Testimonials

I would recommend the experience of hosting to anyone. It is such a rewarding experience, for everyone involved. The student, the children of the host family, the family of the student, and of course, me as a host mother. I feel blessed that I have been allowed to “borrow” someone else’s son, and am sad to “give him back”. I have had an eye opener of things to come when my children reach the teenage years, and feel that I am better prepared for the experience

What a fantastic experience it has been for our family, to understand a part of the world from our home in Australia! Beatriz has made a wonderful ambassador for her country of which she is so proud, but I think she will leave with a little bit of Aussie about her that will stay forever. Her stay has helped us grow, and I am sure she has grown and learned much.

Hosting is the most rewarding thing to do. These kids are so eager to learn but sometimes we learn more from them than they ever learn from us.

It’s been such a fabulous experience for our whole family. Ale has just fitted in with us so well and become another member of our family. His life here has been so different to how he lives at home but I think he has loved the complete change and enjoyed being out with the horses and flies (well, maybe not the flies!). We all love him lots and will miss him immensely when he leaves. I think this is such a wonderful program and so worthwhile for both parties.
I am very happy to have been a part of Ale’s life for the last few months and hope he will remember us with fondness.

We had to share our home and then we shared our hearts.

The experience of hosting a student through WEP has been a thoroughly positive one, enabling our family to experience a different culture and to highlight our own. We have expanded our family by one and this will be an enduring relationship. Our three young children refer to our exchange student as their sister, which to us highlights how integral a member she is in our family. To anyone considering hosting we would recommend opening your home, your minds and your hearts. It can only bring rewards for all concerned.

Federica has been a delight to have in our home. She fitted into our family so easily and will always be a part of our ‘extended family’. I don’t know how we are going to cope with losing Federica after she goes home. Five months suddenly doesn’t seem nearly long enough. As far as the WEP program is concerned, I cannot think of any negative comments to make. Thanks to WEP we have a very special extra person in our family!

As time is drawing near to the end of our time being a host family I want to thank you for your work that you have put in. For Russ and I hosting has been a wonderful experience. We have had a gem of a girl with us. We have been so blessed to have Chiara come and live with us in our home. She has come into to our lives and she will stay in our hearts forever! We have truly been blessed with this beautiful young woman. We are going to miss her terribly.
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to be part of the program. It has been great.

Hosting exchange students has been the best decision that the kids & I have ever made. The experiences, the laughter and the friendships will be in our hearts forever as well as the students.
I am fortunate to also be a coordinator for WEP, and to have attended the Outback Tour in 2009 as a chaperone, where I have had the pleasure to meet many exchange students from many countries. I have formed many friendships that I will treasure for the rest of my life. Because of my decision to become involved with WEP my life has become richer.
I know hosting is something that we will continue to be involved in, and I’m sure the kids will continue with their families.
Thank you WEP!!!

Accept your exchange student as part of your family and for what they are. Then give them love, understanding, compromise, fun and compassion and they will become another son/daughter willing to give back exactly the same things you gave them. They will then be “yours” for the rest of your life and you will be “theirs” for the rest of theirs.