Host Family Needed for an Exchange Student with a Spinal Cord Injury

Imagine the laughter of new friendships echoing through your home, the aroma of shared meals blending cultures. Have you ever considered opening your doors to host a high school exchange student? A request came to NORCAL SCI for assistance in locating an accessible home for Zahra. She is a 15-year-old creative and determined aspiring cinematographer from Saudi Arabia who will arrive this summer for the 2024-2025 academic year. She uses a wheelchair due to a spinal cord injury.

Zahra has earned this opportunity to live and study in the US through a highly competitive scholarship from the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange Program or simply “YES” which aims to build bridges between the US and countries with a significant Muslim population. While she is in the United States she will act as a youth ambassador in her host community by volunteering, giving presentations about her home country, and learning about American life. Zahra will be placed by AFS-USA, a national non-profit that promotes peace and mutual understanding through high school exchange experiences. They are one of the oldest high school exchange organizations is the world, and boast a rich volunteer network to offer 24/7 support to their participants and host families.

Prior to arrival in her host community, Zahra will have an orientation with Mobility International USA (MIUSA) in Eugene, Oregon. While she is in the program, she will receive a monthly stipend to help offset some of the costs, a reimbursement fund for the host family, as well as funds to help make the home more accessible, as needed. 

You can contact Jacob Nathanson, Sponsored Programs Hosting Specialist at AFS-USA, to learn more about the YES program, being a hosting family, and Zahra at jnathanson@afsusa.org.

Click here to listen to an audio recording from Zahra.

Thank you for considering opening your home to Zahra and fostering a connection that will last a lifetime.