Host families in Wairarapa are proving hard to find for foreign exchange pupils, says Education First Foundation international supervisor and host Marion Peck.
Families in the region have hosted 12 pupils over the past year, she said, from Sweden, Thailand, Japan, Germany, Italy and South America, "but it's hard to find
host families at the moment".
A ceremony on Monday will farewell 10 pupils who have been living and studying in Wairarapa for the past six or 12 months, she said, although there are only two pupils so far bound for Wairarapa in the coming year.
Mrs Peck said the organisation is now looking for more "warm and homely families" in the region to open their doors to foreign pupils.
"The main reason host families are being sought is to provide a healthy and secure home environment for pupils looking to improve their English while they experience our culture first-hand."
She said prospective host families are police vetted, must have references available, and should be able to supply three meals a day for the pupil they host.
Single parents are also welcome to apply as hosts, she said, and although the hosting is "voluntary" a nominal payment of $50 a week is paid to the family to defray costs.
She said the host family is given a brief profile of pupils from which to establish a healthy "match", with a full profile available when a pupil is identified as compatible.
Pupils are aged from 15 to 18, she said, and stay for either six or 12 months.
Mrs Peck is the only international supervisor left at present in Wairarapa, she said, with the other four supervisors now taking a break from the task.
"As a supervisor I speak with each of the students at least once a month to make sure everything's all right and work out any problems if and when they arise."
Mrs Peck has been involved as a foreign pupil host for the past two years and, along with her partner Rod, has hosted three pupils in that time ? two from Germany and the latest from Switzerland.
"It's always very sad when they go, but that shows how much you share with the pupils and how close you do get."
