Friends of International Students
Friends of International Students is a non-profit community organization of people in the Iowa City area who are interested in providing friendship and support to international students and scholars attending the University of Iowa. After filling out an application and going through a brief orientation (can be done on-line) you will be matched with a student. Contact is made and you decide what you would like to do based on mutual interest. Encouraged to meet with their students at least once a month, Friends most often include the student in some activities in which they normally participate. They may also take advantage of occasional FIS-sponsored events. This is a great opportunity to learn about another culture and influence their perception of ours. While this is not a faith-based organization, they encourage the sharing of ideas beliefs.
Another opportunity involving friendships with international students is made possible through a special partnership Grace Community Church has with Bridges (a part of Campus Crusade for Christ). Bridges enlists students involved in their programs who would like to be paired with an American family. We call it “Grace Bridges” and it operates much the same as Friends of International Students…with the exception that these students are most often undergraduate students and come to us with a known openness to Christ. Contact the church office (626-2040) for more information or Stephen Wong at stepehen@iowabridges.com.
Critical Needs
Individuals or families to invite internationals into their home.
Help with a August 29 “Internationals Welcome Picnic” in Lower City Park (Grace Bridges)
http://international.uiowa.edu/oiss (found under “Resources”)
335-0335
626-2040
