American Institute For Foreign Study

Press Release

For Immediate Release
July 28, 2011

Media Contact:
Mike Liberty
American Institute For Foreign Study
River Plaza
9 West Broad St.
Stamford, CT 06902-3788
(203) 399-5187
mliberty@aifs.com
www.aifs.com

Families Can Get A “World View” from AYA

Stamford, CT – July 28, 2011 – What if someone told you there was a way to contribute to world peace, expose your family to a new culture without ever leaving your home and make someone’s dream come true? Does this sound too good to be true?

Each year, Academic Year in America (AYA) offers this opportunity to American families. In 2011, AYA will bring almost 1,000 students age 15 to 18½ to the United States. With AYA’s tailored matching system, families have the unique opportunity to find a student who will be the perfect fit for their household. Students come from more than 30 countries, such as Germany, Brazil, France, Italy and South Africa, and have a multitude of diverse talents and interests.

Bringing an international student into your home is an excellent way to give your family a “world view” of a different culture, according to host dad Tim McMahon, whose family has hosted five AYA students.

“The result is that my children have made friends and traveled around the globe,” McMahon said. “My children have visited several of our students on their own and have made extremely close and personal friendships. In fact, our entire family has visited the families of two of our exchange students and developed close friendships between the families.”

There are several key elements to the hosting experience. For 5 or 10 months, host families must provide their student with two meals a day and a place to sleep and study. Most importantly, they must welcome their student into their home as if he or she were a son or daughter. To help facilitate the exchange experience, host families will receive assistance from an AYA Local Coordinator.

AYA is a not-for-profit organization designated by the U.S. Department of State to offer J-1 visas to international students. AYA is sponsored by the American Institute For Foreign Study Foundation, which was founded with the assistance of the late Robert F. Kennedy.

To learn more about hosting an exchange student with AYA, call Stella at (800) 322-4678, ext. 5164, or email aya.info@aifs.org. Visit AYA on the web at www.academicyear.org.

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About Academic Year in America (AYA)
AYA is a not-for-profit organization designated by the U.S. Department of State to offer J-1 visas to international students. AYA is sponsored by the American Institute For Foreign Study Foundation, which was founded with the assistance of the late Robert F. Kennedy. For more than 25 years, AYA has offered more than 20,000 students and host families the rewarding experience of learning about another culture and language and making new lifelong friends.

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