THE OSE ADVENTURE HANDBOOKS Handbook 1  •  The Art of Making the Right Choices
SHEET 3

CHOOSING THE RIGHT HOST FAMILY

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A host family does not simply put up an ambassador. They open their home and a place in their life to them.

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Why This Sheet?

Identify a range of host families whose generosity will benefit everyone and be the best possible choice.

To find the best person with the best qualities.

That is the purpose of this sheet.

The Five OSE Keys

1 Quality of hospitality icon - Handbook 1, Sheet 3: Choosing the Right Host Family
KEY 1 – QUALITY OF HOSPITALITY Question to ask

What welcoming qualities does the family have, and what is their capacity to offer the young person a warm and enriching human experience?

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KEY 2 – COMMITMENT TO THE OSE PROJECT Question to ask

Does the family fully embrace the OSE project? Do they commit to hosting and supporting an ambassador throughout the entire length of their stay?

3
KEY 3 – FAMILY BALANCE Question to ask

Does the family provide a stable, peaceful and harmonious environment? Do all household members freely embrace the hosting project?

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KEY 4 – BALANCE & SUPPORT Question to ask

Is the family ready to support a minor throughout their OSE experience? Do they have experience directly related to childhood?

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KEY 5 – QUALITY OF THE HOSTING JOURNEY Question to ask

Does the hosting arrangement address each of these points? It allows the young person to be welcomed, helps them discover the country and its culture, and offers them an enriching experience.

MISTAKES TO AVOID

  • Choosing a family solely for sporting reasons.
  • Relying solely on a first impression.
  • Relying on a single adult in the household.
  • Overlooking certain values.
  • Confusing spontaneous generosity with the capacity to provide support.
  • Forgetting that every ambassador is unique.

GOOD PRACTICES

With every decision:
  • meet the whole family;
  • present the project clearly;
  • visit the living space;
  • take the time to talk;
  • involve the young person in the discussion;
  • give every household member a voice;
  • discern the right family for the right person.
The key to success is looking at the whole picture together.

The OSE Checklist

Before selecting a family, ask yourself the OSE questions at each stage:
Does the family know the OSE project?
Did the young person feel at ease during the meeting?
Are OSE's values shared?
Are the culture and habits compatible?
Is their availability sufficient?
Can an OSE mentor be appointed?
Is the living space suitable and safe?
Does the family accept the sporting and school constraints?
Does the family understand the educational mission?
Have we discerned the young person's best interests?

If the answer to an essential question is « NO », it is best to continue the search.
The choice of the right host family must always be made with the young person's wellbeing at heart.

THE FOUNDER'S PERSPECTIVE

« A host family is not simply a roof over one's head. They open a home, a heart, and a place in their story.

The ambassador they welcome will transform their daily life and, often, shape their own way of growing and building together.

The richness shared in respecting the young person is the most beautiful human adventure. »

Luis Fernandez Founder of OSE

✦A sheet is not meant to be read. It is meant to be lived. Take the time to talk it through before deciding.✦