HOST FAMILIES SOUGHT IN FERMOY AND MITCHELSTOWN
An international organisation is searching for host families in the Mitchelstown and Fermoy areas who would be willing to provide accommodation for second level students visiting Ireland. The students, aged between 15 and 18, will attend a local second level school for between three and nine months, beginning next September.
This is an opportunity for homes, with or without their own children, to provide an environment where students from other countries can experience Irish life at first hand. Participating families receive payments towards the cost of accommodation as well as the full support of a local co-ordinator. Participating students are expected to have fluent or excellent level English.
The project is being run by EIL (Experiment in International Living) which has been operating in Ireland since 1960. EIL Intercultural Learning is part of a worldwide non-religious, non-political and not-for-profit network which was founded by an American philanthropist in 1932. Since then the work of the organisation has been recognised with consultative status at the United Nations Economic and Social Council and with the Council of Europe.
The intercultural learning programmes operated by EIL is based on the principal of helping young people to experience other cultures in ways that generate mutual respect and better harmony. Its objectives also include helping young people to build leadership skills through education and personal development.
In the past year, EIL, which is based in Cork, has brought over 2,000 young people, from 23 countries to Ireland. The organisation provides exchanges between other countries for over 25,000 students annually. These include countries such as the Germany, Latvia, Ecuador, Argentina, Brazil, France, Spain, Mexico, Italy, South Africa, Costa Rica, Australia and India.
Bill Power has been appointed EIL’s local co-ordinator in the Fermoy/ Mitchelstown area. He will be happy to chat with any family or individual interested in providing a host-home for one or more students.
Published:
Friday 28th March 4:53pm
