International students across the world are venturing to the U.S. through the FLEX and YES programs, hoping to strengthen their education.
About 40,000 high school students submitted applications this year, and only 800 were selected to be placed in a U.S. city, said Brooke Perkins, coordinator for World Link, a nonprofit organization that places students in cities once selected into the FLEX and YES programs.
“It’s really a prestigious thing for the students to make it over here to the United States,” Perkins said.
Three students, selected through the rigorous process of essays and interviews, came from Ukraine, Poland and Kyrgyzstan to Lubbock.
They study at various high schools across Lubbock for one school year, while living with a host family and immersing themselves in the American culture, Perkins added.
“I think the core values are to share our culture with Americans, learn their culture and share it around the world,” said Anna Kulig, an exchange student from Poland.
The program consists of living and learning about the host family, volunteering, learning about the country’s culture and overcoming stereotypes, said Kulig.
The host families enjoy the experience just like the students do.
“We fell in love with the process and (student) profiles and decided to go for it,” said Deanna Wann, one of the exchange hosts in Lubbock.
“It’s been really wonderful, we’ve grown a lot as a family, as a couple. It’s been fun trying to get her to new places like trying a french fry or try this new place,” she said.
Word Link is a government funded nonprofit organization, supporting children who come from abroad, said Perkins. Host parents only have to pay for three meals per day, a “safe and comfortable home environment” and transportation to school, whether that is through their own car or a bus, she said.
“Students receive $125 a month from World Link organization for day-to-day things they may need. They come with full-coverage health insurance,” she added.
“How much you want to spend and how much you don’t depends on family to family,” said Wann.
“Even if you haven’t considered it in the past, start considering it. If you considered it at all in the past, get more information because it really is a wonderful organization. World Link has been so wonderful for us,” she said.
For any more information on the program and how to become a host parent, visit their website or contact Brooke Perkins at brookeperkins.worldlink@gmail.com or (806)-789-2341.
