She noted that teachers have always shown a strong interest in the exchange students, and the local students always reach out to their visitors, who stay with local host families in a 10-month program. The program has three to five exchange students each year. This year, they are from Norway, Brazil, Russia, the Netherlands and Finland.
Over the years, Talawanda families have hosted from at least 23 countries and sent more students abroad to all parts of the globe, according to the AFS. The high school maintains an active AFS club to promote global awareness and activities.
“We’re so thankful and proud to work in educational partnership with schools (at) Talawanda,” said Tonya Muro, the director of school outreach and educational partnerships at AFS-USA. “These educators are at the forefront of bringing global awareness and intercultural experiences to their students. In doing so, they are providing students, teachers and the greater community profound opportunities to broaden their knowledge of other cultures and peoples, which is indispensable in this day and age.”
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