Welcome the world into your home!

Opening your home to an international student is a wonderful and
enriching cultural journey for the entire family.

Opening your home to an international student is a wonderful and enriching cultural journey for the entire family.

Host a student in your home – become a Global Family! Becoming a Global Family means having the opportunity to share your home
with an international student, create life-long connections and expose your family to a different culture.

Host a student in your home – become a Global Family! Becoming a Global Family means having the opportunity to share your home with an international student, create life-long connections and expose your family to a different culture.

ENQUIRE NOW

Benefits of hosting

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CULTURAL EXCHANGE

Ever wondered how to make pasta or authentic sushi from scratch? How does it compare to the South African versions? How does a braai and bunny chow measure up to a barbeque and po'boi? Challenge your norms and perceptions through your hosting experience.
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EXPAND YOUR FAMILY

Foreign students are absorbed into your home and lifestyle and need to be treated like part of the family. This allows for close relationships to develop and your student soon becomes an extension of your family. This connection remains long after your student has ended his/her program in South Africa.
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NEW ADVENTURE

Experience South Africa with renewed perspective through the eyes of your curious, young and excitable student. Sharing your knowledge, life experience and culture will take you and your family on an unforgettable and life-changing journey.
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Testimonials

“Investing in young adults is one of the most rewarding experiences. Hosting has become part of the family. My children always knew my passion and this passion grew on them. It increases your capacity to love and care unconditionally and if you can make a small difference in a young person's life....what can be more rewarding?!”
Rabia
Host mother
“Hosting high school students means new experiences. It allows me to see the world through the lenses of Exchange Students in the comfort of my own home. It allows them to experience the culture, food and people in a local environment. We embrace each other, respecting each other's differences and similarities.”
Cynthia
Host mother
“GROW Abroad has made it possible for us to open our home for exchange students. They become part of our family, we feel as if we've known them all our lives. This bond continues long after they have left. Before South Africa was a destination but now Cape Town is their home. They even say good night in Afrikaans."
Debbie & Ferdi
Host family

Frequently Asked Questions

Click on the - Enquire Now - button at the top or bottom of the page to leave your details so we can contact you for a casual, relaxed conversation.
Any person - 25 or older, married, single - are eligible to host. All host families have to subscribe to the GROW Abroad screening process and align themselves to the program safety protocols.
Imagine the excitement of your children at being able to meet someone from a completely different culture! If you or your family have an opportunity to travel, you will have a close contact to welcome you. Hosting brings new energy, perspective into your home. Being part of the Global family network extends your social circle and brings new people into your circle of influence.
No - students are matched with your family based on common interest and your hosting preference.
Most students come from Europe with a smaller percentage travelling from America, United Kingdom, South America and some Asian countries.
Students typically sign up for three months, six months or a full academic year. Host families may elect their preferred hosting period.
We have two main arrival dates, namely, January and July of each year.
Our strong, experienced GROW Abroad team will be available to share in your hosting journey. In addition, you will have a coordinator assigned to personally support you and help answer questions and difficulties that might occasionally arise. You will also be provided with a 24/7 emergency support line that will aid as additional support.
Host families are required to provide reasonable, secure accommodation for the student to sleep comfortably and store his/her belongings. Most students are open to sharing a room with a host sibling or another exchange student. Families are also required to provide three meals a day, plus school lunch as one would for any minor of school going age. Transport to and from school also forms part of the host family responsibility as well as a select GROW Abroad activities (surfing & get togethers). Further, host families should treat students as part of their household and ensure that a minimum of one family activity takes place per month (e.g. picnic/ beach day/ hike/ market day).
All students are covered by comprehensive medical health insurance while they are on the program in South Africa. Many of them also have additional insurance.
Basic living expenses are covered to enable you to accommodate, feed and arrange school transport for the student. Students have access to their own pocket money for additional personal expenses.

Become a host family?

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