April 23, 2024 Exchange Student Program

Voices of Reason welcomed Connie Polk, a foreign exchange student coordinator in Savannah, Justin Creager, an exchange student host family member, and Filippo Rizzini, an exchange student at Islands High School from Italy.   Connie explained her role in growing the foreign exchange student program in Savannah.  She currently has 7 students, 3 in Savannah, 2 in Richmond Hill, and one at Bradwell Institute in Hinesville.  She seeks high schools and host families willing and able to accept students.  She explained that so many schools are overcrowded and unable to accept students at this time.   She hopes that once the new Richmond Hill HS is completed, she will be able to expand placement opportunities.  Justin talked about his experiences as a host family; how the experience is not just enrichment for the student but for the entire family.  We also talked about the cultural differences.  For example, Filippo had to get used to needing a car; he said in his town in Italy, people walk or use mass transit.