Below are some comments we have received from the parents of our exchange students.

"We are so grateful to Avalon's host family. Her experience was so good in large part to their kindness, generosity and humour. Wonderful people!!!"
~ Yma, mother of Avalon (semester program to France)

"I just wanted to thank you for the care and attention you provided for Julian’s experience to Torino, Italy. He has come back a different person. Obviously he is already planning his next trip back to Italy; what else would I expect! Without fail something comes to mind reminding him of his time in Italy every day since his return to Melbourne. He is still studying Italian at school and is keen to become as proficient as he can. Thank you all once again, this has truly been life changing."
~ Lucy, mother of Julian (short-term program to Italy)

"It was an overwhelmingly positive experience for our child & ourselves."
~ Emma, mother of Ruby (short-term program to Spain)

"We would like to thank your organisation for a fantastic and efficiently run program, which gives children the most amazing opportunity to travel, experience different cultures and grow into independent young adults!"
~ Glenda and Hermann, parents of Tina (short-term program to France)

"Thank you for your support for Anna and the rest of our family leading up to her trip to France. Now the adventure begins."
~ Apolonia, mother of Anna (semester program to France)

"Nirmala has always been a confident girl but she is even more so now and has returned being very focussed, both at and her social life."
~ Gaye, mother of Nirmala (short-term program to Italy)

"WEP are to be congratulated for such a great selection process. It is incredibly difficult to describe the relationship between Hannah and her host family. They very much became her other family in Italy. She now has a new Mother, Father, Sister and Brother!!!! All of whom loved and cared for her as much as we do. The bonds will never be broken and we are hoping they will come and stay with us next year as a family. Hannah has grown so so much in her time away and yet has still managed to come home as the Hannah we know and love."
- Lisa and Phillip, parents of Hannah (semester in Italy)

"I appreciated the occasional phone call from WEP about minor issues, or just to touch base. This was great and made me feel that WEP were keeping an eye on how Mel was going."
- Ann, mother of Melissa (semester in Belgium)

"I would like to thank everyone at WEP for the support that you all have offered to both Rohan and us as a family. "
- Josna, mother of Rohan (year in Belgium)

"Amy's experience was what we had hoped it to be - positive! She learned to read and write French fluently, which was her goal. She made wonderful friends and was exposed to a different culture. Life was not plain sailing - she had to adapt to family life, to school and to new friends. In looking back, she is clearly able to appreciate all she has gained from this tremendous opportunity."
- Fiona, mother of Amy (year in Belgium)

"Peter has had a wonderful time - the highlight possibly being yesterday when the cheerleaders sung a chant about him at his last basketball match with the school team. Then the crowd gave him a standing ovation when he left the court. For a 16-year-old sports-mad boy it doesn't get better than that."
- Sarah, mother of Peter (semester in Canada)

"Can't thank you all enough for the experience you have offered Jasmine. I was really impressed that at one stage you knew more than I did regarding her situation even though I thought I was getting the information regarding her lost luggage first hand. Anyway once again thank you!"
- Vivienne, mother of Jasmine (semester in the USA)

"Please allow me to express, once again, how much we appreciate that WEP has given Tamika this opportunity. I know that it has had an impact on her life and I believe that it can only be a positive influence in her life. Everyone we have had dealings with at WEP has been fantastic and supportive. I just wanted to let you know how much we, Tamika's family, have appreciated everything you have done."
- Meike, mother of Tamika (year in France)

"I take this opportunity to again thank you for your organisation, your professionalism, your tolerance and your support over the last months.  This is  by far the biggest single event to have occurred in Emma’s life so far and it will always be ….a contributing factor to who she becomes as an adult.  All of you at WEP have played a part in that."
- Lisa, mother of Emma (semester in the UK)

"I have hosted many of your students over the years and currently have a lovely German girl living with us. 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, mother of Savannah (semester in Japan)

"As Rudi's time in Belgium draws to an end, I thank you for your care and concern for her. I have so looked forward to receiving the Monthly Reports and being able to chart her progress in all areas covered. This has been such a valuable experience for her which she will carry for the rest of her life."
- Robert, father of Rudi (year in Belgium)

"She has faced and overcome great personal challenges and has grown and matured well beyond her few years. Our daughter's year with WEP will prove to be a watershed period in her life."
- Jennie, mother of Ashleigh (year in Belgium)

"Just a short note to say "Thanks" for all you are doing for my son (and I'm sure all the students overseas) he is having a wonderful time and I don't have to worry about him with your monthly updates etc. Keep up the good work!"
- Kim, mother of Adam (year in Belgium)

"It is truly amazing how you do all that you do and always have a smile. Thank you so much for making this new and scary time so comfortable."
- Bernard and Heather, parents of Eliza (year in Denmark)

"We have had a few chats with Steph on a Sunday and have also had some emails and I can tell you as a stop gap measure that she is really happy. Her host family are very kind and encouraging and she truly feels like part of their family. They are fairly active people and on the weekends there is generally some sort of social outing or bush walk that Steph enjoys very much.

School is proving to be both a challenge (due to the language) as well as a very satisfying experience for Steph. She has said several times that her classmates are extremely friendly and she has a firm group of friends with whom she feels comfortable. In actual fact, Steph has been far quicker to find a friendship group there than she has at her Melbourne school!! I think that having started school at the start of the school year there has helped in this regard.

She is coping very well, and is starting to find that she can understand a fair bit of what is being said, especially at home where her host parents and sister consciously slow down for her. The talking in French is also starting to happen, albeit slowly!

Steph's recent news continues to be upbeat and positive. She has really landed in a superb family and friendly school atmosphere, for which I am so thankful."
- Email from Sylvia, whose daughter Steph spent a semester in the beautiful Provence in France