Inter-Ed Mission Statement

Improved understanding and acceptance of human cultural differences can be achieved though educational experiences exchanged with global communities.  We are dedicated to providing the opportunity of educational exchange for any student seeking to expand their horizons and make positive contributions to humankind.

Inter-Ed Program Strategy

Provide a program for concurrent social exposure and education that high school age students can participate in to elevate English language skills.  Place each student into an American family to enable total emersion of cultural and lifestyle.  Create a home stay program that will provide the most significant lifetime learning and acceptance of cultural differences.  Enable host families to learn cultural differences through experiences with a student placed in their home.

Inter-Ed Program Description

International Education (Inter-Ed) is a student exchange program dedicated to bringing

the youth of different nations and cultures together at a personal family level, forging

bonds of friendship that will last a lifetime. Inter-Ed was founded with the belief that

increasing understanding and tolerance between nations is a worthwhile endeavor, and

Inter-Ed focuses on cultural exchanges for students of high school age in order to

further that cause. The majority of exchange students studying in the United States

each year are college age students who live in dormitories or apartments, often having

little or no personal contact with the community in which they live. While these students

will gain a good education, they do not necessarily gain any understanding of our

country or its people and they return home with little or no empathy for the various ways

of life that make up the culture of the United States. Conversely, many families in the

United States are insulated from peoples of other cultures, lacking the opportunity to

interact and form bonds with citizens of other countries. Instead of following the course

that many exchange programs do, Inter-Ed chooses to concentrate on high school

students who will actually become a part of a community in the United States by living

as a member of their host family: Eating meals, conversing, playing, and studying. In

short, these students are immersed in a new way of life; joining into the culture and

community of their host family. Significantly, this happens at a time in their lives when

many people make their most long-lasting friendships. Once their program ends, the

Inter-Ed students then return to their home countries, bringing their new understandings

and friendships along. But what they leave behind is just as important: host families are

left with a deeper appreciation and insight into another culture, closing gaps of

perception that may exist. Inter-Ed’s goal is to create bridges of understanding,

tolerance, and peace between the peoples of the world by starting at the basic level:

with personal relationships. The Inter-Ed students who come to the United States to live

and learn as part of one of our communities are the same people who may grow up to

be the leaders of tomorrow.

The Inter-Ed program has been developed with the expertise of people who believe in

the value of cultural exchange and have many years of experience in the field of

international student exchange. They believe in building a program of integrity that

will be a shining example of what a student exchange program should be.

Inter-Ed, International Education Exchange, A non-profit tax exempt educational foundation

consists of a National Office located in San Diego, California, Area Coordinators and

many Community Representatives. Students on the Inter-Ed program are between the

ages of 15 to 18 years of age. Independent organizations overseas are responsible for

the recruitment and screening of the potential student candidates for the Inter-Ed program.

Inter-Ed's Community Representatives are the backbone of the entire organization. The

Representatives are responsible for performing many key duties: interviewing

prospective host families, matching up the family's interests with those of available

students, providing pre-arrival orientation to the host family and post-arrival orientation

to the students and families on the program, maintaining contact with the students and

host families and schools, supervising the students throughout the duration of the

program, arranging gatherings and short excursions for the students under their care,

and providing the first level of counseling for the students and host families should any

difficulties arise. Inter-Ed’s Area Coordinators oversee the Community Representatives,

ensuring that all families are properly screened, all students are properly supervised,

and providing a second level of counseling when needed. The Inter-Ed National Office

is the top level, communicating with the overseas partner organizations that recruit and

screen students overseas for the Inter-Ed program, working with the United States

Department of State to provide visa documents to the students, and providing the final

level of supervision and counseling for the entire country.

In the other direction, Inter-Ed contracts with independent organizations overseas who

recruit, interview and screen potential student candidates for participation on the Inter-

Ed program. All students must be recommended by Principals and Teachers in their

local schools overseas before they are accepted for the Program. Only those students

who can evidence academic interest and achievement, exemplary character, curiosity,

adaptability, and good command of the English language are acceptable. Each student

must satisfactorily complete a personal interview by qualified representatives of Inter-

Ed. The interviewers’ written evaluation becomes a part of the student’s complete dossier.

Exchange Students arrive with round-trip airline tickets marked “non-refundable” issued

to their final destination. The Exchange Students also have complete medical coverage

for the entire duration of their stay in the United States. The cost for both is included in

the student fees. The natural parents provide a monthly allowance and the American

Host Families are responsible for room and board.

The American Host Families are recruited year-round. Before the new school year

begins, Inter-Ed believes that it is important to find qualified host families as early as

possible so that correspondence can begin that much sooner between the host family

and student. Experience has proven that this correspondence helps to eliminate many

false expectations and to build friendship, trust and understanding. After the beginning

of the new school year, Inter-Ed continues to recruit qualified host families should

circumstances require the student to relocate.

Each prospective American Host Family is personally interviewed by the local Community

Representative. The prospective Host Family must complete a detailed Host Family

Application covering the family’s background, interests, and hobbies. The Host Family

must also provide two to three references to the Community Representative, preferably

one from an employer, and one from a community organization (church, service club or

other such organization), or from a friend who knows the family well attesting to the

stability and good reputation of the family. All adult members of the host family

household must also undergo a criminal background check as part of the screening process.

Exchange Students and their parents are required to attend an intensive Orientation

Meeting overseas prior to their son’s or daughter’s departure. At the time of arrival of

the Exchange Students, the Inter-Ed Community Representative and/or the Host

Families will be at the airport to meet the students. Soon after the Exchange Students

arrive, the Inter-Ed Community Representative will conduct a comprehensive

Orientation Meeting based on a detailed agenda. At this time students and Host

Families are once more informed about the rules of behavior and official restrictions

under which the Inter-Ed Program functions. At this meeting Exchange Students meet

privately with their Community Representative to become better acquainted.

Every Student and Host Family is furnished with the names, addresses and telephone

numbers of the Inter-Ed Community Representative, information about the appropriate

Inter-Ed Area Coordinator Office, the Inter-Ed National Office and the official United

States Department of State, Washington, D.C. The National Inter-Ed Office has a 24-

hour answering service.

Approximately three weeks after the students arrive, the Community Representative will

contact once more each student and Host Family to reconfirm that everything is

satisfactory. Monthly communication with the Host Family and Exchange Student will be

maintained throughout the year. During the school year Inter-Ed requires that local

Community Representatives have three get-togethers for parties and celebrations of

holidays.

The Inter-Ed Program stresses family living as the heart of the learning experience —

offering students from foreign lands the chance to share in other cultures through

personal involvement in the homes, schools and communities of their host country.