WEP Experiences
Comments from Parents
Below are some comments we have received from the parents of our exchange students.
"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)
Comments from Host Families
"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