Become a home host

The Algerian Youth Leadership Program is a leadership development opportunity for Algerian and American youth, ages 15-17. This cultural and academic exchange takes place every June and July in Reno, Nevada and Washington, DC.

This program employs a highly interactive approach both in workshops and in a range of public and community settings. Through engagement in the activities, youth and adult participants will better understand civic participation and the rights and responsibilities of citizens in a democracy, and the role that social enterprises play in a community. One of the goals of the program is to provide participants with the skills to complete a required post-program service project in their local communities.

Hosting details:

• Participants are 15-17 years old
• All youth speak English
• Hosting is scheduled to take place from June 14-26, 2022 (12 days)
• See a sample calendar.
• We require a background check (for criminal and sexual offenses) of anyone over 18 living in your home
• An NNIC staff member will make an annual home visit that takes place prior to your visitor arriving
• All people living in the home will be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination
• Youth visitors are required to have their own bed; however, they may share a room with a host-sibling or fellow participant of the same gender
• Youth will be engaged in program activities during workdays – hosts drop guests off in the morning and pick them up in the evening. Meals are provided by the program any time visitors are engaged in program activities.
• Hosts provide guests with breakfast, some dinners (on the nights that the visitors don't have an evening cultural activity) and weekend meals

Youth hosts must complete a background check consent form.

Please upload your completed consent form to your online youth home hosting application.

Apply to be a youth home host

General professional hosting details

• Adults of various ages and professions
• 6-14 days depending on the program
• Adults are required to have their own bed and room. They may not share with anyone, even other visitors
• All people living in the home will be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination
• No background check is required of hosts to have adult visitors, though some programs require a home visit and we do request hosts complete an application.

Current opportunities:

Open World- May 20-28, 2022 (8 nights)

The Northern Nevada International Center annually hosts a one-week Open World program. The Open World program focuses both on assisting Congress in its oversight responsibilities and on conducting exchanges that establish lasting professional relationships between the up-and-coming leaders of Open World countries and Americans dedicated to showcasing U.S. values and democratic institutions. Open World delegations consist of political and civic leaders from countries of the post-Soviet era who are selected through a competitive vetting process. Delegations experience in-depth programming in themes of particular interest to Congress, as well as those of transnational impact.

Hosting details:

• Delegates are 21+ years old (average is 30 years old)
• Delegates will travel with an interpreter. Hosts are not required to house the interpreter during the program
• Overnight hosting is scheduled to take place from May 20 – 28, 2022 (8 nights)
• Hosts are encouraged to join the Program Specialist in welcoming the delegates at the airport upon their arrival on May 20
• Delegates are required to have their own bed and room. They may not share a bedroom with anyone during the home stay
• Delegates will be engaged in program activities during workdays – hosts are kindly asked to drop guests off in the morning at NNIC and pick them up in the evening at NNIC. NNIC can provide assistance with transportation as needed.
  • The weekend immediately following the delegates’ arrival (May 21 and 22) will be reserved for the delegates and the host families to have a weekend of informal activities, cultural exchange, and fun!
• Hosts will provide delegates with daily breakfast, dinner, and weekend meals
  • Lunches will be provided by NNIC any time the delegates are engaged in program activities.

For additional information on home hosting please contact Program Specialist Olivia Bailey at obailey@nnic.org

Apply to be a professional (adult) host or dinner home host

The Mandela Washington Fellowship, the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), empowers young African leaders through academic coursework, leadership training, mentoring, networking, professional opportunities and local community engagement. YALI was created in 2010 and supports young Africans as they spur economic growth and prosperity, strengthen democratic governance and enhance peace and security across the African continent. The Mandela Washington Fellowship is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State Young African Leaders Initiative.

• Fellows are 25-35 years old, from Sub-Saharan Africa, and speak English
• Fellows are specialized in entrepreneurship
• Dinner hosting is scheduled to take place June 17, 24, July 1, and 8, 2022 (hosts are requested to host a dinner for all four of the dates)

If you are interested in opportunities to network, mentor, or socialize with the Mandela Washington Fellows, please contact Program Coordinator Lauren Krull at lkrull@unr.edu.

Study of the U.S. Institutes for Global Student Leaders Rule of Law and Public Service (SUSI) and Study of the U.S. Institutes for Students Leaders for Europe on Communicating Climate Change programs are two separate intensive five-week academic program that provides participants with a transformative learning experience of leadership, U.S. Federalism, democracy, the American Culture and on topics specific to each institute, as well as individual project planning. Throughout the program, students participate in volunteer and community service activities, leadership workshops, homestays and cultural excursions. Students also have the opportunity to meet with community leaders and representatives of non-profit organizations.

• Participants are English speaking undergraduate students from a variety of countries (past countries included Poland, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Kuwait, Malaysia, and Colombia)
• Dinner hosting is scheduled to take place late June 2022, specific dates TBD

Other opportunities to get involved with SUSI: Reno students can get involved in the SUSI program by applying to be a SUSI Ambassador. Ambassadors are a critical piece of the program and act as peer mentors, cultural liaisons, friends and student leaders. SUSI Ambassadors learn new skills, build their resume, make international friends and have fun!

If you have questions about the Ambassador program, please contact Program Manager Nilufer Leuthold; nleuthold@nnic.org.

The International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) is the U.S. Department of State’s premier professional exchange program. Launched in 1940, the IVLP is a professional exchange program that seeks to build mutual understanding between the U.S. and other nations through carefully designed short-term visits to the U.S. for current and emerging foreign leaders. Since its inception in 1940, thousands of distinguished individuals have participated in the International Visitor Leadership Program, including more than 326 current and former Chiefs of State and Heads of Government, thousands of cabinet-level ministers, and many other distinguished leaders from the public and private sectors. These visits reflect the International Visitors’ professional interests and support the foreign policy goals of the United States.

• International Visitors may or may not speak English. Non-English speaking visitors will be accompanied by an interpreter
• Dinner hosting is scheduled to take place May, June, and July 2022 specific dates TBD

The Nevada English Language and Learning Institute (NELLI) will offer intensive five-week and semester-long English as a Second Language courses through the Writing and Speaking Center at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR). NELLI will fill the void created by the elimination of UNR’s Intensive English Language Center (IELC) at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The participants will be international students at least 15 years of age who are interested in improving their English and learning about American culture. Each program will include classes in listening, speaking, reading and writing while providing opportunities for the students to visit local highlights and have a culturally-immersive experience.

• Participants are between 15-23 years old
• Participants are from Vietnam and South Korea
• Participants are attending an intensive English language development program at UNR
• Dinner hosting is scheduled to take place June 11, 18, 25, and/or July 2, 2022 (hosts can host a dinner for one or more of the four of the dates)

All youth participants speak English and will attend dinner with an adult staff member

The U.S.-Korea Young Climate Activists Exchange Program (YCAEP) is an exchange program for young climate activists in the U.S. and the Republic of Korea (ROK) to meet with one another and build synergy on shared environmental goals. The program provides participants with a deeper firsthand understanding of the U.S. and ROK's commitments to address climate change, the greatest threat to global security at local, national and international levels. Participants will engage in various activities such as site visits, professional meetings and workshops with national and international organizations, cultural outings and the 26th annual Lake Tahoe Summit.

• Participants are from the Republic of Korea and between 22-30 years old
• Many participants speak English and all dinner groups will be accompanied by an interpreter
• Dinner hosting is scheduled to take place August 21, 2022