Parents play an essential role in the Program because they act as host parents to students from the other community for the six-week exchange.

Their role is not only to provide lodging for a student but to act as parents, and to be responsible for the student they are hosting, caring for the student the same as they would want their child's host parents to do.

The coordinator who selects your child will be organizing weekend activities for the students staying in your community, and will be your contact, supporting you and helping you solve problems that could arise with the student staying in your home and with your own child.

Experience has shown us that the worst thing you can do is force your child to participate in the Program: he or she has to make the decision to participate to truly benefit from it and feel that the experience has been a success.

…In addition to improving her French language speaking skills and her confidence in using the language, Courtney developed self confidence, independence and social skills. This was Courtney's first full-time job so she also gained work-related skills, some money, and an addition to her resume. The activities provided in the program as well as outings she did herself and with her group gave her a real love of Quebec and of the people she met. We think it enhanced her sense of the whole country through the train ride and through meeting students from across Canada, and made her a stronger proponent of national unity…

…Our daughter gained many benefits from the program. She had a summer job that was quite rewarding and taught her some skills to having a job and working with children. She met a wonderful group of teenagers her age, who I feel she will keep in touch with most of them forever. The program was a win-win situation for her; a summer job, great people to live with (host parents), to learn more about the Quebec way of life and to gain many new friends and acquaintances. Thank you for the program and we hope it continues to benefit teenagers across the country.

…The experience was a very positive one for my daughter. She was able to travel and experience a different part of the country. She made many new friends and improved her French. She returned home a more mature person…

…I cannot begin to tell you the benefits my daughter derived from this experience. Any positive comment that comes forward from any individual or group can be applied here. This is a fabulous program and I applaud all of you. Thank you! Thank you!

…Peter describes the benefits to himself as learning French, having his first full-time job and seeing the country as he travelled on the train. Both my husband and I wish to thank the Directors of the SWSE for Peter's wonderful summer.

…& I speak for my family: The Ma…of Dartmouth, absolutely & profoundly appreciate the Summer Work Student Exchange Program. This is definitely one of the best ideas that we have in Canada to promote, encourage and inspire our country through the empowerment of our youth. We have such a wealth of talent and resources and I am glad to know my taxes dollars are being spent in such a supportive way.

…The benefits our daughter Ashley gained from her experience in Quebec were many. Not only was she able to experience an entirely different culture, she also learned responsibility regarding a job and the importance of cooperating in a different home environment. What impressed us most was the vast improvement in her conversational French. She feels quite comfortable speaking French and misses her host family….

…My son now is "fully" bilingual - not his or my assessment, but that of others who are good judges. Since we live "way out west" it is not easy to get to Quebec, or practice French learned in school. Visiting Vaudreuil was a great learning experience for him - different family, language, culture, activities and he actually made some money doing this!

…Perhaps one of the greatest benefits that my daughter received is that she has become so much more fluent in French. And for that, she is very excited and grateful. Lastly, as I have mentioned several times already, the coordinator was wonderful, compassionate, and provided the students with stimulating, varied, fun and age appropriate activities which kept Janina and all the students busy in their free time.

…We are lucky to have this program approved and funded. The program was very good not only for the students but also for the families.

…Overall, I would rate the Exchange program with an A! It's wonderful to have the opportunity, and to have Kate learn about Quebec and increase her language skills. I hope that the program will continue to benefit youth in the years to come. Please pass on our thanks to all involved in the program. This is a good program with many positive benefits for all those involved (the train ride itself is valuable experience).

…Truly she had matured in more ways than one because of this program. (She even learned more about handling money as she was "in charge" of her own finances while in Quebec). This truly was a LIFE experience. These are lessons we are truly grateful she learned. (She also informed us she now has FRIENDS all over Canada. What a GIFT!!).

…There were also benefits my husband, our son and I got from this program. We got to know a truly wonderful girl from Quebec. We got to know her family a bit from a few conversations on the phone, but more from Erin's comments when she got home. She said she has a second MOM and DAD...Does that tell you how they welcomed her into their family? (And when our "daughter", Maude, left to go home, she gave us a "sympathy" card that expressed sorrow at the "loss of a loved one"! (She told us she would be back!) And we told her we hoped it would be soon! )

…Honestly, we did not expect this to have been the kind of summer it turned out to be. we were so very "lucky" to have ALL been involved in this program. …You see this exchange was not only a valuable experience for Erin, but also for us.

…And this is just one student who took part in this valuable exchange.....imagine the possibilities for the many others who might follow next summer and in the summers to follow......We whole-heartedly support this program. I'm sure there are things that can, should and will be changed to make the program even better, but for our family and for our daughter, it truly was an "OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME"! Our thanks to ALL THE PEOPLE WHO HELPED MAKE IT HAPPEN!!

…We enjoyed hosting and meeting parents as well as students. We also thought more of what is interesting about our area as well as the rest of Canada.
Please encourage continuation of the program as we will spread the word.

…Our daughter came back determined to continue to improve her French. The program helps young people to understand what an advantage it is to speak and understand a second language.
Without question, this is one of the best student exchange programs I have seen

…Our daughter feels that the exchange will be remembered as the best experience of her life. In addition to the language and cultural experiences, she has developed a greater sense of confidence in her ability to make sound decisions and deal with unexpected situations. She knows that she is capable of making good decisions on her own, should she be required to do so. She has made friends from across the country and has gained a much greater appreciation for what makes up Canada.
As the parents, we very much appreciated the opportunity to share our home with a young person that we had never met before. We were rewarded by our ability to adapt to this challenge and were enriched by the experience of sharing our language and culture.