Excellent Opportunity to Expand Your Worldview: Volunteer to be a Host Family!

The World Affairs Council of Kentucky/Southern Indiana is currently seeking host families for young, English-speaking visitors coming to Kentucky and Southern Indiana in the months ahead. Because our upcoming visitors are emerging young leaders, families with teenagers are preferred. 

 We are so grateful to families that have hosted in the past, and we would be thrilled to enlist new families to volunteer. In opening your homes to our visitors, you play a crucial role in the success of the international visitor programs and tearing down misconceptions of the American culture.

 Additionally, you will be exposed to a new culture in the best possible way --- in your own home! Hosting international visitors is a rewarding and memorable experience.

 We are seeking host families for the following:

Iraqi Youth Leaders

13 Delegates

Dates: July 22-August 3, 2011

 Host families are not responsible for the transportation of the visitors; the World Affairs Council is responsible for the visitors’ daily agenda and transportation.

 If you are interested in welcoming an international visitor (or several!) into your home, contact Xiao Yin Zhao by phone: (502) 561-5422 or e-mail: xy.zhao@worldkentucky.org

The young delegation of Iraqis and Montanans left just a few days ago. Everyday since June I've come to the World Affair's Office to work out all the minute details of their stay here in Louisville. Even throughout their program, I was preoccupied with insuring that they ate, made their meetings, worked and got home safely. I didn't relax until the Saturday evening of their documentary premiere. 

Contrary to popular belief, as an intern the thing you want most out of a job is solid work experience. This summer I've had the opportunity to see a project grow from its skeletal beginnings to its full form. Saturday, after dinner was eaten and their all of their work was shown to their host families and participating organizations, I got to taste the proverbial fruit of my efforts.

I got to see all the host families enjoy the company of their guests. I witnessed my boss get emotional describing a moment one morning when one of the girls was homesick because her host mother reminded her of her own mother back in Iraq. I listened as one of the girls from Montana eloquently described the essence of youth empowerment and social justice while also managing to be wittily self-deprecating and mature. As the evening winded down, half of the audience laughed as they attempted to dance in the Kurdish style to authentic Kurdish music. The girls from Iraq sang an impromptu  song in Arabic into the P.A. People were taking pictures like it was their job. All in all, it was a fitting celebration of their accomplishments as budding documentarians. I could not have been prouder. 

On Monday when they were loading the van to head to the airport, I spoke with one of the host mothers. She seemed inspired by her experience, relating how she saw her host son talk to his own mother everyday. As a self-proclaimed helicopter mom, she said, "you know, seeing that made me realize how we're more alike than we are different, because if my son was in a foreign country I'd be sure he was calling me everyday too!" A moment later I saw her get both of her host sons together, hug them and then demand from them that they call as soon as they landed in D.C. 

So, at the end of my internship at the World Affairs Council, not only did I receive solid work experience, I was fortunate enough get a taste of what it's like to have my efforts turn into something meaningful, to see people make connections in a way that is beyond politics. 

WAC has been very busy this summer but we have also had some fun. Part of the fun was provided by our super summer interns. At various times we have had 6 interns working in the office and we needed them. They came to us from a diverse set of colleges Centre, Hanover, U of L, UK, and IUS. All worked hard and seemed to have learned a lot.  We had them working on many different tasks but mostly with the various visitor programs. They scheduled appointments, looked up directions and generally completed programs for visitors from several different countries. Along the way they overcame frustration when things didn't work out as expected - in short, they learned how to deal with life out of college. I got to hear each of their "stories," plans for the future, and goals in life. It is wonderful to hear from young people on how they will lead the world when they become the leaders of tomorrow. That's where the real fun was. Knowing that our interns care and want to make the world better. Super!!!!!

Jerry Wheat, Board Member and Volunteer