixed experience, it definitely changed my life.  Plus, if it's important for the kids to learn English to get out of poverty, language immersion in English-speaking country for a year would obviously be ideal.

Thoughts?

What age children did you have in mind? One CI rule is that sponsor and sponsored child can have no unsupervised contact until they graduate from CI's program at 19. That's why CI reads all the letters and accompanies you on visits to the child's country. For that reason, I don't think it would be possible to meet or host the child in the US until they leaves CI at 19. Why not after that, though, if you remain in contact.

I agree with you about the importance of stays abroad and foreign language learning.

Yeah, I think 19 would be a great age.  Thanks for your idea.  Now let's just hope my kiddos stay in the program and that I can do this for them someday if they want to! :) <3

I believe the student has to apply to a foreign exchange program and be accepted by them. The program will then investigate the host family and match them up with a qualified student.  I don't think you can just pick the child you want.  Also, exchange students fund their participation  via scholarships, loans or self funding,  They are responsible for their own spending including things like school expenses, medical insurance clothing ect. I don't think many of the families enrolled in CI  can afford that.  CI does provide help for children who need it. English is a required subject in Zambia,and the Philippines , not sure about India. Thru CI a sponsor can send  an EG For their sponsored child specifically for private tutoring in English if the child wants it. This might be an option you want to consider.

Thank you!

I believe there are cultural  student exchange programs that can be from as little as two weeks up to the whole summer. You might want to take a look at those.  But I don't know what their criteria or cost is.  

Thank you. :)  I'd be willing to host them for a whole year, but it would obviously depend on their interest.  Luckily they are young so I have plenty of time to save.  And in my experience as an exchange student, specific kids and families could request each other.

You are right. kids and families can request each other as long as both have been vetted and approved by that particular student exchange.  What I meant is that I don't know of an agency would add a particular child because the host specifically wants that child enrolled in their program so they can host them.  I could be wrong. I do have a question if you wouldn't mind. Do you know who pays for the students travel expenses, visas, ect?
  

I sponsor where I lived in college (Ecuador) as a foreign exchange student. It is a way to give back, plus I feel like I can relate somewhat to the child's environment. I always, since a kid, wanted to host a teen orphan and adopt from overseas before they age out and remain an orphan in poverty. But husband is not interested. Anyway...he might agree to host a student short term but these are typically well off families. One of my sponsored kids I had before I joined CI is getting adopted after being hosted in the US. I might get to meet her!

Well, when I went to Germany, I had a scholarship, so the government paid for it.  But when you sign up through an organization (YFU, for example) you pay a certain amount for the year (Back when I was 15 it was around $7,000; I'm sure it's gone up.) and that covers airfare, visa, etc.  The host family usually pays for room and board, and then the kid needs extra spending money for going out, toiletries, trips, etc.  I would think, though, that if we wanted to host one of our own sponsored kiddos when they turn 19, we could pay for that stuff if we wanted to.  Here's the YFU website https://www.yfuusa.org/study/faq/

That's so exciting!  I hope you get to meet her! :)