Enhancing one's knowledge and appreciation for another culture and possibly making a life-long friend are only two expected benefits of a new student exchange student program making its debut.

High school students from 12 former Soviet republics will arrive in the United States in August for a 10-month academic home stay.

The visits are made possible by the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) Program -- a U.S. government initiative.

The teens will live with American families, attend an American high schools, and teach their hosts about their homeland.

The goal is to learn how a democratic, free-market society functions and to serve as agents for change in their country after returning home.

All FLEX students speak English, have full medical insurance, and will have their own spending money.

Host families are welcome to apply, including single parents, young couples, and retirees.

Families need to provide a place for the student to sleep and study, meals, and a supportive environment during the school year.

Austin's FLEX community coordinator, Harry Stevens, is currently interviewing area families and is available to meet with potential hosts to give further information about the program.

Stevens hopes to find Austin host families for two girls and one boy from Ukraine, where he served in the Peace Corps in 1999-2001 and which has a sister college partnership with Riverland Community College.

Four RCC faculty members visited Ukraine in early March. Another FLEX student from Russia has been offered to Austin, if she can be soon placed.

Not only are there the benefits of a cultural exchange to enjoy, but host families could also make "lifetime friendships" by participating, according to Stevens.

Who are the potential Ukraine visitors?

According to Stevens, Viktoriya or "Vika" is "charming, intelligent and inquisitive." She wrote on her application, "I dream to see your fascinating country with my own eyes." Vika said she hopes she can "correct the misunderstandings and stereotypes" that Russians have about the United States. "I do desire the relations between our peoples to be even more friendly, trustful, various and mutually helpful," she said.

According to Stevens, the "hardworking 'A' student is known for being friendly, kind-hearted and reliable, so much so, that her fellow students elected her their class president."

Along with school and activities, Vika enjoys her friends, plays the piano and reads. Her teacher strongly recommended her for exchange, remarking that Vika is "a rare combination of persistence, energy and modesty," according to Stevens' description.

Ukraine is located in southeastern Europe and is a country slightly smaller than Texas.

Ethnic Ukrainians comprise about 73 percent of the Slavic country's population. Christianity is the predominant religion.

The FLEX program was the idea of former U.S. Senator Bill Bradley.

Last fall, the "sister" college relationship between RCC and Kherson University in Ukraine brought a delegation from the former Soviet republic to Austin.

A week ago, an RCC delegation went to Ukraine to visit Kherson University.

The relationship was further nurtured by Stevens' Peace Corps stint at teaching in Ukraine as well as his work as a wind energy consultant.

Funding for the FLEX program comes from the Freedom Support Act.

Stevens said he is available to speak to groups, clubs, organizations and churches to explain the program.

He also reiterated the need to local host families as soon as possible.

Contact Harry or Joann Stevens at 437-2974 or contact Oksana Pavliouk at the Program of Academic Exchange (PAX) National Office at (800) 555-6211, ext. 302.

Lee Bonorden can be reached at 434-2232 or by e-mail at :mailto:newsroom@austindailyherald.com