International Community Friendship Program
 Community friendship program pairs international students up with local families to help them adjust to life in Canada. Photo credit: Israel NandezUniversity of Calgary International (UCI) is committed to internationalizing the educational experience of students and the awareness of communities in support of the University’s Academic Foundations Principles. From working with international students to welcoming international academic delegations, the team is heavily involved in promoting international experiences among staff, faculty, and students.
One of its newest and most ambitious programs is the International Community Friendship Program, which allows local families to be paired with an international student for the duration of the academic year. Unlike a home-stay program, the International Community Friendship Program assures that the families and the students can meet once a month for various activities. Whether it is a family dinner or a daytrip to Banff, local families have a chance to introduce Canada and Calgary to international students in a fun, informal way.
This year, the program is being coordinated by Lucia Kovacikova, a previous International Community Friendship Program volunteer: “I definitely believe that this program is rewarding for both the students and the volunteers,” says Kovacikova. “Last year, I had an incredible experience showing our city to two international students. This year, the UCI is hoping to expand the program and give this opportunity to more families and more students.”
In fact, with more than 2,500 international students from 117 countries, the U of C is already an international campus. The advantages of this program, however, allow international students to become involved within their new community. At the same time, local families affiliated with the university are given the opportunity to meet students from around the world.
“The International Community Friendship Program is unique in that it combines the international and the local sphere, it brings together the international student body and the local community, it integrates the different facets of the campus, and it encourages the university to take interest in and help with international issues,” says Kovacikova.
To find out more, or to access the online application, please visit the UCI website at www.ucalgary.ca/uci/involved.
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July 27, 2010