What is a Host Family
A host family welcomes an international student into their home and their life – keeping them safe, offering support, and treating them as part of the family. It is an incredibly rewarding and unforgettable experience. NISEP welcomes families of all shapes and sizes, and works to match them with a studentthat complements their interests, goals, and energy.
Why Host
There are a multitude of benefits to becoming a host family. By opening your heart and your home, you will make a difference in a young person’s life forever. Host families give students the opportunity of a lifetime – to live in a different world, and experience Newfoundland’s world-class hospitality.
By choosing to host, your home becomes a safe place to a young student, far from everything they know. You would introduce them to local traditions while learning about their customs and culture as well – maybe even learn a new language! – all without leaving your home. Through mutual learning and teaching, host families could make lifelong memories and forge lasting relationships that reach across the globe.
Some additional benefits include
- Tax-free compensation.
- Expanding your forever family.
- Feeling young, active, and engaged with the new generation.
- Rediscovering your community.
- Gaining a fresh perspective through the eyes of an international student.
Host Family Requirements
We look for families who will welcome international students warmly and treat them as they would their own child. We require our host families to:
- Provide each student with their own bedroom and linens.
- Provide three nutritious meals a day, including a packed lunch on school days.
- Be inclusive and welcoming to international students; integrate them into your day-to-day life.
- Be patient, open-minded, and encouraging as students navigate their new environment.
- Cooperate and work with NISEP’s Homestay Coordinator if/when any concerns arise.
Note: All host families are carefully screened prior to approval – including an in-home interview and a criminal records and vulnerable sector check for anyone living in the home over the age of 18.
All students and their families are thoroughly screened by our network of education partners, as part of their interview process before submitting their application to NISEP.
Broaden your horizons, become a host family today!
