TRU is looking for 60 homestay families for international students

Thompson Rivers University is once again looking for homestay families interested in hosting international students this summer.

According to a release, the university is seeking 60 households to host students between ages 14 and 19 from Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Mexico, Ghana and Colombia for two to four weeks in July and August.

"Broadening horizons and fostering intercultural understanding lies at the heart of Thompson Rivers University's Homestay program," says Baihua Chadwick, vice-president International.

“It is a community that empowers supportive and immersive experiences for students from around the world.”

The students will be participating in TRU’s Language and Culture Program, which allows them to experience Canadian culture by staying with local families and enhancing their language skills.

While in Kamloops they will be participating in language studies, intercultural workshops and electives covering topics like sustainability, leadership and science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), the release says.

Host families will receive a weekly stipend to cover room and board along with support from the Homestay program coordinators.

Hosts will provide students with breakfast, lunch and dinner and are encouraged to show their student(s) around Kamloops through weekend sightseeing and other local activities.

In addition, hosts are responsible for providing their student(s) with transportation to and from the airport or TRU at the beginning and end of the program.

For more information or to apply to become a Homestay family, interested families can request more information at tru.ca/homestay.