Mission
STUDENT AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL (SAI) WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1996 AS AN OUTGROWTH OF FRIENDSHIPS MADE DURING EXCHANGE EXPERIENCES. SAI WAS DESIGNED TO PROMOTE THE IDEA THAT WE CAN HELP MAKE THE WORLD A MORE PEACEFUL PLACE IF WE RECOGNIZE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VARIOUS CULTURES AND WORK TO UNDERSTAND AND CELEBRATE THOSE DIFFERENCES, PERSON TO PERSON. THROUGH ITS ACADEMIC HOMESTAY PROGRAM, STUDENTS, HOST FAMILIES, SCHOOLS, AND COMMUNITIES LEARN DAILY ABOUT ONE ANOTHERS DIFFERENCES AND SIMILARITIES. SAI BELIEVES THAT AS GENERALITIES AND STEREOTYPES GIVE WAY TO REAL PERSONALITIES, PARTICIPANTS ARE ABLE TO SEE BEYOND ETHNIC, RACIAL, RELIGIOUS, AND CULTURAL DIFFERENCES TO ESTABLISH ONGOING RELATIONSHIPS BASED ON UNDERSTANDING AND ACCEPTANCE. HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AGES 14 TO 18 SPEND ONE SCHOOL YEAR OR SEMESTER IN THE UNITED STATES. STUDENTS LIVE WITH A VOLUNTEER HOST FAMILY AND PARTICIPATE IN DAILY FAMILY LIFE WHILE ATTENDING THE LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL. THE INTERNATIONAL PARTNER ORGANIZATION AND SAIS C