Host families are needed for foreign exchange students for this school year.

According to Kathy Harenski, the AFS liaison coordinator for Western Pennsylvania, the eight students needing families to stay with come from Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Japan and China. They are between 15 and 17 years old.

They can stay with vetted families from any area school district that will accept the student, Harenski said.

“Everybody in the family has to want to do it,” she said. “They have to want to learn about another culture and include the students as a family member.”

Highlands has been active in the program, and has four exchange students from Switzerland, Sweden, Thailand and South Africa already placed for this school year. It is expecting a fifth from Italy in September.

Harenski said she’d like to place at least two more in Highlands.

“Highlands is very open and willing,” she said. “They want more students.”

The students currently in their home countries who are in need of hosts are:

• Berkay, 17, from Turkey. His interests include languages, team sports, chess and puzzles. He earned a full scholarship to the U.S.

• Ziad, 16, from Saudi Arabia. He is an athlete with interests in volleyball, soccer, archery, free diving, swimming and squash and wants to be an astronaut. He earned a full scholarship to spend a year in the U.S.

• Thamonwan, 16, from Thailand. She enjoys nature, astronomy, after-school clubs and basketball.

• Rizu, 15, from Japan. She is a table tennis (ping pong) player who enjoys watching baseball and reading.

• Wimonnat, 16, from Thailand. She enjoys singing, playing piano, swimming, cooking, baking, photography and movies.

• Kenshin, 15, from Japan. He plays basketball and enjoys amusement parks.

• Thanatchaya, 16, from Thailand. She plays piano and violin, enjoys singing, dancing and photography and wants to try cheerleading.

• Guangxian, 15, from China. He enjoys singing and playing the drums, playing basketball and badminton, reading and watching movies.

The students come with their own spending money and insurance, Harenski said.

Hosts are expected to provide them with their own bed and meals and to treat them like a member of their family.

For information about hosting, contact Harenski at 412-848-3952 or kharenski@icloud.com.

For more information on the exchange program, visit www.afsusa.org/host-family.

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