Meet Our Students

Meet 15-year-old Tamar from Georgia who describes herself as a good communicator and a curious person who wants to learn many new things. She lives with her parents and brother and they enjoy playing cards together. Tamar is interested in history and ancient civilizations but also likes studying biology and anatomy. She also enjoys playing volleyball, board games and discussing books with childhood and school friends. Sometimes they also go on picnics with their mothers when the weather is nice. Tamar lives in a small village that is distinguished by ethnic and religious diversity where Orthodox Christians and Muslims live in harmony. Tamar wants to introduce the Georgian culture and traditions and learn about American culture and customs. “I want to contribute to friendship between American and Georgian people.” 

I am the oldest in my big family, consisting of my parents, three younger sisters, grandma, cousin, and my aunt. I feel like I have a special relationship with my parents, compared to my younger sisters. This is probably because I am the oldest and most dependable. I have been a swimmer off and on my whole life. I met my best friend, two years ago, at swimming. Currently though, swimming is no longer a priority for both of us, because of our busy schedules. I feel like my best friend is my older sister. When we are together, we always understand each other, and everything seems peaceful. We do not see each other often but we talk on the phone each day. In my free time, I sew, crochet, embroider, or anything else related to handcrafting with textiles, threads, and yarns. Fashion and appearance have always been important to me. I dream of becoming a designer and building my own brand. I am in the debate club at school. Debate has piqued my interest in geopolitics, international relations, human rights, and international law. I have always been talkative and believe that communication is the key to everything. To my future host family, I hope to gain another family, one crossing the limits of time zones, oceans, long flights, and language barriers. I believe we will get along great from the start. I cannot wait to meet you. Love your future host kid.

*Scholarship Recipient* Djurdja lives with her parents, her older sister, and her younger brother. Her sister has disabilities, so Djurdja helps her parents with her care. As a family, they enjoy going to the mountains, traveling, and going to soccer matches. "I often prepare meals for the family, walk the dog, clean on weekends, and look after my sister with disabilities." With her friends, Djurdja loves playing soccer, riding bikes, or just walking around the city or countryside. Djurdja likes volunteering and looks forward to volunteering while on the program. She would also like to try a new sport. "I want to get acquainted with other cultures and to introduce others to the culture of Serbia, but the most important thing for me is to make friends for life."

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Kais is the oldest of three; he has a younger brother and sister. He and his brother have a great relationship and are their sister's bodyguards. He considers his parents to be extraordinary because they work to support whatever he needs. Kais enjoys sports, particularly handball and basketball. "The sensation when I play is incredible." He coaches youth tennis as well. Kais likes playing video games and drums. With his friends, Kais likes to watch handball games or just hang out with them outside. "For food I’m not picky, I eat everything." Kais thanks you for this incredible opportunity!

Dario lives with his parents, sister, and 3 cats. He loves playing basketball, he enjoys many sports but basketball is the one he has played most of his life. He also likes listening to music. He prefers math or physics in school. He coaches little kids, from 6 years to 9 years old, in basketball and has started learning how to referee for games. Dario also has a strong passion for motorbikes. He would like to spend more time in nature because living in a big city makes it hard to do that. "I still haven’t decided what to study in the future, but I’d like to become a basketball coach, and of course, to spend some months in the USA as Exchange Student with you, my dear host family."

Jayla is a vibrant and compassionate student who brings joy and positive energy wherever she goes. She has a deep love for dancing and singing, often using music as a way to express herself and connect with others. Whether it's hosting mini parties with her close-knit group of friends or enjoying a picnic with her family, Jayla values meaningful connections and the little moments that make life feel full. Deeply connected to her family, she also finds joy in nature—whether she’s walking in the mountains, enjoying outdoor scenery, or simply soaking in the beauty of a quiet day. She's an explorer at heart, with a love for traveling and experiencing new cultures, which ties in perfectly with her passion for studying languages. Jayla is a well-rounded student who enjoys playing sports, diving into the world of fiction books, and unwinding with a good movie. Her curiosity, kindness, and enthusiasm for life are evident not only in how she spends her time but also in her dedication to volunteering and helping others.

Meet 15 year old Ayanat from beautiful Kazakhstan, a FLEX scholarship winner! Ayanat is an only child but is very much looking forward to building relationships with her host family and siblings! Ayanat truly enjoys organizing family holidays. She usually cooks national dishes with her mother for gatherings and can safely say that she can introduce Kazakh cuisine to you. She also enjoys art, debate, and of course volunteering. She loves generating ideas and leading school projects for the team. She is a true leader in her community! In the future, she hopes to be an architect or designer. She is looking forward to all she can learn from American culture and you. She feels lucky to have this opportunity and join your family this year!

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