Host families sought for 4-H Club exchange

This material is submitted by Donna Zang, Extension director, and the staff of the Penn State Extension office at the Sunnyview Home complex.

February 14, 2005 Last Updated: February 14, 2005 01:25 PM Agriculture

Shohei Oba is a 13-year-old boy from Fukuoka, Japan, who likes playing tennis, swimming, jogging, collecting stamps and listening to music. This summer he hopes to come to the United States and live with a Pennsylvania family.

He states on his information sheet, "I'd like to play tennis with a host friend and games with a host family."

Shohei is one of 25 Japanese youth who will be staying with Pennsylvania families as part of a two-way exchange program sponsored by the 4-H Club. The exchange students will stay with their American host families from July 24 through Aug. 21.

The program is open to families living in Western Pennsylvania with children close in age to the Japanese participants. Families without children in this age range will be considered as hosts for the adult chaperones from Japan.

You do not have to be involved with the 4-H program to host; you just need a willingness to share your home and your world.

ll of the students have studied English and are anxious to use it.

Butler County has been a regular participant in the Japanese exchange program. Most recently, two families shared host responsibilities for a Japanese student that attended classes at Butler High School during the 2003-04 school year.

"The program gives host families a chance to share their culture, friendship and family life with an exchange student and, at the same time, learn about Japanese life," said Wanda Braymer, Pennsylvania 4-H International Exchange Coordinator. "The home stays only last a month during summer vacation, but the experience lasts a lifetime. With the state that the world is presently in, I believe that developing global friendships is one of the most important things that we can do for the future. In addition, global friends are one of the most important gifts we can give our youth. Also, it is important for us to live our lives in ways that show our confidence in our nation and share with our friends in other countries."

Host applications and brochures about the program are available from the Penn State Cooperative Extension Office in Butler County at 101 Motor Pool Way, Butler, PA 16001. Interested individuals are encouraged to contact Butler 4-H Coordinator Ellen Linamen at 724-287-4761, Ext. 223, to discuss the program.