How You Can Help!
Host A NSL delegate in your home – It’s a valuable and memorable way to support NSL
During the NSL summer program, delegates live with families in the Washington, DC metro area for 6-7 weeks. The host family experience complements the formal leadership program by providing an informal environment for the delegates to interact and debrief with people who live and work in the DC area and are familiar with the mission of NSL. The host families have an opportunity to hear directly from the delegates about their life experiences in the Region and their reactions to the summer program. Those who have hosted NSL delegates describe close and lasting relationships, and a deeper understanding of what it’s like growing up in Israel and Palestine. Ideally, there is both an Israeli and a Palestinian delegate in a host family home, which offers a relaxed space for delegates to develop personal friendships with people they may not have interacted with in their lives.
What is required of a host family?
Provide a private room for each delegate, if possible; a shared bathroom is appropriate.
Live convenient to public transportation to downtown DC.
Offer breakfast food for delegates to grab before their busy days and/or food to pack for lunch.
Invite delegates to join your family for dinner or outings when they are not busy with the summer program.
Join public NSL events when available.
Help with transportation outside of DC, if needed.
For more information about hosting an NSL delegate in your home: info@newstoryleadership.org
Testimonials of current or former host parents:
“I have been a host parent 4 times, for two Palestinians and two Israeli Jews. Each experience has been very different depending on the personality, attitude, belief, and style of the delegate. The common denominator is that I feel like I was useful in helping the delegate navigate their time in DC, and I learned as much or more than the delegate did.
There is no question that I view the Palestinian/Israeli conflict with a different lens than I ever could have without having been a host parent.”
“We have hosted a Palestinian and an Israeli NSL delegate for 5 different summers. It’s been a marvelous addition to our lives. We have gotten to know hugely impressive young leaders and learned more than we ever imagined. We remain in close touch with most of them. We consider some to be life-long members of our extended family.
Because of host families, delegates can come to DC and get the training and advocacy opportunities that NSL provides. We give a welcoming place to stay and the chance to process what they have experienced when they get home each night.
NSL host parents have a saying… “We get so much more than we give.” Truer words have never been written. ”
“My husband, Richard Schwartz, and I have been hosting NSL delegates since 2010, along with students from the Washington Ireland Program (since 2003) and the South Africa Washington International Program (2007 – 2017). Our lives have been greatly enriched by the experience of having young people from the three programs in our home—not only have we learned from them, but they’ve learned from one another.
The participants from all three programs have experienced conflict in their own countries and have much to teach each other about how to confront and resolve difficult, and often deadly, situations. Richard and I have gained an invaluable new perspective on the world by listening to and talking with our more than 50 host sons and daughters and have also had the wonderful experience of attending several of their weddings and the pleasure of hosting some of them when they’ve returned to DC over the years.
Whenever anyone tells us how generous we’ve been to open our home to these young people, we always say that we’ve gotten a whole lot more than we’ve given.”
Host a Speaking Engagement
Interested in hosting an event featuring our delegates sharing their stories and experiences? Our delegates can speak remotely or in-person in your living room, university or faith based community.