STAYING WITH A HOST FAMILY
“During my stay, I lived with Nadežda, a hospitable philosophy teacher, on whose kitchen table I regularly found fine Russian dishes, which once I arrived back in Switzerland I missed so much that I quickly learned to make and bake them. Through my host mother, I learned a lot about everyday Russian life, an important experience that I would have been denied in a hotel.”
The most intensive and uncomplicated way to get to know a foreign culture is to stay with a host family. Living with a host family for some time means seeing the host country through the eyes of the local people. You will get to know the conditions in a direct and personal way and may have a second home in Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan or the Ukraine after this stay.
A knowledge of Russian is not required, but knowledge of English or other foreign languages is advantageous.
Family stays are possible in:
- Russia: St. Petersburg, Irkutsk, Ulan-Ude
- Ukraine: Uzhgorod
- Kyrgyzstan: Bishkek, Ak-Suu
- Uzbekistan: Namangan
For advice or if you have any questions, please contact Nathalia: nathalia.zimmermann@scich.org, 031 381 46 20

Other projects
Voices of Volunteers
Read reports from volunteers from around the world on the SCI International blog. Let yourself be inspired by their experiences!