ERDT/SHARE! High School Exchange

Cause Area

  • Arts & Culture
  • Children & Youth
  • Community
  • Education & Literacy
  • International

Location

2601 Ocean Park BlvdSuite 322Santa Monica, CA 90045 United States
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Organization Information

Mission Statement

To create opportunities for greater tolerance and understanding between Americans and peoples of the world.

Description

Each year, the SHARE! High School Exchange Program selects and sponsors approximately 750 exchange students, between the ages of 15 and 18 years old, to experience life in the United States by living with Host Families and attending local public high schools for one semester or a full academic year.

The goal of ERDT is to provide opportunities for people of different cultures to come together to learn about other points of view and ways of life. We at ERDT believe that cross-cultural understanding is fundamental to developing mutual respect and tolerance between Americans and people from around the world. Our programs provide cultural experiences that foster good will, tolerance, and understanding through a positive people-to-people experience.

SHARE! is well-respected in the exchange community (overseas agents, host families and coordinators) specifically for our personal approach to student exchange. We are a medium-sized organization--large enough to provide stability and variety, but small enough to maintain a personal touch. Being as selective as we are, we can maintain a family-like atmosphere that extends to our field staff, host families, and exchange students.


Prospective students undergo a screening process that includes written and spoken English language tests, the submission of academic and medical records, student and host family questionnaires, interviews and more.

Our coordinators are well-trained SHARE! EPCs undergo an extensive training process and are given specific tools to help them support both families and students through the exchange process.

Reviews

Would you recommend ERDT/SHARE! High School Exchange?
2 reviews Write a review
by cornelia g. from FR (2022-01-11 03:25:43.0)
Hi! My story with this sponsor program, and the RD, Yvette Coffman, it is a nightmare. The local coordinateur and the RD, Sharon George and Yvette Coffman, forced my daughter, hwo was an exchange student from France to leave her host family in 3 hours, without announcing someone (CEI France, french organisation, mine or the host family) and they did that by using the police force (they called the police and threated my daughter that if she refesud she will be put her in jail). After all thesse, they refussed to discuss with me because it is forbitte, after them, to contact them! Also, is you go on the CSFES.org you can see that they already have a justice problem with one of their exchange students for sexual agression (the trial just started in 2021). My daughter never received an ID Cart from this organisation (obligatory); the LC told us that my daughter was sent home because she was speacking to much with me on the phone (it is against the legislation to ban/prohibit that).E
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by Shabnam K. (2019-11-08 06:24:31.0)
My experience working with the Georgia chapter was horrible. The organization did not provide any support in the beginning of the process for enrolling the student in school. During the program, I was yelled at by the Share person for having contact with the child's parents. I wanted to ask the parents if they were OK with the child taking Uber by herself because she wanted to. End of the program was worse. The student and our family were not a good fit, and the organization moved the student to a different home. Which is perfectly fine, as I whole heartedly wanted what was best for the student; but the way Share handled this was HORRIBLE and unprofessional. I was not told of any plans to move the student. All I got was a phone call at work from the Share worker sitting in my driveway with the student and her luggage informing me that the child was moving. Instead of being thankful for my help, I was made to feel like a criminal. It was very sad and upsetting.
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