[Mn-parents] Host for Blind Foreign Exchange Student Needed

[Steve Jacobson]

Sandra Ward, the local coordinator of the Academic Year in America, a program of the American Institute for Foreign Studies (AIFS) has asked us to 
distribute the following information regarding the need for a host for a blind foreign exchange student.  Please forward to other lists as appropriate.


Blind Foreign Exchange Student in Need of Host Family for 2013/2014 School Year 

Burak is a 16 year old blind student from Turkey. Burak "Koray" is adaptable, friendly and responsible. Though visually challenged he doesn't let that get in 
his way. He is involved in a school chess club and plays goal ball. He enjoys learning foreign languages and is an avid reader of detective and adventure 
novels. He has a great imagination and likes to solve problems in his daily life and in the books he reads.  He likes to swim and go rock climbing. He lives 
with his parents and has an older sister attending the university. Koray is expected to be successful in his school work and cares for his pet. In school he is 
a hard-working, respectful and organized student. He is determined to do his best and has developed good cross-cultural communication skills. He is an 
enthusiastic learner and is motivated to do his best. Koray looks forward to adapting into a new environment and participating as a family member. He 
wants to improve his language skills, explore the culture and develop wonderful international friendships with his family and classmates. He thanks his 
family for welcoming him into their home. 

Koray is a State Department-sponsored high school scholarship student. These students are selected from thousands of applicants to study in the United 
States for an academic year. This rigorous selection process consists of demonstrated academic, social and English language competency. The U.S. 
Department of State partners with Academic Year in America (AYA) to find host families and high schools for these scholarship students.  Students must 
be placed in clusters of 2 or 3, which means that another scholarship student would need to be placed in the same community as Koray.  If you are 
interested in hosting Koray or to find out more about other scholarship students available please contact Sandra Ward at 651-686-7485.

 More information about this program is available on our web site at 

http://www.academicyear.org/

I am also including a link to an article about a Blind Grant Student who is currently living in Texas:  BLIND YES STUDENT INSPIRES GROWTH AND 
LEARNING 

http://yesprograms.org/impact/story/blind-yes-student-inspires-growth-and-learning-0

Also, please contact me for a Host Family Brochure that will be able to tell you more about the program, what we do and who we are.  To learn more about 
AYA, please feel free to visit our website:  Academic Year in America. 

Thank you so much!

Sandra Ward

 Local Coordinator

AIFS Foundation
Academic Year in America (AYA)
“we bring the world together”  


Phone:  651-686-7485

 Email:  ward.sandra.jean at gmail.com
Web:  www.academicyear.org