Hosting an exchange student - how to can make a real difference in a young person's life

Your Education exchange student with her host family in Waikato, New Zealand

Your Education exchange students at the beach in New Zealand

Your Education exchange students at a Hurricanes rugby game Wellington, New Zealand

Your Education exchange student camping with her host family in New Zealand

Your Education exchange students at the beach in New Zealand

Your Education exchange student with their host mum in New Zealand

New Zealand receives thousands of overseas exchange students every year from all around the world. The biggest and undoubtedly most important part of the exchange experience for these young people is the host family they live with. All you need to do is to read these testimonials from our students to understand the impact of the families and the people the students meet in their day to day lives: "My host family was a huge part of my exchange, and I wouldn’t want to imagine my exchange with another one. During the year I had two different host sisters of my age who were also exchange students, and we got along perfectly. I had three amazing younger host siblings, and for someone who had never lived with younger kids, it was quite the experience. I got to learn a lot of games from my host parents, as well as I got to travel around the North Island with them during the year and go on multiple hikes."

"Meeting and letting people into my life and loving them made me learn so much through them and their life stories. People usually describe the exchange year as a year that counts for nothing. For me, this year was everything. I tried, attempted, failed, and succeeded and I’m never going to stop to LIVING like this."

"My host family was the best thing that could have happened to me during my exchange. I had three younger host siblings, which were always keen on playing with me and treated me like family. And I can’t count the times we played games all together with my host mother and father, which were so supportive and took us on so many amazing trips."

"I wonder why, in more than five months, I have never really missed my family or home.  The only answer I can think of is because I have found another one.  All those people who went from strangers to friends within a matter of a few laughs, have in fact slowly become my new, chosen family, the whānau that has unconsciously sedated my homesickness, provided me with enough love to feel safe, even on the other side of the world."

"My host family is the main part of my exchange, a second family in the opposite side of the world is not given to anyone. I definitely consider my family as my own family and they treat me as their own daughter. I'm with another exchange student from Germany and it's great to share this incredible time with her."

"I must say that there is no better host family I could be in. For an exchange student the best thing to be worried about is exactly the host family. I feel like if I have a new Mom, new Dad, new brother and sister. Since the first day I was here they made me feel like a family member, they trusted me even if they didn’t know me and my personality. Now I’m starting to think about my leaving in July, and I realize that will be so hard to leave all of them."

Your Education host families all around New Zealand making a difference every day in the lives of these students. And the students building special bonds with their adopted family. We are always on the look out for families who would love to welcome an exchange student in their home and family. 

By hosting an exchange student you will quickly see the rewarding experience it brings to your family and friends. Some might say that it is life changing, but your foremost role will be welcoming a new culture into your home and making a lifelong relationship across the globe. Hosting also allows exchange students to experience how we as Kiwis live, and most importantly shows them the best of New Zealand and your local area. You can read more host family and student stories on our website. You can also find our Q&A section about hosting here.

If you have a high school age child thinking of doing an exchange themselves, we also offer up to a $2,000 discount of an exchange if you host a student at your home in New Zealand. You can check our Host to Go! offer here.

If you have any questions about hosting, please email us at info@youreducation.co.nz and we will help you to navigate the process and happy to answer all your questions.