I*ESN launches Host Family project

“Exchange students often stick to each other and don’t integrate much. But most of them are still open to cultural exchange.” This is how I*ESN president Tim de Vries explains the main motivation for the Host Family project.

I*ESN wants to gives international students a chance to spend one weekend with a family living in (or around) Tilburg. “They will learn about Dutch customs and, hopefully, some basics of Dutch language,” says Tim.

Getting students interested in the project was a piece of cake. Many exchange students are very enthusiastic about the idea. So now I*ESN’s focus is on engaging more families, preferably with children. “Only by hanging a poster on our Carpe Diem building during Kermis we got responses from two families,” says Tim. I*ESN will advertise the project in local newspapers, primary schools newsletters and in high schools with which the organization already cooperates. Brabants Dagblad also wants to interview the participants and write a story about the project.

The project already works in Groningen and Utrecht, organized by local ESN offices.