This holiday season, Brock International is encouraging the Brock community to start a new tradition with the Home for the Holidays program. From December 20, 2024 to January 6, 2025, faculty and staff are invited to host an international student for a favourite holiday or winter activity.
About the Program
Home for the Holidays connects a host and an international student for a traditional family event. Do you have a special dinner each year with family and friends? A volunteer experience you’d love to share? Does your family enjoy tobogganing or ice skating? Or maybe you prefer a Home Alone marathon in front of a cozy fire.
The goal of Home for the Holidays is simple – to help make international students feel at home when they otherwise may spend the festive season alone.
How it Works
Step 1
Start by submitting the registration form. Faculty and staff members fill out the Become a Host form. Students fill out the Join a Host Family form. Please note registration for this year’s intake opens on November 25 and will close December 6.
Step 2
Check your email on or after December 12 to see if you’ve been matched with an international student or host family.
Step 3
Connect directly with your match to decide on a date, time, and activity that suits everyone involved.
FAQs for Hosts
We encourage you to choose any event that you and your family enjoy during the holidays. Here are some fun suggestions:
- A meal or Christmas party with friends and family
- Watch movies together or go to the theatre
- Holiday baking or decorating
- Tobogganing or ice skating
- Christmas shopping
- Visiting a holiday market, event, or special display
You and your matched student can decide together!
No, the student maintains their current living arrangements. This is a one-day event for either the full day or just one activity of your choosing.
Please Note:
Your student match may need your help with travel arrangements to and from your activity. Please ensure you discuss this when you connect.
You are welcome to host as many students as you wish! We often receive an enthusiastic response from our international student community. Hosting a group is a great way to ensure as many international students as possible are able to participate in Home for the Holidays.
At this time, we are only matching Brock international students with Brock staff and faculty.
At a minimum, you and your student match should meet for one activity, but you are welcome to keep in touch or plan for several activities together during the holiday break.
FAQs for Students
If you are matched with a host, please let them know of any travel/distance restraints. They may or may not be able to help, so it is important to discuss before any activity is planned.
This is a question you can ask your host if you are matched. They may or may not be able to accommodate additional students.
Please be sure to check your email on or after December 12. You will be notified whether you have been matched or not.
Please note:
We will do our best to match you with a host family, but we cannot guarantee a match.
There are no fees associated with the Home for the Holidays program. However, depending on the activity you and your host choose, you may be required to pay for activity-related expenses such as admission fees, or items you wish to purchase.
Please ensure you discuss the activity in advance to find out if you’ll need spending money. Don’t be afraid to tell your host match if are unable to pay for an activity or you prefer free activities.
Please reach out to the Brock International team at intlstudents@brocku.ca and we can work together to come up with a plan.
Register for Home for the Holidays 2024
Staff & Faculty
Students
Host/student matches are dependent on number of registrations and expectations in each category. Brock International will do its best to match everyone who registers, however we cannot guarantee a match.
Still have questions?
Join us at our Home for the Holidays Information Session or email us at isa@brocku.ca.
