On
March 4th, 25 students from all around Japan will be exposed to, what hopes to
be, the experience of a lifetime. Thanks to the organization, Greenheart, they
will be placed into host family homes for 10 days and 9 nights. These exchange
students will have the opportunity to observe, learn and taste the American
culture.
Since
its founding in 1985, with the Flagship High School Programs Department,
Greenheart has been dedicated to creating global leaders through a collection
of programs and initiatives.
Greenheart
is an environmental, economically and socially conscience organization, that is
working with 60 other organizations to place students. Only the top ten that work
with the Department of State, through a grant program, are approved.
“We
are one of the top ten,” said Kathy Hansen. In a
non-profit, everyone is a volunteer. The students have an acute awareness that
no one is being paid. Instead, it is a requirement that the students do community
service to give back. “We volunteered last year at Catherine’s kitchen,”
continued Hansen.
Through
local coordinators like Hansen, Greenheart has had a presence in Windham since
the beginning. “I was called by a teacher who asked if I would be willing to be
a host family to one of a group that was coming in. So, I volunteered. I don’t
know how she got my name and I never asked,” explained Hansen. None of that
mattered. “I got hooked and loved it,” continued Hansen. That was 1985 and the
student was Barbel Richter of Germany.
It
would be that same enjoyment and fulfillment that Hansen received from Richter,
that would lead to her becoming a coordinator and an epiphany. “I knew I
couldn’t afford to expose my five children to the world so I decided this would
be a great way to bring the world to them, one student at a time, “expressed
Hansen.
With
77 countries participating around the globe, the opportunities are endless.
Hosting is done year round, not just during school. During the summer it is
ambassadors from Spain and France that are most likely to be here.
Since
1985, Greenheart has enjoyed an impressive success story with 87 percent of the
families happy with the experience. The remaining 13 percent is the result of
uncontrollable circumstances and not a reflection of the program. “This is just
a result of the student’s inability to cope with a new environment, some other
cultural rejection or just plain being homesick,” explains Hansen.
It
begins with their arrival, when students are picked up from Logan Airport in
Boston, by the host family and then taken to an environment approved by the
combined efforts of both Greenheart and the assigned coordinator, through a
screening process.
While
completing the application process for approval, which can take up to one hour,
there is an extensive and thorough process that follows. This involves
background checks, references and interviews. Pictures are also taken of the
home for documentation purposes. A secondary visit is required by the
Department of State that is separate from the coordinator’s visit.
Once approved, the rest goes
according to schedule. In this instance, the exchange students from Japan will
arrive at the school on March 4th and leave from the school on March 14th. While
there, they will have a student chaperone that has been approved by the
school. As for living accommodations - they do not require their own
bedroom and the only cost to the host family is their food.
In the end, gains from this
experience are numerous and felt by all involved. It’s about connecting people
with people. “Our students learn about another culture and make friends for
life,” shared Hansen. By hosting you are making a difference in someone’s life.
“Not only is it life changing and meaningful, we’re giving them a gift,” continued
Hansen.
In
the summer of 2015, Hansen received her own gift - in the form of a rewarding
surprise. “Barbel’s two teenage daughters came and stayed with me as exchange students.
This is a testament to the power of the program and the gift it has to offer. Great
memories!” concluded Hansen.
Greenheart is currently looking for 10 host families
for this group scheduled to arrive in March. Interested families are urged to
contact Kathy Hansen at: 207-653-1007 or khansen@greenheart.org
FMI
visit: www.greenheart.org/
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