Summer Home Hosts Needed!

Jamaica - Guidance Counselors
Home hosts are needed for six women who are teachers in Jamaica. They are finishing their second bachelor's degree in guidance and counseling. Their Kalamazoo training serves as the capstone of the university program and will be sponsored by the Council of International Programs USA. Their program begins July 6. Two are staying one month, two are staying two months, and two are staying three months. While here, the teachers will be hosted by several of our local social work organizations including Gryphon Place, YWCA Domestic Assault Program and Kalamazoo Youth Development Center. The women are here to improve their abilities in such things as referring clients to various appropriate agencies for additional services and improving counseling skills, as well as to visit related agencies and coordinate efforts with them to improve the delivery of services and learn how to design counseling programs to meet the needs of their clients. Many of the Jamaican counselors are interested in working with children in abusive situations as well as rape victims. Looking for host families for two weeks to one month, from July 5 - October 1, 2009.

Belarus - Community Development
The group consists of six men and four women in leadership positions of local communities and NGO activists representing a wide variety of Belarusian organizations with a local community development agenda. The program will give the participants new knowledge and experience in promoting local community issues and mobilizing communities, as well as an appreciation of the role of individuals, community organizations, businesses, and local governments involved in building a prosperous community. The group will be exposed to the variety of stakeholders involved in addressing community issues in the U.S. and understand how working together can contribute to solving problems. Host families are needed for these visitors from July 15 - August 5, 2009.

Kyrgyzstan - Local Councils
Another exciting host family opportunity is for 10 council members from Kyrgyzstan. US councils have a long history and represent an interesting and inspiring example of how councils play a role in improving living conditions and facilitate development in their towns and cities. Host families are needed for these visitors from August 12 - September 2, 2009.

Germany - Youth Exchange for Young Professionals
This group consists of eight male and three female recent German graduates. Conceived and supported by the United States Congress and the German Bundestag, this work/study program is a cultural exchange designed to give young vocationalists an understanding for, and knowledge of, everyday life abroad, a taste of how their professional counterparts are trained, and an opportunity to experience the foreign workplace in their career field. Host families are needed for these visitors from August 8 - August 10, 2009.

If you have a spare room to share with an international guest, please call Phyllis Rappeport at (269) 381-0229. We are also accepting recommendations for new host families. For more information call the Colleagues International office at (269) 341-9494 or email Jennifer Lang.