VolunteerMatch

The Center for Cultural Interchange is calling on families of all backgrounds to host a YES exchange student this fall. CCI has openings at local schools for our YES students and we are calling on all families to volunteer to host a student this fall.

Youth Exchange and Study (YES) is a program that was established in October, 2002 and sponsored by the Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs to provide scholarships for secondary school students from countries with significant Muslim populations to spend up to one academic year in the U.S. The program is vital to expanding communication between the people of the United States and the partner countries in the interest of promoting mutual understanding and respect.

We are looking for caring families excited to welcome an exchange student into their home. As a YES host family, you and your student will also gain the support of our dedicated local representative, Barbara Bancel, who will help match a dynamic student with your family.

Call Barbara today at 808-521-3554 or email her at ihc@iolani.org to learn more about the YES program and students like these:

Sumaiya from Bangladesh: Sumaiya is a very vibrant and talented young girl. She is very interested in art, drama, music, and martial arts. She also hopes to learn how to swim and to play the guitar. Sumaiya hopes to become and architect or an interior designer. She has past volunteer experience helping flood victims and hopes to volunteer with children or the elderly during her exchange.

Nasser fro Yemen: Nasser is a very intelligent young man from the southern part of Yemen. Both his parents are doctors and he also has a 7 year old sister. Nasser hopes one day to be an IT engineer. He is very interested in soccer, reading, listening to music, and computers. During his exchange he hopes to also play learn basketball and to play the guitar. Nasser is looking forward to spending time with his host family and learning about their life and culture.

Call Barbara Bancel today at 808-521-3554 or email her at ihc@iolani.org if you are interested in hosting or know someone who is.