Cultural Homestay International

Description

Cultural Homestay International (CHI) is a non-profit public benefit organization founded in 1980 to promote international understanding, friendship, and goodwill through cultural homestays. We believe that the best way to eliminate fear and prejudice among nations is to experience directly the cultures, languages, and customs of the peoples by living with them. The CHI program focuses primarily on the education of the participating student, the volunteer host family, and the local community through communication and interaction in the home, the classroom, the host business and the neighborhood. It is our hope that a more informed citizenry will ultimately contribute to a more prosperous, democratic, and peaceful world.

CHI has also been empowered by the United States Department of State to issue special forms for J-1 exchange visas to worthy overseas students who desire to participate in one of the 14 different CHI programs, ranging from 10-month high school placements to 18-month professional internships. Our organization is proud to be a member of the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel (CSIET), the Federation of International Youth Travel Organizations (FIYTO) and the Alliance. Since 1980, more than 200,000 students have participated in CHI's worldwide programs.