Share your corner of America 

“My wonderful host parents had an immense impact on me. My host parents were teaching me firsthand about how much one can learn from people from different cultures. It was from them that I learned to become more social, flexible, open-minded, and independent.”

— YES program student from Kosovo (hosted in Minnesota)

Hosting an exchange student is a decision that changes lives! When you open up your home to a scholarship exchange student through American Councils, you’ll share your corner of America, learn more about the world, and make dreams come true for an exceptional teenager.

For decades, our exceptional exchange students have shared meals, holidays, and laughter with American host families. To date, over 40,000 students from more than 50 countries have been hosted in every US state. These students spend an academic year at local high schools, eagerly sharing their cultures, contributing to their new communities, and joining school activities.

Along the way, American Councils host families are supported by a Local Coordinator in their communities and our Washington, DC-based team. Year after year, our host families report that hosting with American Councils helped them, their children, and the exchange student grow as a family, as leaders, and as global citizens.

Whether you live in a major city, suburb, or rural community, you can offer one of these bright students an authentic and positive American experience. In return, your family will learn about the world through the eyes of a teenage ambassador. Through the sharing of cultural traditions, food, music, and language, hosting a scholarship exchange student builds connections and strengthens ties around the world.

Have questions? Visit our FAQ page to learn more about the hosting experience, our students, and our programs!