Wednesday December 8, 2021 | METCHOSIN, BC [Update 2 pm]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Pearson College UWC is urgently putting out the call for volunteers to host fully vaccinated students from around the world during their upcoming winter break from December 17 to January 8.
“We foresaw that the need for local and regional families to welcome students into their homes would be higher than usual this year,” says Host Family Volunteer Coordinator Dawn Boshcoff. “While we anticipated this, the added wild card of the Omicron variant is having a knock-on effect.”
The call for local home-stays was put out on Monday December 6. Now, two days later and after “a terrific response”, they need accommodation for 10 more students for a tighter period: December 17 to January 1. That’s because the final week of break (January 2 to 8) has been amply covered.
“We are hoping that we can find enough families to welcome one or more students, to join in their holiday celebrations, while sharing their space and family traditions,” says Boshcoff.
Some can’t fly home:
Boshcoff said some students who were set to fly home are finding they cannot go because of updated travel restrictions aiming to stop the spread of the new COVID variant. Others are saying they cannot afford to go because of dramatic increases in airline fares – sometimes double last year at this time.
Close to 80 per cent of Pearson students who attend Canada’s only United World College do so on full or partial scholarships or financial assistance made available through the generosity of individual and institutional donors. Pearson is a non-profit, charitable-registered College that welcomes about 200 students every year from across Canada and up to 160 nations around the world.
COVID impacts:
The work-from-home phenomenon means that fewer spare rooms are available for students as they have been converted to home offices and workspaces. Other long-time hosts, some who have welcomed students for more than three decades, have retired from hosting.
Boshcoff, a host mom for 15 years. says it was a great experience for her family. “I’m still in touch with many of the students who have now gone on to really cool careers, and some are starting families. It’s been one of the most enriching experiences for me and my kids,” she said.
Ideal host family:
Pearson College describes their ideal host family as anyone with extra space who likes teenagers, is welcoming and friendly, and doesn’t mind having a stranger join the family for a few weeks.
The idea is to involve the student as though they are a member of the family. That would include meals, household chores, and family outings.
Hosts could be retirees, young families or empty-nesters who want to share their holiday traditions. “We welcome host families who live in across southeastern BC including the CRD, Gulf Islands and Lower Mainlandm” says Brian Geary, Director of Communications.
How to apply:
To apply to become a host family, please contact Dawn Boshcoff at dboshcoff@pearsoncollege.ca. A Criminal Record Check and home visit are required.
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Pearson College presents new salmon-theme names for dorm houses (November 19, 2021)