Newsletter July 2019
YFU South Africa
Dear YFU friends, schools and communities, As always at this time of the year, we are in the middle of our annual ‘host family hunt’, trying to find loving host families for our new group of inbound students. While 14 of our students have already been placed, the remaining eight are still waiting to receive that precious phone call or email telling them that ‘their’ family has been found. So if you or one of your friends, family members or colleagues can offer a loving home to one our students – even if it is just as an ‘arrival family’, i.e. for 1-2 months – please let us know! Last year’s group of students left South Africa on 22 June and lots of tissues were needed at the airport. But fortunately we know that in YFU it is never a ‘good bye’, it’s just a ‘see you later’. We hope you enjoy reading our newsletter and look forward to receiving your feedback, comments or ideas for the next one! Your YFU South Africa Team
News from the YFU office: New interns: Anežka from the Czech Republic Santiago from Mexico
Outbound program:
Quince going to Mexico for a semester Dumisani going to the USA for a year Alessia going to Italy for a trimester Pre-Departure Orientations
Inbound program: Departure of 2018-19 inbound students 3 students still in South Africa (Lautaro, Radhija and Victoria) 22 students arriving on 24 August
Volunteers: A big thank you to our volunteers who organized the Re-Entry Orientation in June! Volunteer & alumni meeting in Cape Town
YFU Calendar Upcoming events 20 July 2019 – Cape Town Volunteer & Alumni Reunion 26 – 28 July 2019 – Pretoria Colored Glasses training for facilitators 03 August 2019 – Pretoria Host Family Orientation 24 August 2019 - Johannesburg Arrival of new inbound students Placement Support Person Training 25 August 2019 – Pretoria Annual General Meeting 05 – 08 September 2019 - Centurion Post-Arrival Orientation
New interns Anežka from the Czech Republic With my exchange in Norway 14/15 it only started…When I returned a became an active volunteer and was involved in all kind of events. YFU Czech Republic is a dynamically developing organization but still small enough to get a chance to try and do all sorts of things. From interviews and presentations via our seminars and the inbound trip to international YFU events. Last year I have been working for YFU CZ as a volunteer coordinator and Coloured Glasses project coordinator.
Santiago from Mexico “In order to change world, I must understand first.” ¡Hola Sudáfrica! My name is Santiago Salcedo and I will be an intern in Pretoria for this semester. My YFU experience started back in 2014, when a young 16-year-old student was about to experience an exchange for a whole year to Switzerland. I didn’t get to know one culture, but two, the French and the German in Fribourg, Switzerland. I wanted to learn French, and out of a sudden, I learned German too with my Swiss-German friends. My new home that I thought would be for one year, became my forever home. I have been involved in various YFU activities and events, and YFU staff in Mexico. I wanted to do an internship in South Africa, I knew a part of me belonged here. I think Latin-American and South African culture is quite similar. There’s a phrase that says “Home is where your heart is” My heart is now divided in different places, in three different continents, Mexico, Switzerland and South Africa and also in the friends I’ve made throughout the world and that, is where my heart is.
Outbound program jh
PDO 2019
Every year, our staff, volunteers and interns prepare our students for a successful exchange experience. On July 6th, the PreDeparture Orientation for our student Quince, who will be spending a semester in Mexico, took place. The orientation was a 2-day event and consisted of several activities and sessions aimed at preparing Quince for the challenges and experiences exchange students typically face. These include culture and adaptation, expectations and motivation, culture shock, host family, school, just to name a few. All YFU activities and sessions are conducted using non-formal learning methods in which the staff, volunteers and interns only serve as guides to facilitate the student’s learning experience. What was special about this particular orientation was that all three teamers had a personal connection to Mexico. Lerato (YFU volunteer) spent her exchange year in Zacatecas, Mexico, in 2013, Anezka (YFU intern) hosted an exchange student from Mexico, and Santiago (YFU intern) is from Mexico City. It was a wonderful example of how YFU can make the world both bigger and smaller at the same time, bringing together people from different backgrounds but with similar experiences.
Inbound program Become a host family
Bring the world into your home by hosting an international YFU exchange student!
Your family can host a student for 10 months or be a temporary host family for a period of 1-5 months!
A host family is expected to provide food and accommodation for the student and – most importantly – a loving and nurturing environment to experience the South African way of life. Expenses such as school fees, health insurance, school-related expenses and personal items are coved by either YFU or student himself/herself.
This is an opportunity to share your story, your traditions, and your customs while learning about others!
Your ordinary life is extraordinary to an exchange student!
You are an ambassador just being yourself!
Change the course of an individual life!
Enable us to be citizens of one world!
Above all, hosting an exchange student is a fun experience that energizes your family and gives you a more global perspective without even having to leave your home!
Student profiles Become a Host Family!
If one of these students would be the perfect addition to your family, or if you know just the right host family for one of our students, please get in touch with us!
YFU Office in Pretoria Regional director: Rynette Scholtz Phone: +27 12 547 0312 Mobile: +27 82 464 3957 E-Mail: rynette@yfu.org.za
So, you have decided to host a student - are you ready for this experience? Here at YFU, we are open to anyone interested in becoming a host family, whether you are young or old, married, partnered, or single, have children or not. We do not look for families with a certain religious or political view. We look for host families that will lovingly open their homes, offering guidance and support. Your lifestyle and culture are unique and extraordinary to your future exchange student, and we want you to be a part of their exchange experience!
“A few years ago, I traveled to Europe for work and stayed in a city near Orsi’s house. Isabela (my daughter) went with me, and I left her for a few days under the care of her exchange sister and her natural family. At the end of my work assignment, I met Orsi’s natural family. We may not have had a common language, but love, gratitude, and respect do not need a common language. They are the common language!” Karin, YFU host mother (2017/18) PAULA SOLANO, Host
YFU Stories Being a Host Family‌ "The six months we spent with Merit went by way too quickly. We made so many unforgettable memories and we learned that family time is a precious gift that cannot be taken for granted. By now, Merit speaks Afrikaans fluently, but we also learned that there is a universal language all of us can speak: Food! Please join YFU for the experience of a lifetime and let the world visit your home" Deidre van den Berg from Thabazimbi
Being an Exchange Student‌ "One of my most memorable experiences in South Africa was Heritage Day. My host family and I celebrated it at church, together with people from many different cultures and backgrounds. I will really miss South Africa and the happiness and joy of its people. No matter how little they have, they always make the most of it!" Wilma (17) from Sweden.
Ella’s story… "After spending a year as an exchange student in Pretoria, South Africa has truly become a second home for me. My most memorable experience was swimming in the humongous waves at Victoria Bay with my host sister during our summer holiday. I will miss my host family and friends here so much - and of course the famous South African braais!" Ella (16), exchange student from Germany.
Ella’s host family’s story… “Two years ago, I read an article in our school newsletter about YFU. They had a request for accommodation for international students. Our first exchange student, Ruben, came from The Netherlands. On average they have rain on 220 days per year. The South African climate was therefore a big bonus for him! Our second exchange student was Ella from Germany and she thoroughly enjoyed the nice and warm weather! Both Ruben and Ella went to Hoërskool Waterkloof in Pretoria and both could understand Afrikaans quite soon.
The major purpose of an exchange is to open your South African home to another child. Students have the best experience at homes where they are accepted as one of the children of the household and immediately form part of the family. The responsibility as host family is not only to provide food and shelter, but to involve them in the culture of the family. Both Ruben and Ella can braai and Ruben’s favourite dish is still braaibroodjies. We frequently receive photos from The Netherlands showing barbeque with braaibroodjies on it.
Why do we host YFU students‌? The first question people ask is why do we host YFU students? It offers our children the opportunity to make new friends and have life-long friendships with someone from another continent, who can be as close as a real brother or sister. Furthermore, it teaches them to share a room, live with a friend and to cope with the good and bad which form part of it. I think it is a privilege to give a child a place in our home. As a parent, I also get the opportunity to make a difference in a child’s life. As a Christian, I can live up to my principles and can a child return to their country admitting that religion will play a bigger part in their future.
For my own children, there is obviously the advantage the household tasks are now divided between three siblings and no longer only two. They learn about other cultures and even some of our traditional family gatherings have changed. We now include stroopwafels (The Netherlands) and Blueberrypie (Germany) as part of the meals. They become part of the family and are one of the family. Sometimes they also get scolded and other times you have to wipe away some tears. But they know and realise that Africa will forever have an impact on their lives. Ten months may seem very long, but time flies. It is not only school, but also other activities such as hockey; choir; photography and supporting athletics! Even though they eat KFC once a month, a go with on holiday, they also get a turn to do the dishes! Sometimes they do not immediately understand the meaning of all the words, but they feel welcome and enjoy the South African hospitality. Then the day arrives when we have to go to the airport. It is completely different as when they arrived when everything was new, and they were so excited about the new experiences awaiting them. Now you have to say goodbye to one of your own children, who is returning to their biological parents. Three days before the due date a dark cloud hangs over your house. Everyone becomes quiet and you can feel the lump in your throat. No one says a word on the way to the airport. The booking in of luggage, a last coffee and going to the departure hall. We cry and we mourn because we say goodbye, but at least we know it is not forever!
YFU Alumni Reunion in Cape Town
On a cold but sunny winter’s day, a group of YFU alumni, (former) host families, volunteers and staff members gathered at the foot of Table Mountain to celebrate the ‘YFU family’ spirit. Some of the guests had gone on exchange or hosted students in the early days of YFU SA (i.e. in the 1990s!), while others had returned from their exchange recently or had been active volunteers for several years. After a round of introductions and personal stories, the guests had to demonstrate their knowledge of all things YFU at the YFU Pub Quiz. The afternoon was concluded with a braai, expertly prepared by our Vice Chairman of the Board who braved the freezing Cape Town winter temperatures to make sure everyone was well fed and happy. We hope that this lovely get-together will mark the beginning of an annual YFU tradition, not only in Cape Town but in other provinces as well!
Join YFU! Contact us for more information! YFU OFFICE IN PRETORIA Office 012 547 0312
Mobile 082 464 3957
rynette@yfu.org.za www.yfu.org.za
YFU OFFICE IN CAPE TOWN info@yfu.org.za
www.yfu.org.za
yfusouthafrica
YFU South Africa
Website
www.yfu.org.za