International Service Lane

Friendship Families Program Begins ....

FRIENDSHIP FAMILIES PROGRAM (FFP)
is a program that matches international students and local families (Friendship Families) in order to establish a relationship with each other. Students are invited to participate in family events like picnics, holiday celebrations, going to the movies, etc. Students can gain a cultural knowledge of the United States from the American families and the families can learn firsthand from the students something about their country and culture.

GOALS
FFP provides local families with a chance to learn about the different cultures of the world through friendship with international students from those cultures. FFP gives international students a chance to learn about American lifestyles, and to make friends they can count on for moral support and caring. FFP provides the international student and the Maryland family with an opportunity to gain new perspectives on the world through an exchange of ideas.

MEMBERSHIP
Anyone who is genuinely interested in international exchange on the personal level is encouraged to participate in FFP. There is no typical participant – there are young and old, single individuals and married couples, families and senior citizens. Participants come from all walks of life and have all kinds of experiences.

PARTICIPATION INVOLVED
FFP is a flexible program. There are no set activities or time commitments. Once a Friendship Family is matched with an international student, they can decide what they would like to do together, depending on their time availability and mutual interests. Friendship Families are expected to be in touch with their students at least once a month, if possible. Students often invite their Friendship Families to their own activities. The Program staff is available to assist participants in any way possible. If for any reason a satisfactory relationship does not develop, reassignments will gladly be made.

Participants are expected to learn about each other’s cultural, religious and political beliefs and personal backgrounds. Participants are expected to refrain from trying to change those beliefs.

The students are far from home and in a different culture, often dealing with language issues and the demands of challenging academic program. They appreciate having an adult who is neither teacher nor official to offer company and friendship. Friendship Families have the opportunity to know an exceptional group of young people who are intelligent, highly motivated, and interested in the world around them.

BENEFITS FOR

FAMILIES:

Enabling US families to learn about the culture of the international student including their language, customs, values, activities, etc.
Developing a friendship with a member of an exceptional group of young people who are intelligent, highly motivated and representative of different cultures

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Providing an opportunity to practice English and learn more about the American culture in an out-of-the-classroom context by experiencing how families live in the US

Providing international students with the sense of having another family that cares about them during their studies in the U.S.

Sharing your culture and ideas about your country with an American family

Having an opportunity to relax and enjoy life in a friendly off-campus atmosphere

SPONSORS