IS THERE a world without borders? There is according to famous Norwegian adventurer Thor Heyerdahl or Southern Cross Cultural Exchange.
“Borders, I have never seen one,” Heyerdahl once famously said.
“But I have heard they exist in the minds of some people.”
The famous Scandinavian embarked on his 8000 km Kon-Tiki expedition on a hand-built raft and the world learned that vast distances did not hinder ancient peoples from reaching faraway places.
When it comes to bridging cultures, Southern Cross Cultural Exchange believes that “the whole family, not just the individual, stands to gain” from the actions of one youth living half a world away,” said Rob Lindsay, national director at SCCE.
Can anyone be part of a young student’s adventure in discovering the world through exchange?
The answer from the award-winning SCCE is they can.
The educational exchange organisation has successfully linked highly-curious, motivated and adaptable high schools students with their Australian counterparts, and vice-versa half a world away.
Come mid-July, youths from Thor Heyerdahl’s home country Norway as well as Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, Spain, Japan and France are hoping to learn more about Australia and make friends with their Australians counterparts and families as a guest of their family.
While SCCE takes care of the student’s school enrolment and other arrangements families, families are encouraged to take up a global invitation to become a volunteer host family even for a short duration.
As volunteer participants, host families are well-assisted and supported.
They are free to select the student according to age, nationality, interests and a preferred duration of hosting.
For more details, call 1800 500 501 or email scceaust@scce.com.au or visit scce.com.au.
