Community Corner
International Cultural Exchange Committee Urgently Needs Help
The ICEC needs to locate 10 families to host incoming French students—all boys ages 14 to 18—from Sunday, Aug. 4 through Saturday, Aug. 24.
The International Cultural Exchange Committee is putting out an urgent request for help.
The ICEC needs to locate 10 families to host incoming French students—all boys ages 14 to 18—from Sunday, Aug. 4 through Saturday, Aug. 24. If anyone is interested and is unable to host the entire time, the stays can be split between two families, 10 days each.
The French Department at Geneva High School has been successfully working for a number of years with an organization called Edu-Culture, International (ECI), which organizes summer study abroad programs from France to the U.S.
"Our students and families who have participated over the years, have been delighted with the experience and the opportunity to have authentic interactions with these lovely French students.
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If you have the time and inclination, please call ECI contact Marissa Parker at 630-569-0461 with any questions. Marissa would be happy to discuss the possibilities or your concerns.
There will be field trips for the French students that only requires that they be dropped off and picked up:
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- Sunday, Aug. 11 — Potluck picnic at Pottawatomie Park in St. Charles
- Wednesday, Aug. 14 — Trip to Chicago
- Tuesday, Aug. 20 — Great America
- Thursday, Aug. 22 — Trip to Chicago
Commonly asked questions and concerns:
- You don't need to have a large home, just a comfortable place to sleep.
- You don't need to speak French, because the student just needs to be dropped off in the morning and picked up at the end of the day at the designated meeting place.
- The student should be treated as part of the family and anything you have planned, including travel, is OK. Just include them in the plans.
- Teens in the home not necessary. Perhaps the neighbors or your friends or relatives have some teens, and, when available, they could hang out together.
"Hosting foreign students is an amazing experience for everyone involved," said Cynthia Albright, Geneva ICEC president. "If you are unable to help at this time, perhaps you could pass along Marissa's number to someone you know who might be interested in this international experience."
