yes7 host family orientation
DESCRIPTION
This is the presentation used at the beginning of the year to acquaint host families with the YES program and address common issues.TRANSCRIPT
Del Christensen
Executive Director of IRIS
Communication
Students have strict instruction from me to ask questions when they don’t know something and when they are not sure about something
Treat the student like your own child
Patience
Hygiene
Punctuality/time management
Appliances
Chores
Budgeting
Internet & phone usage
Interaction with host family and classmates
Conserving energy
Eye contact
Giving things with left hands
Picking nose
Politically correct
words and statements
“the finger”
American English vs. British English Pants vs. trousers
Most Africans do not like dogs
Dogs in Africa are not friendly
Dogs are use for security, they are rarely seen as pets
Please explain to your student that your dog is friendly and encourage them to pet them
They will be scared at first but they adjust easily
Most of them will say a few weeks into the winter that they “love the snow but hate the cold”
If you don’t have a winter coat for your student(s), we have a few donated ones in the office that we could send you
Reminders about hats and mittens/winter safety
Pray 5 times a day
Do ablution before each prayers –use bathtub
Mosque on Fridays; however, most of them understand that they won’t be able to go to mosque every Fridays
Do not eat pork
Most of the girls will wear a headscarf (Hijab)
Starts on August 21st
Ends on September 20th
Students will be fasting from sunrise to sunset
Please make a plate for them the night before
Give them an alarm
End of Ramadan there is a feast called EidFitr
If you can, take your student to the nearest mosque that day
Have to take at least a semester of American Government or History
Take a year of English
We also encourage them to take a “fun” class
Encourage the students be involved with sports, plays, clubs, and art classes
Martha Pope
IRIS Operations Manager
Hair You can find most hair
product at your local Sally’s Beauty Supply or at Target in the ethnic hair section
In case they want to braid their hair: It cost a lot of money to have
extensions done
You can find a hair salon in big cities (Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Omaha)
Some of the YES students can braid hair.
African skin gets extremely dry especially during the winter.
Any lotion, especially for dry skin, will help the student.
It is important that they use a lot of lotion
There are two types of rules:
Probationary Rules
Dismissive Rules
A few examples of Probationary Rules:
Less than 2 hours of community service per month
Failure to be involved in family and school activities
Failure to use your stipend money while in the program
Less than a C grade in any class
1) 6 weeks probation
2) Inform student’s parents
3) Early return home
As a general rule, all YES students must obey the laws of the United States of America and the State of Iowa. If found guilty of violating any law, they will be returned home as soon as possible.
NO Driving
NO Drinking
NO Stealing
SENT HOME IMMEDIATELY
Steal
Drink
Drive
Students are not allow to work for pay. Everything should be volunteer work.
At least two hours of community service every month.
They could volunteer at the church, school, nursing home, make presentations, etc…
An IRIS staff will call you and your student(s) at least twice a month
Please use this opportunity to share any concerns/issues you may have with the student(s)
If any issue arises, we will be more than happy to help and even come to your home if you need us to do so.
An IRIS staff will call the school at least once a month
Mike and Faye
Adamu Ibrahim
Dr. Saidu Yakubu
West Africa Country Coordinator