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Neyagawa Delegation Visit approved for March 2026!​

HOST APPLICATIONS ARE BEING ACCEPTED NOW FOR ALL EXCHANGES
homestay_host_form__2024_.docx
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Together we will review the visit itinerary, discuss details, assign delegates and get to know more about each other.
Those still "on the fence" about hosting are welcome to attend and learn more.  
If you want to speak to someone who has hosted in the past or just desire more information, call the SCNN office at 757-697-3129. 
​

IMPORTANT: Hosts receive priority in the selection process for outgoing delegations. 

Incoming Delegations Depend on "Homestay Hosts"

​Each year Sister Cities welcomes international guests to Newport News. Specific opportunities are listed to the right, but you don't have to wait. You can submit a Homestay Host Form now and get on our host list now. We will contact you (usually via email) to let you know of opportunities. More information on host responsibilities are detailed below.
  • Accommodations - One delegate per bed/two in a room is fine if two beds.
  • Meals – As appropriate. Sister Cities will cover lunches on the touring days, so this means host provide breakfast and dinner on week days.
  • Transportation - The Sister Cities office in City Center will be the central meeting location and hosts are asked to drop off and pick up from that location; arrangements can be made to pick-up or drop delegates at the host home if there is a need.​​
Have Questions? CONTACT US!
Residency in Newport News is not required.
​SCNN has host families in Newport News, York County, Hampton, Williamsburg, James City County, Surry, Norfolk, VA Beach, Chesapeake and even Smithfield. You can be single or a family with children.
All are welcome to apply.!
​Note: For insurance purposes, SCNN, Inc. requires all hosts to be current members of our non-profit organization and undergo a basic background check at SCNN's expense. Hosts receive no compensation, but can submit receipts for actual expenses incurred for a tax deductible donation receipt.
BECOME A MEMBER TODAY!
Homestay Hosts are a vital link in successful international exchanges.
Homestay Hosts are the faces and hearts of our community. By opening your doors to an international guest, you show them who we are as Americans. Our host families are as diverse as our community. We try to match hosts with delegates 1 month prior to each exchange. Below are some of the responsibilities of hosting a Sister Cities delegate:

Home-stay hosts are expected to:
  • Provide food, lodging and transportation for the exchange visit.
  • Escort delegates to official Sister City functions. Home-stay hosts & their families may choose to participate in some or all outings.
  • Involve delegates in typical daily outings or events (grocery shopping, attending church/synagogue, sporting & school events etc...)

To assist you, Sister Cities of Newport News will:
  • Hold an informative “Host Meeting”
  • Organize group activities and day trips and pay for delegate admissions to attractions.
  • Provide transportation from a central location for group events.
  • Cover the cost of lunches for delegates during group excursions.
  • Organize a welcome and farewell event
​


2024 HOSTING OPPORTUNITIES:

March 6-13, 2024
2-Member Delegation from 

Neyagawa, JAPAN
A mixed-age delegation will visit Newport News in March 2024. This delegation visit was first planned for March 2020 but cancelled multiple times due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Homestay families are needed, and - hosts get priority when selecting members to serve as Citizen Diplomats on the outgoing exchange in November 2024. Submit your host family form and volunteer today
Spring 2024 
11 Member Delegation from 

Taizhou, CHINA
Sister Cities is excited to welcome an official delegation from the on to mark the 25th anniversary of the Sister City partnership between Newport News and Taizhou, Jiangsu Province. The 11 member delegation consists of 5 governmental officials and 6 delegates affiliated with Taizhou University. The delegation has chosen to stay in a local hotel, but "Day Hosts" are needed. Volunteer by calling the Sister Cities office at 757-697-3129.
Summer 2024
Carrigaline, IRELAND
Newport News is eager to welcome delegates back from our newest Sister City for another year. Details forthcoming.

Host Images from Previous Exchanges ...

UESTC-CNU SUMMER UNIVERSITY PROGRAM
Since 2013, Sister Cities Newport News and Christopher Newport University have welcomed up to 25 students and faculty from China’s University of Electronic Science and Technology (UESTC) for a 2-week summer school program on the CNU campus.

To enhance their U.S. experience, local families open their homes to host a student (or two) over the weekend. Pick-up is Friday afternoon(between 1 and 5 pm at CNU with a return to campus on Sunday after 6 pm. Host families do not have to be Newport News residents. In fact, several hosts have been from the surrounding counties of York, Poquoson, and James City as well as the cities of Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Hampton and Williamsburg.

Hosts are not expected to “entertain” the students; the goal of a “homestay” is to introduce those from a different culture to typical, American, daily life - If there is such a thing! Going to the grocery store, running errands, taking kids to events, attending a house of worship…hosts are encourage to follow your normal routines. If you have not hosted before, this is a great opportunity as the visit is short and there is no schedule to keep other than pick-up and drop off. Completion of a one-page "Host Application" is required.

​More information is available by calling SCNN's Executive Director, Kate Helwig at 757-926-1348 or email: [email protected]

Acknowledgements

​March 27 - April 6, 2019
10-Member Youth Delegation to St. Nazaire

LaVerne Flowers, Warwick French Teacher &
Lead Chaperone
Elsa Sangouard, Chaperone
Fergi Cabrera
Aurelie Flowers
Ryan Johnson
Kylie Lakin
Faith Vincelette
Chloe Watson
Family members, Bruce and Alex Flowers
April 12-19. 2019
Hosts for 34-member Jahn Gymnasium Delegation

The Baker-Richter Family
The Bell Family
The Brinkley Family
Christine Cann
The Clark Family
The Dahl Family
The Danehy-Simonds Family
The Devereux Family
The Grube Family
Joe and Bobbi Hutchko
The Janney Family
The Jones Family
Fred and Phyllis Kohlman
The Lakin Family
Barbara and Bob Lucas
The McCoy Family
The Miles Family
David and Christine Peterson
The Ramirez Family
The Roach Family
Ron and DJ Russell
Jeff and Katie Stodghill
The Carter Family
The Washington Family
May 8-15, 2019
11-Member Adult Delegation to Greifswald

Christine Cann
Paul Danehy
Phyllis Kohlman
Fred Kohlman
Al Riutort
Judi Riutort
Katie Stodghill
Jim Taylor
Virginia Taylor
Brent Williams
Elli Williams
October 3-8, 2019
Hosts for 12-Member Chengdu Textile College Performers
Mildred Byrd
Kate Helwig and Michael Hobert
Frank and Nancy Hunyady
Fred and Phyllis Kohlman
Steven Tung and Melvin Lauf
Tom and Jenny Perham
Hap and Holly White
The Zinn Family
June 15-29, 2019
15-Member Youth Delegation to Greifswald

Christina Willett, Menchville German Teacher & Lead Chaperone
Jessica Janney, Chaperone
Christiane Clark
Dani Clark
Georgia Danehy
Susan Grube
Nahsir Hill
Emma Janney
Kylie Lakin
Jayla McCoy
Melissa Miles
Hailee Mulligan
Lily Ramirez
Jack Roberts
Alex Yau
July 19-21, 2019
Hosts for 13-Member UESTC (China) College Summer Program


The Combs Family
Kate Helwig and Michael Hobert
The Singh Family
Nancy Hodges and Terry Martin
Frank and Nancy Hunyady
Fred and Phyllis Kohlman
The Liu Family
Steven Tung and Melvin Lauf
The Zinn Family
2018 Neyagawa Host Families & Delegates
Clark Family / Sachi Horimoto
Danehy Family / Haruka Kawaharada
Davis Family /Midori Kitano
Ditto Family / Yukiko Kita
Farquhar Family / Akihiro Oi
Hunyady Family / Nobutsugu Ono
Kohlman Family / Kana Kawabata & Maho Kawabata
Nichols Family / Ryu Kondo
Perham Family / Yusuke Torii
Schilling Family / Keisuke Sakamoto
Signorelli Family / Shota Ihara
Singh Family / Hiyori Takeshita & Yuna Nakai
Taylor Family / Hiromi Nishio
Velkey Family / Hidetoshi Yamaguchi
West Family / Yoko Takeshita
Williams Family / Meiko Matsui &Kazutaka Nishizawa
Winters Family / Tsugumasa Toma
2018 UESTC-CNU Host Families & Delegates
Hunyady Family / Yu Yankun
Kohlman Family / Duan Weidi & Zhang Tinghui
Malhotra Family / Cheng Lei & Hu Jing
Taylor Family / Gong Ting & Han Congrong

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Last Updated 7 May 2025
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