Italian Exchange Program Looking for Host Families Around Chappaqua

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The WEP Italy program is looking for host families in and around northern Westchester for this summer's three-week visit from Italian students.

The program started in 2014. 

"The group was a huge success with Somers area families who embraced students as their own sons and daughters and had their own children participating in our activities with the Italians," said CEO and co-founder Oksana Chorny. "As a result, not only our American program participants learned about Italy and polished their Italian (Somers is one of the very few schools, both private and public, that offers Italian) but also our visitors discovered America, visiting museums and discovering the true meaning of many things we take for granted."  

A student named Lara came to the family of Diane and Frank Annunziata of Somers.

The Annunziatas, as well as their two daughters Marisa and Jill, felt that Lara was a perfect match for them from the start. Lara was so sweet and enjoyed the same things as a family that made little things seemed big - cozy family gathering by the fire, spontaneous picnic on the beach, casual talks at breakfast, they said. 

The Annunziatas are still in touch with their Italian daughter and can't wait to go for a visit.

This year a second group, this time of 13 Italian high school students and their 2 teachers from the Venice region, is due to arrive in Somers mid July. Each will live with a local family and during the weekdays attend a full 'camp-like' enhancement program. It will include English classes at Kennedy Catholic, sightseeing trips to museums in NYC, as well as local attractions and volunteering projects to give back to the community. 

WEP-Italy stills need six host families for students and two for the teachers to make sure the group can arrive as planned.

"The host families won't need to worry about the students being bored - we will keep them super busy!" Chorny said.

Families are asked to provide a bed (a room can be shared with a host sibling) and meals at home. A host family stipend is also provided to offset the costs of hosting. Students come with full medical insurance and a Somers coordinator who runs the program and provides ongoing support, Faye DeSanto. DeSanto was a host mom in 2014, and is still in touch with her Italian 'son' Niccolo. 

"It was one of the most wonderful programs we have ever experienced," DeSanto wrote. "We chose a boy since our sons live on the West coast and my husband misses the male bonding. Nicolo arrived bearing gifts from his home town just north of Venice. We spared him the big American breakfast of cereal, eggs and bacon but he soon learned to love cheeseburgers and hot dogs. When he ate our spaghetti for the first time, he was slow to dig in but then delighted us by exclaiming “al dente”. We had passed the test! By the end of his three-week stay he was declaring my husband a better cook than his mother, but not his Grandmother. My husband practiced his Italian and Nicolo practiced his English. They exchanged views on history and politics and sports. My daughter was charmed by his impeccable manners, especially when he rose from the table whenever she did."

The students will be here from July 14 to Aug. 4, so only two weekends are really reserved as time with the host family. 

Interested in hosting?  Email Rachel Greenburg at info@wep-usa.org