HOST helps international students find a ‘home’ for Christmas
12 Dec 2012
Here’s a unique opportunity to invite international students into your homes and communities and connect in a personal way with another part of the world.
HOST UK is looking for friendly local volunteers who would be interested in hosting international students for a day, a weekend, or even three nights at Christmas.
Since its launch in 1987, HOST has arranged for more than 75,000 students to enjoy hospitality in UK homes.
In 2011/12, 195 students from the University visited local homes through the scheme. Many students have described their HOST visit as one of the most valuable experiences they had in the UK:
- “I have learnt the knowledge about gardening and bee keeping from the host. My hosts are very nice and I really enjoyed this weekend!! They treated me as their family.”
- “I was taken out to visit a castle and to see the sea. The scenery is really beautiful. I have never expected to visit somewhere else during my stay, but [my hosts] made it possible and I really enjoyed it.”
- “Talking with my host is such a wonderful experience – she is a lovely lady indeed! I also enjoyed the Welsh weekend through experiencing the beautiful landscape of mid Wales. I also had a taste of a country church and pub.”
- “John and Helen took me to the show of ballet and eating in the country pub, for which are really great time for me.”
As a host, you will not be paid, but will welcome students into your home as friends. People who hosted Manchester students in 2012 clearly found that it was a very rewarding experience:
- “We found it a very worthwhile experience. It is amazing how over a few days one gets to know someone from another country so well.”
- “Minuha, Qi’s wife, brought her erhut, a two stringed fiddle. We spent a good hour listening to it, asking about it and trying to play it. They cooked us two meals, arguing about who would produce what.”
- “I had no idea what to expect and it was daunting at first as I’m on my own. However, I was lucky to have a lovely young lady with impeccable manners: she got involved in cooking, running the house and walking the dog”.
- ”We had lovely times talking about his home town, life in China and his studies. We all enjoyed the visit and he seemed very sorry to leave.”
You'll find more information about HOST in this recent article in The Independent:
If you are interested in becoming a host, visit: