youth exchange program

2013 NATIONAL SECURITY LANGUAGE INITIATIVE FOR YOUTH RUSSIAN LANGUAGE & CULTURE RAF and BOLSHOI WAY MOSCOW SUMMER INTENSIVE July 13 – August 24, 2013 HOST FAMILIES GUIDELINES

What Host Families should know about the NSLI-Y Program: New York-based Russian American Foundation (RAF) - Member of the U.S.-Russia Bilateral Presidential Commission, Working Group on Education, Culture, Sports, and Media, has been selected for the highly prestigious NSLI for Youth Program supported by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, in cooperation with American Councils for International Education. RAF’s unique educational program is called the NSLI-Y Russian Language & Culture RAF and Bolshoi Way Moscow Summer Intensive and it is a 6-week youth program, which takes place in Moscow, Russia annually each summer. RAF holds a successful long-term experience in working with youth in the field of education and culture. One of the most significant tasks of RAF is to build a multicultural dialogue between Russia and the U.S. and to assist in strengthening friendly cultural relations. In 2013, RAF will select only the most distinguished finalists nationwide to participate in the NSLI-Y Moscow Summer Intensive. All past NSLIY Participants have returned home global ambassadors and changed individuals. The program significantly advanced their knowledge of the Russian language and culture, broadened participants’ outlook, and completely transformed everyone’s lives.

What is the cultural program goal of a Host Family stay?

The educational goal of the NSLI-Y program is to maximize cultural and linguistic improvement of the participants. In addition to studying Russian language at the Moscow State Academy of Choreography during the week (Monday-Friday), an incredibly important experience includes staying with an authentic host family. As part of a cultural enrichment for Participants, RAF suggests visiting ballet and theater performances, galleries, exhibitions, museums, and, on a less formal level: walking around Moscow-city, visiting nearby Moscow areas (or dachas), going to movies, shopping activities, fairs, etc. Host families may also take the Participants to see their school or university, their work place, the library, and other everyday cultural activities in Russia.

Required Guidelines for Host Families: 1. RAF prefers that a host family takes 2 Participants for 5 weekends (see the dates in #3). However, we would be happy to discuss a hosting opportunity for 1 Participant as well.

2. A host family should agree to host the Participants for 5 weekends (or fewer), as agreed before the start of the program. We also welcome families who can host the Participants for fewer than 5 weekends.

3. It is preferable that a host family has a child (children), 14-20 years old.

4. A host family must provide the Participants with 3 meals on a daily basis.

5. A host family should provide a separate bedroom with 1 separate bed for each Participant (1 separate bed is a must). The Participants can share a bedroom with other children’.

6. It is preferred that host-families not smoke indoors.

7. A host family should be willing to take part in the cultural program for Participants.

8. Host families should use Russian language at least 50% of the time with Participants.

RAF NSLI-Y Host Families Guidelines

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as of January, 2013

When do host families need to pick up Participants and bring them back to the dorm: Host families should host NSLI-Y Participants for 5 weekends: in July: 19th -21st, 26-28th, in August: 24th, 9-11th, 16-18th. Families should pick up Participants from the Moscow State Academy of Choreography, located at 2nd Frunzenskaya Street, building #5 (Metro: Frunzenskaya) on Fridays at 7:00pm and return the Participants back to the Academy on Sundays at 7:30pm. Upon the return of Participants, host families will be required to check in with the chaperone.

May a host family take the Participants out of town and where are the Participants registered while in Moscow?

Host families may take the Participants out of the city to nearby Moscow-city areas, but they must leave all contact information with the chaperones. During their stay in Moscow, NSLI-Y Participants are registered at the Moscow State Academy of Choreography: 2nd Frunzenskaya Street, building #5, Moscow, 119146. All NSLI-Y Participants are holders of a special Educational Visa.

May the Participants go for a walk/on a cultural trip around the city with no supervision (alone) or with a minor family member?

NSLI-Y Program terms require that an older host family member remains with the Participants at all times during the formal and informal part of the program. RAF suggests that host families follow this requirement, in order to avoid risks of travelling alone in a completely foreign city.

What to do if a host family cannot host Participants for an earlier agreed-upon weekend due to unpredicted circumstances?

RAF asks that all host families make a commitment to the program terms and abide by all host families guidelines listed on p.1 of this form. However, RAF understands that unpredicted circumstances may arise. In that case, RAF asks a host family to notify the coordinator of the program in New York (via email or call, see contact info below) and chaperones in Moscow (their contact info will be available at the start of the program). How this could be resolved: a host family may arrange that another family member will host the Participants for that weekend. We ask you to notify the coordinator of the program in New York who will be monitoring the situation closely about the change in your plans at your earliest convenience.

Who pays for the cultural program?

RAF provides a family budget in the amount of $100 per Participant per weekend to cater to Participants’ meals, accommodation, metro transportation and cultural program. If Participants wish to buy souvenirs, gifts and other items for personal use, such items should be purchased at the Participants’ expense.

What to do in case of an emergency or illness of a Participant?

In the case of an emergency or illness of the Participant, the host family must immediately contact a chaperone and report the incident. If necessary, the chaperone will contact Participant's family in the U.S. RAF cooperates with the medical clinic in Moscow, International SOS, where all program Participants are preregistered before they depart. RAF asks to use their services when seeking medical help for a Participant. The medical office provides 24-hour support: 7 (495) 937 57 60. Clinic’s address: Orlovsky pereulok 7, 3rd floor. Metro: Prospekt Mira. Clinic’s Hours: Mon-Fri: 8:00 - 21:00, Sat: 9:00 - 18:00, Sun: 10:00-14:00. http://www.internationalsos.ru/ru/index.htm. Clinic’s hours may change, thus we suggest that a host family checks with the clinic beforehand in case of a medical visit. (RAF is currently looking for a new clinic to use, as this one has closed.) PLEASE NOTE: all Participants of the NSLI-Y program RAF NSLI-Y Host Families Guidelines

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are covered by the U.S. Department of State health insurance and are solely responsible for all medical expenses, including transportation (if calling a cab).

Are Participants allowed to intensively communicate with their families in the U.S.?

All Participants and their parents are aware of the NSLI-Y program terms, which limit intensive communication between Participants and their families throughout the duration of the program. Intensive communication means one and more hours on a daily basis via email, Skype or telephone. RAF will provide each Participant with a program cell phone for emergency use only. A host family will be able to contact the Participants on the program phone. Participants’ contact information, as well as a short essay about themselves and their family contact information will be available to a host family beforehand.

If I have additional questions, who do I contact?

If you have any questions during the Participants’ weekend home stay or about cultural program, please contact the chaperones of the group for immediate assistance (names and contact information will be available beforehand). For all general questions (ex. change in weekend plans), please contact Christine Jacobson, Coordinator of the RAF NSLI Youth Program at: cjacobson@russianamericanfoundation.org or call 8-101-212-687-6118, ext. 201 (New York, NY, EST Time zone).

IMPORTANT DATES OF THE NSLI-Y PROGRAM: SATURDAY, JULY 13th – Arrival of the NSLI-Y group in Moscow. Group arrives and departs escorted by the chaperones. A host family is not obligated to meet or see the Participants off at the airport.

JULY 19-21st – First home stay weekend JULY 26-28th – Second home stay weekend AUGUST 2-4th – Third home stay weekend AUGUST 9-11th – Fourth home stay weekend AUGUST 16-18th – Fifth home stay weekend SATURDAY, AUGUST 24th – Departure of the NSLI-Y group to New York

RAF NSLI-Y Host Families Guidelines

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as of January, 2013