Congratulations to Cultural Homestay International, spearheaded by founders Tom and Lilka Areton, which embarked on its 30th year on November 1st 2009.

Established in 1980, CHI was founded with the idea to create a "better student exchange programme," which promotes "friendship, and harmony among young people of the world." CHI also aimed "to show off the best of our country, the USA, to the future leaders of their respective nations: our experiment in democracy, the ideals of volunteering, the willingness of host families to share their hearts and homes with complete strangers, the businesses risking so much to employ or train unknown students from foreign lands, as well as the endless spontaneity, inventiveness, and optimism that is America. The third goal was to educate our own citizens about other countries, cultures and customs, and to experience the commonality of the human experience that unifies all of us."

Congratulations to the CHI team--long-time, valued members of the ALTO and WYSE Work Abroad communities--on their 30th anniversary.