Become a home host
Be the reason someone feels at home
Get to know one of our international visitor groups through a one-evening diplomacy dinner, a cultural host day, or by hosting one to two visitors for a short-term (two to 14-day) overnight exchange. Each experience offers a chance to broaden your global perspective and build meaningful cross-cultural connections. Explore current opportunities, and sign up for our newsletter for regular updates.
Choose the home-hosting experience that works best for you:
Choose your hosting experience
Cultural hosting for a day
Share your everyday life with an international visitor and help them experience U.S. culture in a meaningful way. As a host, you'll spend the day with a YSEALI Fellow offering a glimpse into your routines, traditions, and community. Whether it’s going for a hike, sharing a family meal, attending a local event, or simply spending time at home, what matters most is the connection. Hosts will pick up their Fellow(s) from a hotel in Reno in the morning and return them after dinner.
Current one-day hosting opportunities:
Fall 2025 Institute Dates: October 4
The Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative Academic Fellows Program (YSEALI AFP) is a U.S. Department of State-sponsored program with funding provided by the U.S. Government and administered by the Mansfield Center at the University of Montana. This program is dedicated to developing leadership skills among youth in Southeast Asia, enhancing U.S.-Southeast Asia relations, and cultivating a network of leaders who collaborate across borders to address common challenges.
YSEALI AFP achieves its goals by bringing undergraduate students and recent graduates aged 18-25 from 11 Southeast Asian countries to the U.S. for a fully funded, five-week exchange at an American university or college. The program includes an academic residency, community service activities, an academic field experience, a closing workshop, and a Reciprocal Exchange that sends American participants to Southeast Asia.
Since its inception in 2013, YSEALI has been a comprehensive U.S. government initiative that includes educational exchanges, workshops, networking, project funding, and seminars. The Academic Fellowship component offers intensive academic experiences and leadership development, all while deepening participants' understanding of U.S. society, culture, values, and institutions.
General hosting details:
- Fellows speak English
- Any dietary restrictions or religious accommodations will be communicated in advance, and NNIC can provide guidance
- This is a relaxed opportunity to spend the day with 1 to 4 international visitors, based on your preference
Questions? Email our YSEALI Program Coordinator, Cydney Giroux at cydneyg@nnic.org.
Host overnight
NNIC offers short-term (2–14 days) hosting opportunities for youth and professionals, allowing community members to connect with international visitors. Hosting is a great way to experience new cultures, share your perspective, and engage without a long-term commitment. Hosts can also join cultural celebrations and activities.
Visitors participate in weekday program activities, minimizing scheduling conflicts. Hosts typically drop off guests at a central location each morning, where transportation and meals are provided until evening pickup. Hosts are asked to provide breakfast, some dinners (when no evening activities are scheduled), and weekend meals.
Current overnight hosting opportunities:
Home hosts for SUSI will be requested to host participants in their homes over a weekend, for two nights. Families or individuals may host one to two participants. Participants may not share a room with a member of the home host family; however, two participants may stay together in one room.
- Homestay dates: TBA
- Participant country of origin: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, India, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Malaysia, South Korea, Sri Lanka and Zambia
- Contact: Sara Jones at susi@nnic.org
Home hosts for SUSI will be requested to host participants in their homes over a weekend, for two nights. Families or individuals may host one to two participants. Participants may not share a room with a member of the home host family; however, two participants may stay together in one room.
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Homestay Dates: TBA
- Participant country of origin: Bangladesh, Brazil, Indonesia, Jordan and Nigeria.
- Contact: Sarah Brister or Aanakin Tuncer at susi@nnic.org
Host a dinner at your home
Each visitor group is welcomed with a home-hosted dinner at least once during their stay. These are informal meals, offering a chance to share your culture. Whether it’s pizza night, tacos, a BBQ, or a favorite family dish, the goal is a warm and welcoming experience.
Any dietary restrictions or religious accommodations will be shared in advance, and NNIC can provide guidance.
Current dinner hosting opportunities:
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, 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 two interpreters.
Questions?
- Review Home Host Frequently Asked Questions
- Email nnic@nnic.org
- Sign up for the monthly NNIC newsletter to be the first to learn about upcoming opportunities!
Our commitment to community
NNIC is proud to support the University’s commitment to fostering a welcoming and respectful environment for all. We operate our programs with a shared dedication to excellence and strong community values. Through cultural exchanges, home hosting, and dinner hosting, we are honored to connect international visitors with the people and traditions that make Northern Nevada such a unique and vibrant place. We believe that the strength of our community lies in its character, values, and the hospitality of its people, and we welcome hosts from all walks of life to take part in this meaningful exchange.