ASSE International Student Exchange Programs are seeking local families interested in hosting a high school foreign exchange student for the 2008-2009 school year or semester.

The students are between age 15 and 18, are screened and speak English. Students come from Germany, Italy, France, Brazil, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Spain, Portugal, Japan, the Czech and Slovak Republics and the former Soviet Union.

Interested families or single adults have the opportunity to select the student of their choice from applications, family photos and biographical essays. The students arrive from their home country shortly before school begins. Each student is insured, bring his or her personal spending money and shares in the household responsibilities.

For more information, call ASSE coordinator Joyce McKenney at 737-4666 or 1-800-677-2773, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.asse.com.

SHARE! is seeking volunteer host families – with or without children – to host two teen ambassadors from abroad for the 2008-2009 academic school year. The students, a girl from Montenegro and a boy from Sweden, are participating in the SHARE! High School Exchange Program to learn firsthand about America.

The students, who arrive in August, are between the ages of 15 and 18, have been screened for academic preparedness and English proficiency and would attend a local high school.

They are covered by health insurance and have spending money. They are expecting to become active members of their host family and community, helping with household chores and sharing the history and culture of their native country with their family, school and community.

Host families are asked to provide a bed, meals, a warm family environment and a willingness to share the American way of life with the young ambassadors.

The SHARE! program is sponsored by Educational Resource Development Trust, a nonprofit educational foundation.

To learn more, contact Brenda Hornberger, at the ERDT/SHARE! NorthEast Regional Office, toll-free, at 1-866-900-3738, e-mail at [email protected] or visit www.sharenortheast.org.