"What a wonderful program for Cincinnati! In today's increasingly global world and economy, we need to understand and relate to other cultures. It was very rewarding to learn how real Russians live and think. Our children benefited as well."
David B. Lee
Corporate Marketing Director
F & W Publications, Inc

The International Visitors Council (IVC) of Greater Cincinnati provides a number of opportunities for you to become engaged in the important work of volunteer citizen diplomacy. Hosting visitors, whether in your office for professional exchange or in your home for dinner or a week's stay, provides both you and the visitor with valuable opportunities for mutual exchange.

Why Should I Be a Citizen Diplomat?
The opportunity of hosting visitors from other countries is a unique experience - one which enables each individual to see the world in a different light. The rewards are intangible, but like most experiences of great value, they are long lasting. We believe that each experience, in its own small and personal way, has a lasting impact in bringing understanding and peace to a complex and troubled world. We invite you to participate.

You will become a personal representative of your community, your city, and your country. Visitors will see our country and our community through your eyes and your experiences. They will gain a view of us as people, not as policies or programs. You will, in turn, see their world through their eyes and their experiences. Your view will not be filtered through the lens of a CNN camera or modified by policy spin. You will learn to "read between the lines" of media reports and hear the inside story that doesn't get reported.

You will have the opportunity to be exposed to different cultures.
You will find yourself being challenged to accept people whose experience and background is different from your own. You will gain a comfort level as you begin to understand that behind the obvious differences there is a similarity in basic human values that is the foundation of common understanding. This understanding will multiply as you share your experience with your family and friends.

You will develop lasting friendships around the world.
Whether it is the casual exchange of holiday greetings, or a sincere invitation to visit your guests' home in their country, your circle will widen to include the whole world.

You will discover some benefits for here and now. Hospitality/homestay hosting is a wonderful community service opportunity. You will receive invitations to attend IVC-sponsored social events with your guests and you will have an opportunity to meet other local people who have similar interests. In addition, expenses incurred may be considered as a donation to the IVC for tax purposes.

"To bring a little more knowledge, a little more reason, and a little more compassion into world affairs and thereby to increase the chance that nations will learn at last to live in peace and friendship."
-Senator J. William Fulbright

IVC Hosting Opportunities

DINNER HOSPITALITY

Dinner hospitality consists of picking up your visitor(s) at a prearranged time at a local hotel and bringing them to your home for a meal, conversation, and mutual exchange. Visitors are leaders in business, government, and civic society from around the world on professional exchange programming such as the US State Department's International Visitors Program.

OVERNIGHT HOMESTAY

A Homestay is when a foreign visitor stays with a host family. An educational homestay program is designed to allow the foreign visitor and the host family to learn from each other and share their language and culture. Volunteer host families open their homes to foreign visitors for short periods (1-3 weeks) while they intern in professional placements in businesses and organizations around the city. Interns are busy with work and other activities during the week, sharing breakfast and usually dinner with their host family.

Occasionally, the IVC also arranges one-two night weekend homestays for a variety of international groups.

TRANSPORTATION

Be part of a core of drivers transporting visitors to and from the airport, and to appointments and meetings on an "as needed" basis.

SIGHTSEEING

Guide visitors to the sights in and around Greater Cincinnati.

BE A FRIEND TO AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT

Share family meals, special celebrations, and excursions during the school year to provide a sense of belonging to students enrolled at the University of Cincinnati or Northern Kentucky University. The International Friendship Program (IFP) requires a minimum of a one-year commitment.

EDUCATE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS ABOUT THE WORLD

If you are an international resident living in Greater Cincinnati or a US American with significant overseas living experience, you may be eligible to provide classroom presentations on countries of the world as a part of the Passport to the World Program. The goal of Passport to the World is to expand students' understanding of other people and cultures through personal interaction with international guests.

For more information about the IVC's hospitality services, please contact us

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