Japanese Summer Inbound Exchange Program

Families have the opportunity to host a youth from abroad for 4 weeks during the summer. Since 1972, more than 45,000 families in North America have hosted youth (ages 12-18) from Japan, Korea, Costa Rica, Norway, and Finland. The 4-H Japanese Exchange is one of the largest youth exchange programs worldwide involving North American and Japanese Youth. This program, part of two way, exchange, provides a wonderful opportunity to further global friendships.

Host families have one thing in common: a willingness to open their hearts to youths from another country. Host families need only have a bed in a shared or single room, storage space for their visitor's belongings, and a child of the same gender and approximately the same age as their guest. Exchange students have their own spending money and health insurance, and want to be treated as a member of their host family. Families without teens to act as host siblings may host a chaperone for two or four weeks.

There are many ways to experience a foreign country. The premise of this exchange is that children gain the most from an overseas experience by living with a family as a family member, rather than by traveling as a tourist. The homestays only last a month during summer vacation but the effects last a lifetime! You can truly make a difference in the future of our young people by preparing them for life in a global society. We hope you will consider hosting a Japanese child this summer. It's an opportunity of a lifetime!

About the Program

• The one month homestay runs from the third week in July to the third week in August.
• Japanese youth are assigned to a host family with a child of the same gender, similar age and interest.
• Only one Japanese delegate is placed per family. This family hosts for the entire homestay experience.
• This program is part of a two-way exchange. 4-H'ers may also travel to Japan for a similar one month summer homestay.
• Speaking Japanese isn't necessary but a little advance knowledge about Japan and its customs makes the experience more meaningful.
• Japanese delegates come to make friends, to be part of a 4-H family and to experience other cultures. The program provides them with increased self-confidence and better personal awareness.
• Your family doesn't need to plan special activities or trips. Japanese youth want to experience "typical family life" by sharing chores and activities with you.

Forms

• Host a Japanese Youth (PDF | 735KB)