International Friendship Program

Open your doors and hearts

Nearly 80 percent of the 500,000 international students in the United States would never step foot into an American home if it weren't for international friendship programs. Purdue University's International Friendship Program provides the opportunity for local residents to open their homes and hearts to international students and experience a whole new world.

The International Friendship Program (IFP) was created to ease the transition into American culture and the university setting for new international students. The IFP matches an international student with a friendship volunteer from the Greater Lafayette community. Throughout the year, the student and the volunteer interact in activities ranging from dinner to outings. The IFP is looking for caring, qualified families or individuals to become members of this rewarding program.

There are no rules to successful friendships. What is required is not identical viewpoints, but an honest respect for each other's ideas, customs, and world views.

The friendship volunteer can reap a wealth of enjoyment and satisfaction from the relationship developed through this program. Provided that the proper atmosphere of acceptance and gentle curiosity is created, a volunteer can learn an immense amount about a guest student's country, culture and beliefs. A volunteer can also receive the reward and satisfaction of having made a truly significant contribution to the success of your student's stay in America, The friendship extended not only alleviates the student's loneliness but also secures him/her in his/her new surroundings and contributes to a successful academic career.