Putnam host families sought for foreign exchange students

Want to make an impact? Agree to share your American culture with a young person from another country for the 2013-14 school year.

PAX -- Program of Academic Exchange, a non-profit education foundation, sponsors students like Elodie from Belgium and Jonas from Germany.

Elodie's interests include horseback riding, cooking and drama. Jonas is passionate about soccer and basketball and enjoys song writing.

What better way to showcase America than by inviting a student from abroad to live with your family and learn about the many things which make you proud to be Americans.

Sue Bock of Reelsville serves as community coordinator for PAX, and is currently interviewing area families interested in hosting Elodie, Jonas or another PAX student from more than 40 different countries, including Germany, Venezuela, Norway, Bulgaria, Russia, Ghana and Thailand.

Students are between the ages of 15 and 18, have basic English skills, full medical insurance, and their own spending money.

Elodie and Jonas are eager to live like American teens for one school year, joining sports teams, studying for exams and participating fully in American family life.

PAX families provide students with meals, a place to sleep and study, and a warm, supportive environment. Private rooms are not required and all types of families are welcome to apply, including single parents, young couples and retirees.

For information, persons may call Sue Bock at 317-225-2858.