Sign Up to Be a 2024–25 Int’l Student Social Host
The benefits of studying abroad as a college student are incalculable! Some of you may have even experienced these benefits firsthand — learning a new language, participating in a new culture, meeting new people. In addition to the tremendous education international students receive by studying in the U.S., they can also learn so much from spending time with individuals and families participating in fun and educational activities! Won’t you consider the opportunity to be a social host? You’ll benefit as much from spending time with these eager students as they will from spending time with you. Read on to apply for this tremendous opportunity to be a social host with the Community College Initiative (CCI) Program!
What is the CCI Program?
The Community College Initiative (CCI) Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and administered by NOVA, provides opportunities for individuals from other countries to develop leadership capabilities, professional skills, English language proficiency and cultural understanding while studying at a community college in the United States. This year, NOVA is hosting 30 highly driven CCI Program participants from 13 countries at both the Annandale and the Alexandria campuses for this year-long exchange program.
Participant countries:
- Bangladesh
- Brazil
- Colombia
- Dominican Republic
- Egypt
- Ghana
- India
- Indonesia
- Mexico
- South Africa
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Ukraine
What do social hosts do?
To help better connect our participants with their new communities and facilitate stronger cultural understanding, the CCI Program is seeking social hosts from the NOVA community to play a key role in facilitating the participants’ adjustment to the United States and their local community. Through your family, CCI exchange participants gain access to the real America, as opposed to just scratching the surface of U.S. culture by visiting as a tourist or watching American television. This experience is designed to be fun and fulfilling for both the social host and the participant; in the past, groups have watched movies, made cultural meals, celebrated holidays, discovered local history and made lifelong friendships!
Social host testimonials:
Don’t just take our word for it, hear what past social hosts are saying about their experience with the CCI Program!
“We had a life-changing experience as a host family. We watch the news so differently, now that we have hosted international students. In our family, we now have ‘adopted children’ who have a piece of our heart, even as they live half a world away.” — Kent B.
“My children are grown, and the students bring back great memories of dealing with young adults at such an exciting phase of their lives. Both students have taken to my wife, and we all look forward to our meetings, both on campus and in the community. I am planning to have them at my family’s Christmas celebration; not only to have them experience an American celebration of this holiday but also to broaden the horizons of my children and grandchildren.” — John W.
What’s the commitment?
Attend an orientation session prior to meeting with your student(s).
- Meet with your student once a month throughout the academic year.
- There is no financial obligation.
COVID-19 safety:
The CCI Program encourages adherence to the latest CDC guidance.
How to apply:
If you’re interested in being a CCI Program social host at either NOVA campus (Alexandria or Annandale), please register here or scan the QR code below using your phone camera.
Submitted by:
Min Young Jun, NOVA Academic Affairs CCI Program Coordinator, MJun@nvcc.edu