May 17, 2022
4-H Seeking Applications to Host Academic Year Students
Submitted by Dr. Mary Kay Munson
Hosting for the school year is a great way to develop a special relationship with another culture. During the current invasion of Ukraine, Kansas families who have developed relationships with students through exchanges have special connections to the conditions in Ukraine and its neighbors.
A Geary County family has been in almost daily contact with their Ukrainian daughter, hosted through the Academic Year Program in Kansas. The exchange student has fled from Kiev to various areas in more rural Ukraine. A former 4-H'er who traveled to Finland a few years ago reports communications from her host mother in the eastern part of Finland describe increased shoppers from Russia entering Finland due to sanctions on the Russian economy.
How can you give your family a better understanding as global citizens than build relationships with a family member from another culture! Kansas has placed Nagomi Yamamoto with the Brandon and Dianna Dibben family in Geary County for the 2022-2023 school year. Please consider helping Kansas 4-H give this experience to one or more additional families. We are committed to placing one more student from Japan or South Korea with a Kansas family. These students are mostly senior high school students, are good students, highly motivated and have strong English skills. The final placement deadline is next month.
Please contact State Academic Year Coordinator Mary Kay Munson directly for information and application link at 785-375-3189 or mkm2@ksu.edu.