Are you spending Christmas at home this year? Would you consider including an international student from a university in the UK in your plans? There are so many students here from China, India, and many other countries, who are unable to go back at Christmas. They would love to spend two or three days in a real home, rather than an empty hall of
residence.
For many, Christmas will be an entirely new experience. Staying with you, they could find out what it is all about, as well as enjoying home-cooked food, joining in with your activities, and seeing a little of the country away from the campus. You do not need to live near a university, as many students are happy to travel to have this opportunity.
Your link with a student will be arranged by one of HOST’s voluntary regional organisers, who do their best to match hosts and guests who will enjoy one another’s company. HOST is a long-established national charity, founded by the British Council. Every HOST visit, whether for Christmas or for a weekend during the year, is a one-off, although sometimes lasting friendships are formed. The cultural exchange, and the contribution to international goodwill, are what make it all worthwhile.
If you would like to know more about volunteering as a host, please see
http://www.hostuk.org or call HOST on 020 7739 6292.
We’ve carried this advertisement in previous years and would be interested to know if any of our readers has taken part in the scheme.
Home for Christmas