Host families needed for 12 students from France

7/7/2006

Twelve high school students from France are to arrive Wednesday in Ohio as part of a student exchange program, but organizers are still seeking host families to house the students while they are here.

The students, who speak English and are 15 to 17 years old, are scheduled to arrive Wednesday at Detroit Metro Airport and stay in Ohio for 19 days through the World Exchange, an international, short-term student exchange program based in Putnam Valley, N.Y.

Only three families in the Columbus area have volunteered their homes, leaving organizers scrambling to find nine more families somewhere between Toledo and Columbus, said Michael Sklaar, the program's national director.

Mr. Sklaar said that during the program's 20-year history it has never had to turn students away. But unless they can find more host families, some of the students' trips will be canceled.

Mr. Sklaar said the only requirement for families who would like to host the students is that the home environment is comfortable. "It's a wonderful experience and they can possibly get more out of it than the students who are visiting," he said.

Four boys and five girls still need a host family. Each student is fully insured. Anyone who can host these students is asked to contact Meloney Nemeth at 614-425-3179 or the World Exchange main office at 1-800-444-3924, or e-mail at meloney.nemeth@bmwfs.com.