By Matthew Sockol
Staff Writer
FREEHOLD – In addition to assisting students in the Freehold Borough K-8 School District, one teacher helps foreign students visit the United States.
Scot King, who has taught at the Park Avenue Elementary School for 21 years, serves as the community coordinator for Intercultural Friends Foundation (IFF), a position he has held for 20 years.
According to King, the IFF is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering opportunities for young people seeking to gain an enhanced worldview by experiencing other cultures and building friendships from around the world.
Students from Spain, ages 14-17, travel to the United States to learn about American culture, improve their English skills and get a firsthand glimpse of the country.
“I have been blessed to be the facilitator to help American families and their exchange students in a time of discovery, exploration and relationship building,” King said. “These families know by experience the excitement, joy and pride that comes with sharing our way of life with someone from another country who they otherwise never would have met.
“It is incredible the depth of the relationships that develop and thrive, not only for the four weeks the students are here, but far beyond,” he said. “I often hear of families that are planning a vacation to visit their new son or daughter overseas. The students often return year after year to reunite once again with their American family.
“In one case, the son of an American host family developed such a bond with his brother in France that he was asked to be the best man in his wedding. I often recall numerous accounts of lasting relationships that have flourished all because of this experience,” King said.
As a coordinator for the nonprofit organization, King plans, organizes and supervises all activities and transportation, including trips to New York City, Philadelphia, Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, Newark Liberty International Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, as well as day to day activities and communication.
Additionally, King hires American educators to teach classes about American culture to the students from Spain.
“All in all, it is a significant amount of work and time, but the rewards and the impact it has on others is well worth it,” he said.
King said he became involved with the IFF 20 years ago after he received a phone call asking him to coordinate a group that would be arriving in three weeks.
“My sister had heard of this program and suggested they call me, since I had worked as a youth director and possessed a passion for making an impact on the lives of young people,” King said.
“That first year was quite difficult because of all the logistics that went into running a program, as well as my lack of experience. But I saw the great potential and the impact it could have on so many lives.
“I knew I had found my home. I saw how this program would make a lasting impression on the people of the community as well as the students,” he said.
Since King, who is a resident of Point Pleasant, joined the IFF, he has seen almost 750 students come to America and about 400 families take part in the organization.
“Because of a simple phone call 20 years ago, I now have the distinct privilege of being the facilitator of an endeavor that leaves lasting memories on so many lives, and I am blessed for the opportunity,” he said.
The latest group of students from Spain are scheduled to arrive on June 28 and return home on July 27, according to King. During their time in the United States, they will have an opportunity to experience American culture by living with an American family and taking trips to New York and Philadelphia, and by participating in a number of other activities.
“What is really great about this program is that not only do the students go on these excursions, but the host families join in as well,” King said. “It is quite an experience to lead 40 to 60 people through the streets of New York, but they all love every minute of it. It is remarkable to gaze in the eyes of these young people as they stare in wonder at the sights and sounds that make America great.
“We are so incredibly blessed to live in this phenomenal country and it is a privilege to share it with these young people,” King said. “So many of them have dreamed of the opportunity to come to America since they were young and it is amazing to watch their dream come true right before their eyes.”
King made note of the impact the IFF has on families who welcome a guest into their home.
“The thing I find most remarkable is the impact it has on American host families,” he said. “Initially, the families’ motivation for hosting is because of their desire to help a young person.
“We live in a society where families are often disjointed and going separate ways because of the various things that pull us away from each other.
“When a student enters a host family, all members of the family are all of a sudden focused on what they are going to do together. It brings the family together in ways that are both surprising, yet wonderful.
“It is amazing to see the way the student blends with the family and becomes a valued member in such a short time.
“Another observation that warms my heart is to see how the family, who first decided to do this to bless another, is blessed so much more in return,” he said. “The warmth and the feelings of love between the host family and the student are real and significant.
“Many of the families that have hosted in the past know by experience the excitement, joy and pride that comes with sharing our way of life with someone from another country.”
For more information about the IFF, contact King at 732-903-8844 or at Scot4Camille@gmail.com
