"I don't think there are enough words in the world to describe how wonderful our time with Silvia has been. She is not a friend, she is family and is a true member of my family and my extended family. Silvia has been a wonderful support to us inside and outside our home. She is so mature and lovely. She has fitted into every aspect of our lives perfectly that everyone keeps saying what will you do without her. That is the question. I won't be loosing a student, I will be missing a member of my family. So, all I can say is thank god for Facebook."
- Michelle and Jayla, host mum and host sister of Silvia (Italy)

"It has been 3 days since Matilde came to stay with us and I've got to say that she is a lovely young lady who is picking up our language quickly and is a pleasure to have in our country. It has been fun, especially showing her our city, Aquarium, and native wildlife. We wish we had done this years ago and I would heartily recommend this experience to other Aussies. Thank you for being there for Matilde."
- Wendy and Darryl, host parents of Matilde (Italy)

"Another excellent experience for the family. We learned a lot about Italy. Virginia was very helpful and cooperative at home. It is a wonderful thing to give people new experience. Virginia had never eaten mango, been to ten pin bowling or held a crocodile or koala. This is the part I enjoy most about t he exchange experience. Virginia will never forget Australia."
- Susan and Anthony, host parents of Virginia (Italy)

"Wonderful - joyous - heartfelt. An absolutely wonderful idea and so beneficial for all involved, from Family to school friends. We truly feel Enrico is another member of our family."
- Marie - host mother of Enrico (Italy)

"It has been a rewarding experience for us all. We have really enjoyed the opportunity to host a lovely young lady who has really become a part of our family."
- Allen and Karen - host parents of Alessia (Italy)

"We are having a fantastic time with Emiliana. She is the most perfect exchange student - interested in everything, good humoured, smart, courteous and respectful. It has brightened our home so much having her here."
- Sally and George - host parents of Emiliana (Italy)

"We made a friend for life when we hosted Belgian student Johanne in 2007 and 6 months in the USA was a life changing experience for my son Ross in 2005. The opportunities that WEP give are invaluable. One of the best things that our family did."
- Karyn - parents of Ross, semester to the USA

"It has been a wonderful experience to have a 'son', a sibling for our daughter and to learn about our cultures. Filippo picked up the English language with us quite early. He was very family orientated, had a great sense of humour, was very competitive, fitted in well and ate anything given to him."
- Vicky and Richard - host parents of Filippo (Italy)

"We found the process of choosing your own student fantastic, as we feel Valeria has been very well suited to our own family. We appreciated the visits and emails from our coordinator and the information packs have been very helpful.
Thank you WEP for providing our family with an experience we'll look back on with fond memories. We hope it has given our own children a desire to travel when they are older and it has given us all lifelong friends in Valeria's family. "
- Simon & Melissa - host parents of Valeria (Italy)

"This has been a very enjoyable time for everyone. As a first time host family we could not have asked for a more wonderful young man."
- Rod & Lea - host parents of Luca (Italy)

"Hosting exchange students has been the best decision that the kids & I have ever made. The experiences, the laughter and the friendships will be in our hearts forever as well as the students.
I am fortunate to also be a coordinator for WEP, and to have attended the Outback Tour in 2009 as a chaperone, where I have had the pleasure to meet many exchange students from many countries. I have formed many friendships that I will treasure for the rest of my life. Because of my decision to become involved with WEP my life has become richer.
I know hosting is something that we will continue to be involved in, and I'm sure the kids will continue with their families.
Thank you WEP!!!"
- Juanita - host parent of Vivien (Belgium), Mathieu (Belgium) and Lina (Brazil)

“As time is drawing near to the end of our time being a host family I want to thank you for your work that you have put in.
For Russ and I hosting has been a wonderful experience. We have had a gem of a girl with us. We have been so blessed to have Chiara come and live with us in our home. She has come into to our lives and she will stay in our hearts forever! We have truly been blessed with this beautiful young woman. We are going to miss her terribly.
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to be part of the program. It has been great.”
- Kim & Russ – host parents of Chiara from Italy

“It’s been such a delight having Veronica. She is entertaining, polite, friendly, and has become part of the furniture.
Veronica fitted in so easily and we have had a lot of fun together, going to the beach, Sydney, shopping and during dinners. The kids miss her when she's away and love her as part of the family. She has taught us many things including some of the Italian cuisine. Veronica has brought much laughter and happiness to us and will be sorely missed.”
- Pamela & Bernard – host parents of Veronica from Italy

"Federica has been a delight to have in our home. She fitted into our family so easily and will always be a part of our 'extended family'. I don't know how we are going to cope with losing Federica after she goes home. Five months suddenly doesn't seem nearly long enough. As far as the WEP program is concerned, I cannot think of any negative comments to make. Thanks to WEP we have a very special extra person in our family!"
- Nora & Kelvin - host parents of Federica from Italy

"The experience of hosting a student through WEP has been a thoroughly positive one, enabling our family to experience a different culture and to highlight our own. We have expanded our family by one and this will be an enduring relationship. Our three young children refer to our exchange student as their sister, which to us highlights how integral a member she is in our family. To anyone considering hosting we would recommend opening your home, your minds and your hearts. It can only bring rewards for all concerned."
- Linda & Ben - host parents of Fanny from France

"We had to share our home and then we shared our hearts"
- Nikitia-9 and Madison-8, host siblings of Pauline from Belgium

“It's been such a fabulous experience for our whole family.  Ale has just fitted in with us so well and become another member of our family.  His life here has been so different to how he lives at home but I think he has loved the complete change and enjoyed being out with the horses and flies (well, maybe not the flies!).  We all love him lots and will miss him immensely when he leaves.  I think this is such a wonderful program and so worthwhile for both parties.
I am very happy to have been a part of Ale’s life for the last few months and hope he will remember us with fondness.”
- Ana from Outback QLD – host mother of Alessandro from Italy

"Accept your exchange student as part of your family and for what they are. Then give them love, understanding, compromise, fun and compassion and they will become another son/daughter willing to give back exactly the same things you gave them. They will then be "yours" for the rest of your life and you will be "theirs" for the rest of theirs."
- Shirley - coordinator and three times host mom of Josephine (France), Julia (Sweden) and Justine (Belgium)

"I have hosted many of your students over the years. I have always had a lot of respect for the thoroughness of WEP and this has influenced our choice when planning this exchange for my daughter."
- Jools – parent of Savannah, semester to Japan

"We have broadened our horizons and had fun having an extra member of our family."
- Stevens Family hosted twice, Yasmijn from Belgium and Ludovico from Italy

"What a fantastic experience it has been for our family, to understand a part of the world from our home in Australia! Beatriz has made a wonderful ambassador for her country of which she is so proud, but I think she will leave with a little bit of Aussie about her that will stay forever. Her stay has helped us grow, and I am sure she has grown and learned much."
- Sonia - host mother of Beatriz from Brazil

"Hosting is the most rewarding thing to do. These kids are so eager to learn but sometimes we learn more from them than they ever learn from us."
- Darrin & Jana - host parents of Dimitri from Belgium

"I would recommend the experience of hosting to anyone.  It is such a rewarding experience, for everyone involved.  The student, the children of the host family, the family of the student, and of course, me as a host mother.  I feel blessed that I have been allowed to "borrow" someone else's son, and am sad to "give him back".  I have had an eye opener of things to come when my children reach the teenage years, and feel that I am better prepared for the experience."
- Kelly & Ian - host parents of Rafael from Brazil