Four individuals, a man, two young boys and a woman, pose for a picture. The man is wearing a plaid shirt and jeans, one boy has on a gray short that says Champion and blue shorts. The other boy is earring a blue shirt and gray shorts and the woman is wearing a blue shirt and jeans.
The Hudson family of Gatesville with their guest, Kohei, from the Fukui prefecture in Japan. (Darlene Locke/Texas A&M AgriLife)

Texas 4-H and the States’ 4-H International Exchange Programs are seeking host families to open their homes and hearts to youth from Japan for a cultural exchange experience from July 24-Aug. 17.

The international program is coordinated by the Texas 4-H Youth Development Program of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, but all families are welcome to host and 4-H membership is not a requirement. Host family siblings, however, must be 9-18 years old and within close age range of the age of the youth being hosted.

“This is an incredible opportunity for families to not only make a difference in the life of a young person but also to expand their own horizons and learn about different cultures,” said Marti Deyo, associate director of States’ 4-H. 

Host families help promote understanding through exchange

Deyo emphasized that the experience offers valuable insights into each other’s way of life for both the host family and the visiting international student.

“By hosting a youth from Japan during the summer months, you have the opportunity to engage in what can be a life-changing experience,” said Darlene Locke, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension specialist and associate head of the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications, Bryan-College Station, and States’ 4-H coordinator in Texas. “Through participation in this program, you will not only create lifelong memories but also foster lasting relationships that transcend geographical boundaries.”

Locke said hosting an international student enriches the lives of the host family and helps promote mutual understanding and respect for others.  

“We believe that by exposing young people to different perspectives early on, we are helping develop future leaders who will be able to approach and address global issues and challenges with greater empathy, respect and cooperation,” said AgriLife Extension’s state 4-H program director for 4-H Youth Development, Montza Williams, Ed.D.  

For more information on becoming a host family or how to support this program, contact Locke at [email protected]. If interested in being a host family, complete an application at https://www.states4hexchange.org/ by clicking on the Host a Student tab.

About the State’s 4-H International Exchange Program

Since its inception in 1972, this program has had an impact on nearly 63,000 youth and their families in 43 countries on six continents. By enhancing world understanding and global citizenship through high-quality international cultural immersion programs for participants, States’ 4-H helps tomorrow’s leaders gain essential skills to help them navigate an increasingly interconnected world.

The States’ 4-H International Exchange Program works with cooperative Extension centers across the U.S. as well as international partners around the world to offer cultural immersion experiences for youth aged participants. In Texas, the program works with Texas 4-H to develop international exchange opportunities for youth from different countries as a means of promoting global citizenship and improved cultural understanding.

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