The Work Exchange Program began in the 1950s as one of the many activities between Louisville and Montpellier, France. The Program provides French university students with the opportunity to work in Louisville for the month of July and to obtain and in-depth, first-hand knowledge of a foreign culture and lifestyle.

The twenty interns who visit Louisville are carefully selected from 200-300 applicants and are primarily senior university students. Their areas of expertise range from various areas of business to engineering, medicine, law and architecture. They will be housed in the dorms at the U of L, but will be paired with host families to get a better feel of life in Louisville.

Prospective Employers:

The U of L International Center and Sister Cities of Louisville are again searching for employers and sponsors for the Montpellier Work Exchange Program. By employing an intern from France, you help to support the group of students from Louisville who travels to Montpellier for a similar experience.

We would like to invite you to participate in this program by providing an internship for a French student for the month of July, or by sponsoring a student who will work in a volunteer-based organization. If you sponsor a student, you may specify where you would like him or her to volunteer, or we can arrange the internship through organizations that have requested sponsorship. One of the benefits of the program is that employers compensate students $700 for the month to help defray the costs of living while in Louisville. This is a good opportunity for companies that need extra summer help!

In addition, this opportunity presents an exciting opportunity to show support for international education and exchanges in our city, as well an opportunity to learn more about French culture from your intern. If you would like to sponsor a student or have questions concerning the program, please contact the SCL office.

Prospective Host Family:

In order to more fully experience living in Louisville, all participants are paired with a host family for the four weeks that they are here. It is a great opportunity for a family to get a flavor of French culture right in their own house, while at the same time providing an invaluable experience in Louisvillian culture to a French student. As a host family, you will be asked to participate in the planned events, as well as introduce them to how you and your family experiences Louisville. If you are interested in becoming a host family or have any questions, please contact the SCL office.

Events:

While the students are in town, there are a wide variety of events that they will participate, to which employers, host families, and interested SCL members are encourage to join. The events include:

• Kentucky Kingdom Day
• Corn Fest
• Bastille Day Picnic
• Louisville Bats Game
• Au Revoir Celebration

Please join us in this unique cultural exchange program.