AMES, Iowa – Iowa Resource for International Service (IRIS), an Ames based non-profit, is seeking host homes across Iowa for 2017-2018 foreign exchange students. IRIS needs homes for approximately 25 students from Indonesia, Liberia, Mali, Tanzania, Jordan, Israel, Sierra Leone, Lebanon, Bahrain, Egypt, Pakistan, India, Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey and Kenya. All students are fluent in English, and often several other languages. All students are between 15 and 18 years old, but will technically be high school juniors.

The students, which typically hail from Southeast Asian, Middle-Eastern and African countries, are all in Iowa on scholarship. Former host parent Alexis Vosburg said, “This isn’t your typical exchange program that just takes the students that have the funds to do this trip. These students had to work hard for this opportunity. IRIS focuses on community service and promoting international relations, including strengthening Christian/Muslim relations.”

IRIS is a consortium partner of the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Program, which was founded following 9/11 to help promote understanding between American citizens and the citizens of predominantly Muslim countries. The YES program is funded by the U.S. State Department as a form of diplomacy.

For bios on particular students, or for more information on hosting in general, visit our website at http://www.iris-center.org/yes-program/17-18students/ or email John Jordan at yessupport@iris-center.org.