Guthrie County-area residents wanting to form a connection with another part of the world and gain a new experience have an opportunity to do both this January.

World Link, Incorporated is looking for two households that would each host an exchange student attending either West Central Valley or Adair-Casey/Guthrie Center High School. Students will arrive in January 2021 and spend four to five months in the United States, and it’s an extensive process for these students to be accepted into the program that is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. Regional Program Manager Karen King Fitzgerald says a host family can either be a single parent, married couple, and those with or without children, “It’s a huge experience for families and we have so many families that do it year after year because of the experience and for them to fall in love with students from all over the world. Like I said, we place students from about 60 different countries, and each of those countries have their unique culture.”

Fitzgerald says she would like to get placements arranged by October 31st. You can contact her at 515-491-1551 or karen@worldlinkinc.org.