Ayusa International is seeking families throughout the area who can volunteer to open their homes to an international exchange student for the 2016-17 school year.

Currently, Ayusa is seeking host families in Buckingham, Cumberland and Prince Edward counties.

Ayusa works with families from all backgrounds who are interested in hosting. Many families are not the typical “nuclear family” that so many think of as American. Families with or without children, empty nesters, military families, retirees and single people are all welcome. Ayusa families come from all over the country and reside in rural, suburban and urban communities.

Connie Coutu, the regional manager who supports the state, notes that Virginia is a particularly welcoming state for exchange students. “Families like the Saddlers who take these students into their homes and their hearts really bring to life the tradition of Southern hospitality,” she said. “In addition, Virginia embodies a lot of American history, so exchange students learn about both older traditions and modern-day life in the U.S.”

Host families volunteer to provide their exchange student with three meals a day and a bedroom (private or shared). Each host family, student, and school is supported by a professionally trained Ayusa representative throughout the program year. Ayusa’s exchange students are 15-18 years old and come from more than 60 countries around the world.

Interested families can learn more about the program and available exchange students and request additional information by visiting www.ayusa.org or calling 1-888-552-9872.