Program seeks host families

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Mahoning, Columbiana, Portage and Trumbull county families will have the opportunity to welcome a young person from Japan into their home for a month this year as part of an international exchange program being offered by the Ohio State University Extension 4-H.

Last year, six youths and a chaperone were hosted in Mahoning and Trumbull counties.

Statewide, host families are needed for 100 Japanese youngsters, age 12-18, and their adult chaperones, who will visit Ohio from July 23 through Aug. 18. Host families provide exchangees with room and board and a chance to experience daily life in America. Families are urged not to alter their daily routines or lifestyles during their visitor’s stay.

Exchangees have their own spending money. The sponsoring group furnishes comprehensive medical insurance.

The young Japanese visitors belong to the Labo Foundation, a group which promotes the study of English culture and language in Japan. The other youth belong to organizations similar to 4-H in their country.

Ohio 4-H has been conducting international exchange programs with these groups since 1949.

All types of families are welcome to apply to become hosts. The only requirement is that for the Japanese monthlong exchange, hosts must have a family member of the same gender and approximate age of the exchangee, three meals a day and a separate bed for the visitor.

Those interested should call Gretchen Kalinay at 330-799-8407 or Gary Reel at 330-533-7712 (Mahoning, Trumbull, Portage and Columbiana) for an application form and information about this and other 4-H international exchange programs, or obtain information and an application at the website www.ohio4h.org/youth/international.