Cultural Homestay International
Non-profit OrganizationsCalifornia, United States201-500 Employees
Cultural Homestay International (CHI) is a mid-sized nonprofit dedicated to educational exchange and international understanding. Founded in 1980 by Tom and Lilka Areton, it promotes people-to-people experiences as a path to building trust and friendship across cultures. The organization emphasizes immersive involvement—having young people live with American families, participate in local communities, or gain work or training opportunities in the United States—as a means to broaden perspectives on volunteering, democracy, and freedom. Based in San Rafael, California, CHI operates within the nonprofit sector as an intermediary that facilitates cultural interchange for participants from many nations. Its aim is to extend the benefits of intercultural exchange to a broad global audience, with the belief that such experiences contribute to a more prosperous and peaceful world.