The World Affairs Council is seeking globally minded families and individuals in the greater Seattle area, including Kent, to volunteer to provide a home-stay for youth leaders this summer from Mexico, Iraq, the Middle East and North Africa, South Korea and Japan, and Cuba.

The students have been awarded scholarships from the U.S. Department of State and are enthusiastic about living with local host families for one to two weeks. This is a wonderful volunteer opportunity to learn about cultures from around the world and to share a little of Pacific Northwest culture and hospitality.

Host one or two students from the following programs:

Mexico: July 12-24; Iraq: July 25-Aug. 8; Middle East & North Africa Region: July 30-Aug. 5; South Korea & Japan: Aug. 9-22; and Latin America: Aug. 11-24.

Fill out the online application at world-affairs.org or email Rachel Paris-Lambert at rparislambert@world-affairs.org or call 206-441-5910 ext. 319 for more information. Please note that all dates are subject to change.

A few important details:

Participants must have a private room; participants can share a room with another students provided individual beds; families of all shapes and sizes as well as individuals are encouraged to sign up and can host one or two participants and live anywhere in the greater Seattle area.

Participants take part in a leadership program organized by the World Affairs Council during the day (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and have evenings and weekends free; participants are provided cellphones and bus passes and can travel on public transportation to the daily meeting location in downtown Seattle.