International Cultural Exchange Services is an international nonprofit youth exchange organization committed to educational study abroad programs. For almost three decades ICES has promoted a more peaceful world by advancing international awareness and cultural understanding to thousands of American families and exchange students from all over the world. Volunteers in the Pittsburgh area are needed to host an international student for the upcoming 2019/2020 academic year. There are currently over 20 students that requested to spend their exchange year in Pennsylvania, like Giulia from Italy who specifically chose to come to Pittsburgh!

Giulia is from northern Italy and will turn 17 this summer.  She lives with her parents, older brother, and dog, Pluto, and says family is the most important thing in her life.  She loves having a loyal and protective brother and would love to have host siblings and pets!  Her parents say she is kind, respectful and thoughtful, making sure to include others in conversations and activities.  She describes herself as lively, inquisitive, a bit of a dreamer and sure of herself!  Giulia loves to dance and has danced since the age of 6, participating in dance competitions at both national and European levels.  Dance helps her relax and express herself, and she would love to continue to dance and train this year, if possible.  Her greatest passion is fashion, and she hopes to study fashion and become a stylist.  Shopping and makeup are two other favorite pastimes, and she’s considering becoming an actress or working in Hollywood. When she’s just hanging out with friends she likes to ski in winter and spend summer days at the lake or going for motorbike rides. She likes to travel and loves the ocean.  She is thrilled about the possibility of making new friends in the U.S.! Will she be a good fit for your family?

 Our students come from 39 countries and are supervised by trained coordinators and compassionate student counselors.  Students are arriving in mid-August and have their own spending money, insurance, great English skills, and hands-on local support. All host family dynamics are welcome and you do not have to have teenagers in your home to host. You can host for a few weeks, a semester, or a school year. If you’re interested in enriching your life and becoming a host family, please contact Yazmin Peña at ypena@icesusa.org or visit our website at www.icesusa.org.