The Parkland College is about to welcome students to its fall classes, and among those students will be 15-20 international students. The college is assembling a database of housing opportunities for those students, and is looking for home stay families.
William Litchfield, Director of Advancement for the Parkland College, notes they're looking for families to help international students move into a new community and experience new things.
"We're looking for some good Canadian families to take in an international student, to help share that Canadian culture with them. What does it mean to live in Canada, to live in Saskatchewan and live in Yorkton. Teach them about curling and show them how to get around the city, anything Canadian. You think of a student starting their first day of school, they're starting their first day with a few other challenges, in a new community and a new country," Litchfield notes.
Home stay families will receive $500 a month for each student housed. The homes are expected to provide three meals a day for the student and also access to the various amenities the rest of the household enjoys, such as laundry, entertainment and so on. He suggests that the best course of action is to show them where the food is for breakfast and lunch, and then provide a family supper.
"Basically, welcome them into the family," Litchfield explains.
Litchfield notes that it's a rewarding experience for those involved, and he says many families have stayed in touch with their student long after the term has ended, becoming part of the family and attending important events in their lives.
He notes that international students are often trying to begin a life in Canada, and they have to go through a long process to be approved, so they will be responsible and interested in learning more about the country.
Students begin arriving around August 15, and Litchfield says the hope is to get families arranged before the students come in. He notes that they want to have the students and the families begin to communicate before the move, in order to make the transition easier for everyone involved.
Those interested in becoming a home stay family are invited to contact Litchfield at the college at 786-7331. He says they are happy to provide more information and the forms needed to become part of the program.
