Host families

WHO CAN BE A HOST FAMILY

Any family, independent of size, who is interested in sharing their home with a foreign volunteer, is suitable to be a host family. According to agreement the volunteer can stay with the family from a few weeks to a year. It is also possible to be a host family from time to time, for example at week-ends.

The activity is based on voluntarism, which means the family gets no financial compensation for hosting a volunteer. The family is also not expected to pay any pocket money or expenses of the young person, but to offer a bed and food. The young foreign volunteer is meant to be an equal member of the family rather than a special guest. Therefore the same responsibilities apply to them as to other family members, including washing the dishes. The host family has to remember that volunteers often work very hard at the work place, therefore they have not come to work as au-pairs or domestic help, but just as family members.

The family should try their best to understand cultural differences and should have realistic expectations. Everyday cultural exchange does not offer extreme exotic experiences, but in the best case a warm contact to the other side of the world.

For further information about host family activites please contact Maailmanvaihto office, tel. 09-774 1101 or hosting(a)maailmanvaihto.fi.