Two children, two families and a friendship for life!
Welcome to our exchange programme matching up Irish participants with boys and girls and their families in France.
For our Irish participants: 4 weeks in France, and for our French participants: 4 weeks in Ireland!
This is not a standard programme. It has a lengthy application form, as it is important to know as much as possible about both families.
In fact, we think that this is really an exchange for all the family, and it is important that all family members are invested in the experience.
Participants are challenged to integrate themselves to their new family, not the other way round.
Host families on both sides take full responsibility for their visitor and treat him or her as one of their own. Host families who welcome the participant are responsible for all costs associated (trips, outings, sports etc) once they are with them.
We work with our local partner in France to make the best match possible and we send this information to our Irish participant.
The exchange programme differs from our standard programmes in that we cannot guarantee they will always happen. However we do our very best.
It is also much more economical than our standard programmes
Interested participants should state available dates. Ideally this programme takes place during the summer holiday but there is some flexibility. If, for example, the Irish participant is unable to take part in the summer, but could perhaps be interested in doing their 4 weeks during school time in France, this is also an option.
However in this instance, it would be responsibility of the parents to cover school costs if applicable.
We charge a non-refundable deposit of 100€ upon receipt of application forms and signing of contract. The remainder is then invoiced once the exchange family has been selected and communicated to the participant.
Participants have the opportunity to refuse a selected family if it does suit with their expectations, however we do try our best to avoid these situations by asking applicants and their families to complete detailed applications in order to get to know as much as possible about them.
Island Abroad offer supervision of communication between families before the stay and contact during the stay itself in case of any difficulties.
Please contact us for an application form and further information.
Additional Notes
- Arrival airports: Depending on the locality of the host family.
- Arrivals and departures: Saturdays or Sundays ideally from 10am-5pm.