Why Have Exchanges?
What Countries are Involved -- International School #11?
How Do the Visas Work?
For Whom Are the Exchanges Intended?
What Does an Exchange Consist Of?
How to Host or Sponsor an Exchange Student
or Teacher
How to Recommend a Foreign Acquaintance
for Exchange Consideration
How to Request More Information on Becoming
a Host Family, a Host School or School District, or on
How to Go to Russia (or Another Country)
as an Exchange Student
What is the Cost of an Exchange?
How You Can Support Boneem and Exchange Efforts
WHY HAVE EXCHANGES?
Exchanges provide a merging of culture, thought and information---but they are more than just this. Our desire to focus on high school aged youth age 15-18 (however, we are willing to consider younger students also) is based on several factors most of which highlight the development of the individual, a couple of which look to the longer range affects culturally and socially. Most of the kids coming to the USA on exchange are coming from economically challenged societies, often times difficult family conditions, and cultures where opportunities are few. The experience of being hosted in a healthy family environment, seeing how another part of the world conducts its culture, improving language skills that can be used internationally, and having the opportunity to dream---and make friends who can share those dreams---is an experience that each youth can take back to their home, their school, and their community. Often times the relationships that are built and the character that is shaped during the brief weeks or months of an exchange, affect the life's pursuits of each child long into adulthood---indeed, often for a life time.
Additionally, it would be naïve not to believe that one of our goals in coordinating exchanges is also for its affect on us. The presence of these kids in our schools, in our homes, in our churches, and in our daily activities all serves to often times alter our world-perspective also. So often in our country we take for granted even the simplest pleasures and amenities with which we have been blessed. Participating in a child's life we soon learn that in the end we have received at least as much as what we have given---often times far more.
WHAT COUNTRIES ARE INVOLVED?
Boneem has relationships with numerous schools in eastern European Russia from which exchange students can be drawn. However, our primary focus is one school in particular, International Gymnasium #11 in Samara, Russia. Having said this, we also want you to know that we are VERY open to working to establish opportunities for youth from other countries. Just contact us with your ideas and we'll investigate with you what the possibilities are.
Regarding our work in Russia, let's look a little closer at School #11. It is a public school, however, it is somewhat unique in its approach. This school screens children at a very young age for acceptance into its education program which is language intensive. By the time a child completes her compulsory education at School #11, her English skills are often on par or better than our own children up
on graduation from high school. The School places a heavy focus on arts of various kinds and is recognized as one of the top schools (if not the top) in the entire region (a region of nearly 3 million people).
This unique school provides the equivalent of a K-12 education. In that context, School #11 hosts 1100 students, 120 on the teaching staff, and over 300 students in the upper classes (ages 15-18). Many of Samara's top English language interpreters had their training in this very school. This school can not only provide well equipped children for exchange opportunities to the USA, but it can also provide one of the best hosting environments Boneem has experienced in Russia.
HOW DO THE VISAS WORK?
By and large, there is any one of three main visa processes through which a visiting student from Russia would have to pass in order to visit the US as a student. The three types of visas Boneem employs are ordinary visitor visas, J-visas, and F-visas.
The visitor visa is the easiest to obtain but it has its limitations. This visa applies only to those students who would be coming to the US for a short-term visit (i.e. a couple weeks). This is the predominantly used visa in Boneem's exchange work, seeing as most students and teachers coming to the US from abroad are only coming "for the experience" (i.e. short term), not so much for the academics (i.e. semester or year).
The J and F visas are academic visas which include a number of protocols, unique to each of their own classes. The J visa is normally administered through an outside agency, which is normally an educational non-profit approved by the US Information Service to administer J-visas. To receive a J-visa a student must apply through an issuing agency, meet certain requirements as determined by that agency, and pay a fee which can range anywhere from around $3000 up to $7000 or $8000 for one year of study, depending on the agency. This fee does NOT include air travel but does insure a host family, medical insurance and other miscellaneous fees. The majority of the expense is administrative (which is not necessarily a bad thing when one understands the tremendous amount of paperwork the agency must maintain with regard to each visa issued). The J-visa's primary goal is "cultural exchange" and thus it is governed by regulations that differ in many ways from the F-visa. In response to a successful application for a J-visa, the issuing agency delivers a form IAP-66 to the candidate, and (in Russia) upon a visit to the US Consulate, a J-visa is issued.
The F-visa is somewhat different in that it is administered directly by the inviting school or school district. Upon approval of an exchange student, the school issues a form I-20. (Note: Even private schools may issue an I-20 once they have registered to do so. The cost to register is about $200 and is not a complicated process at all.) The student then takes the I-20 to the US Consulate in his/her country and in turn receives an F-visa. The cost associated with this process is usually far less than that associated with the J-visa seeing as most schools will not charge administrative fees to issue the I-20.
However, there is a principle difference (among others) regarding how these two visas operate. Public schools in the US are paid for by tax payer dollars. If a student outsid
e your tax paying area attends a school in your area, the general rule is that the "tax payer's share" for that student must be rendered to the school district in that locality by the parents or sponsor. That can run around $1800 or so. Under a J-visa this fee does not normally have to be paid. Under an F-visa it does. Additionally, private schools are sometimes willing to host an exchange student without charging him/her tuition, in which case a student could attend merely for the cost of insurance, visa and travel. One year visas from Russia to come to the USA run upwards of $200.
The cost for going on exchange TO Russia is quite different and in many regards MUCH more simple.
Boneem International can be involved with either J or F visa efforts. We have hopes to eventually possess the capacity to issue J-visas but until we have a full time administrative person this will just have to wait. However, for the moment we do have access to another charity which does have J-visa capacity. The cost is upwards of $4000 for a one year exchange to the U.S. If we find a school or district willing to issue an I-20 for a student, Boneem can manage all other affairs associated with that student's moving through the F-visa process. As well, Boneem does not presently charge any administrative fees for this service.
Presently, Boneem's focus is the eastern block countries (Russia in particular) and our role is to locate interested youth (either directly or by referral), to screen applications, to secure host families, and to raise "assistance funds" that can be applied as "scholarships" to help underprivileged youth have this wonderful opportunity. As for our focus stateside, although Boneem's direct involvement with host families is in Virginia, we are willing to coordinate host families and schools in other states around the USA. Please contact us for more details.
FOR WHOM ARE THESE EXCHANGES INTENDED?
Primarily, youth ages 15-18, but we are more than willing to consider elementary aged children also. Keep in mind that in some countries youth complete compulsory education at the age of 16 and then move on to college or move on to the work force. As long as a teen has basic English skills and we have a school willing to host his/her, then he/she is a viable candidate. Regarding short-term exchanges, we
will accept the recommendation of a student's English teacher as to his/her proficiency at an "acceptable" level. Regarding semester or year long exchanges we will require a student to take submit scores for the standardized TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) tests.
One final note, regardless of the duration of the schooling that a youth receives while in the US, it is "not for credit". Some foreign schools will allow an exchange participant participating in semester or year long exchanges to keep up with his/her classmates upon return but this is solely up to the discretion of the sending country's school.
OF WHAT DOES AN EXCHANGE CONSIST?
We have two types of exchanges---one type comes from a foreign country to the U.S.A. The other type goes from the U.S.A. to a foreign country.
From A Foreign Country To The U.S.A.
This consists of:
- A private or public high school willing to host a guest student or teacher for a period of one semester---preferably on an F-visa stemming from the school's or system's issuance of an I-20.
- A family willing to host that guest student or teacher and include them as part of their family during that 2 week, 6 mth or 12 mth period.
- A student or teacher wishing to come to the US (from any country) for a 2 week, 6 mth or 12 mth exchange.
- Financial resources to cover the costs (for more information on cost see the heading What is the Cost of an Exchange?). These resources can come from the guest, a direct sponsor, funds obtained by Boneem through other fund raising efforts, or a combination of any or all of these.
From The U.S.A. To A Foreign Country
Presently Boneem will only administrate exchanges to/from Russia and they
consist of:
- A host school (International Gymnasium #11, Samara, Russia).
- A host family in Russia in which at least one person besides yourself speaks English.
- US school teachers who hold to Christian beliefs (preferably willing to teach high school English, History, Science, other subjects considered) able to go on exchange for 2 weeks or one semester. School #11 is willing to "reciprocate" by simultaneously sending one of their teachers to the US to fill the place of the US teacher in his/her absence.
- US students (preferably high school aged but younger will be considered) willing to spend anywhere from 2 weeks to one semester with a Russian family, and attend classes at School #11. This is a specialty school and several of the classes are taught in English, however, Boneem would orchestrate a supplemental curriculum for the guest student to enable them to receive instruction in Russian as well. Our primary goal for US students going TO Russia, is for a 2 week exchange. Although we will consider semester long exchanges, we have found that a two week visit is quite productive for both sides of the exchange experience.
- Financial resources to cover the costs (for more information on cost see the heading What is the Cost of an Exchange?). These resources can come from the one wishing to go, a direct sponsor (like a person, or your church), from funds obtained by Boneem through other fund raising efforts, or a combination of any or all of these. In many circumstances, these costs can be considered tax deductible.
All hosts (be they foreign or here in the U.S.A.) are encouraged to "expose" their guest to the cultural sights and opportunities around them (i.e. sight seeing, theater, historical places, cultural involvement, etc). This truly can be the experience of a life time.
HOW TO HOST OR SPONSOR AN
EXCHANGE STUDENT OR TEACHER
Our expectations are very simple for a host family or agency---JUST ALLOW THE GUEST TO BE PART OF YOUR FAMILY, YOUR SCHOOL, YOUR CHURCH, YOUR DAILY LIFE. That's it.
To HOST an exchange person in your home, just contact us directly. The cost to you is only the cost associated with adding an extra person to your family list. You will receive no compensation for hosting a guest---but you will receive the blessing---tax free !
To HOST an exchange person in your school please let us hear from you AND from one of your school officials and we will discuss more of the details.
To SPONSOR a guest, please feel free to contact Boneem directly, or you may also feel free to give on-line by clicking on the icon to the right and designate your gift for "High School Exchanges". Your transaction is secure. The costs associated with getting one Russian student or teacher here to the USA can be seen below under What is the Cost of an Exchange. If you wish to recommend a student or teacher from some other foreign country, please contact us for more details. We would be happy to do the work to try to help you succeed in opening such a door of opportunity for a foreign acquaintance. For more details on making a recommendation, please read the next section.
HOW TO RECOMMEND A FOREIGN ACQUAINTANCE
FOR EXCHANGE CONSIDERATION
Many people have traveled to foreign lands for one reason or another (i.e. business, education, humanitarian, ministry related, etc). Often times those trips provide a medium in which strong bonds of friendship are forged. Perhaps you made friends with a family which has a teenager learning English, or with a teacher of English in a foreign school. Wouldn't it be exciting to help host and/or sponsor your friend to the USA for an exciting exchange opportunity---even if only for a couple weeks? Give us a chance to help.
Although Boneem is EXTREMELY well versed at bringing Russian guests into the U.S., and handling all Consular affairs, we are also willing to investigate any opportunity to bring a foreign student or teacher from any other country, into the U.S.A. for a scholastic exchange. We get just as excited about each successful exchange as do those participating in that exchange. Click on the CONTACT US link found in various places on this web site, and tell us what your dreams for your friend are. Let us see if we can help.
HOW TO REQUEST MORE INFORMATION ON BECOMING A HOST FAMILY, A HOST SCHOOL OR SCHOOL DISTRICT, OR ON HOW TO GO TO RUSSIA (or another country) AS AN EXCHANGE STUDENT OR TEACHER
- If you are a Family Willing To Be a Host, please email or call us and tell us your name, where you live (city and state), and what you would be willing to host (teacher, student). We will promptly reply.
- If you are a School Willing To Host, please email or call us and tell us your name, where your school is located (city and state), the name of your school, is it private or public, primary or secondary, and any other information you think will be helpful to us in the initial stages. We will be prompt in returning your call or email.
- If you are a School District Willing To Host, please email or call us and tell us your name, your district, city and state, how many high schools and elementary are in your district, how many students and/or teachers you would be willing to host at a time (assuming that the vast majority of exchanges are only for a 2 week period). If you are willing to host a student for a semester or a year under an F-visa arrangement (i.e. issuing an I-20), then please let us know that.
- If you Want To Go To Russia as an exchange student or teacher, please email or call us with your name, what school you are presently with, what grade, what subject (if you're a teacher), and when you would be available to go to Russia. If you were REAL open to "the experience", as a teacher you could count on 18 hour days for two weeks, making appearances in numerous schools around the Samara Region. Be assured, your view of the world would never be the same. . .
WHAT IS THE COST OF AN EXCHANGE?
There are fees associated with air travel, cost of visa, cost for administrating that visa in accordance with federal regulations (for those coming this way on a J-visa), and if a foreign guest-student attends one of our public schools there are costs that have to be paid to the school district (this is usually a dictate of the law). Although private schools have the option of not charging tuition to exchange students, often times even they require a certain measure of "tuition reimbursement" (But our desire is to find a few private schools itching to have an exchange student WITHOUT charging him/her tuition. If you want one, we can provide one).
For exchange participants Coming To The U.S.A. the cost runs somewhere in the vicinity of $1500 for a two week exchange (this covers everything including airfare), $3000+ plus airfare for a 6 or 12 month exchange. Cost can vary widely depending on the specifics of the exchange (i.e. private school, public school, from which country coming, etc.). Please contact us for more details.
As you can see the cost for a two week exchange is very "affordable" for many of us, but represents nearly a year's wages to the average Russian. If you can't participate directly----why not consider giving enough to sponsor one of these youth? Just click on the helping.org icon on this page to give securely on-line.
The costs associated with Going To Samara, Russia for 2 weeks to 6 months include many different things such as airfare, in-country touring possibilities (strictly optional), some stipend for your host family to help defray food costs (for many of these host families having you is a joy but also a financial hardship), visa costs, administrative costs to cover Boneem's expenses as well as a stipend for the host school (School #11). A Boneem volunteer will work with you to put together exactly what it is you seek from your time in Russia. However, for general planning you can figure the cost to run in the vicinity of $2500 (give or take $500) depending on length of stay and cost of air travel at the time you plan to go.
HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT BONEEM'S EFFORTS
We welcome your support of Boneem's efforts to provide exchange opportunities for foreign youth and school teachers. Since Boneem's primary focus is in eastern European Russia, western sponsorship is needed even more. In Russia, where the average annual income is only about $2000/year, coming up with a couple thousand dollars for an exchange possibility to the US is almost out of the question. Please be a part of this multi-national dynamic and choose to give in an amount that would pay for all or part of a Russian child's or teacher's dream ($1500).
Additionally, at the present time Boneem is seeking donors willing to give undesignated contributions. As always, we are willing to accept designated gifts for any of the projects and programs that we have listed on this site. Presently, over 95% of Boneem's support comes in designated for specific projects. This is a good thing in some ways, however, it does make it very difficult for Boneem to tend to some of its "incidental" expenses (i.e. annual fees to the State Corporation Commission, maintaining a web site, storage space rental for humanitarian supplies, etc) or to expand its capabilities. Presently, even Boneem's office space is donated, but that may not always be the case.
We welcome your gifts in any form. If you would like to give on-line, please just click on the Helping.org icon on this page. Your credit card donation will be transacted through a secure connection and your donation will be direct deposited to Boneem's account. If you would like for your donation to be applied to a specific project, please be sure to identify which of Boneem's projects you wish to support. If you would like to know more about Helping.org please visit www.guidestar.org (where, by the way, Boneem also has a listing). Guidestar hosts one of America's largest available listings of public charities. If you have questions you would like to submit directly to us, please send us an email at info@boneem.org.
If you would like to give directly to Boneem, please feel free to forward your check to us at the following address. We thank you for your support and your input.
P. O. Box 36260
Richmond, VA 23235
Phone: 800-475-6963Fax: 804-897-1160
If you would like to make Boneem the beneficiary of an insurance policy or endowment gift, please contact us directly. We would most certainly welcome such generosity.
If you own your own business and you would like to add an employee to your payroll---an employee for Boneem International---please contact us directly and we will map out how your commitment to a specified period of support (i.e. two years) could greatly help Boneem move toward having a full time staff person. We have a Russian national we would like to hire. We only need now to secure funds to sponsor her position.
If you have unused cemetery property in a NON city-owned, perpetual care park in your area or city, and you would be willing to donate those arrangements to Boneem, please contact us for information.
If you have real estate that you would like to make available to Boneem for use or for re-sale, please contact us directly.
All donations are acknowledged immediately. Additionally, at the end of each year Boneem sends out a year-end summary of donations received during that year. Boneem operates on a calendar year.
One note on Boneem finances---after a year or two of "rest" in an effort to structure Boneem more effectively so the administrative responsibilities of the agency would be better distributed among its volunteers---Boneem is once again operating in an affirmatively upward mode. Just in the past year Boneem's receipts have gone from $9K to over $64K plus tens of thousands of dollars in medical supplies and humanitarian aide. Won't you help in Boneem's efforts to reach a needy world?
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