Connecting International Students with Members of Our Community with Breaking Bread Program
At North Carolina Wesleyan University, we have over 160 students from 44 countries. Breaking Bread is a hospitality program where families or individuals volunteer to welcome an international student into their home or treat them to a meal out. Students coming to the U.S. will have many unique and exciting experiences as they study and live in a new culture; however, moving to a foreign country can also leave them feeling homesick. The International Student Services Department is eager to help these students get outside the walls of campus and connect them with members of our community.
Join us in giving our international students an opportunity to experience American hospitality and build new friendships!
Sign-up to be a part of the Breaking Bread Program
What Our Community Volunteers Are Saying
NCWU’s International support community is a vital part of our International Student Program. Linda Shepherd and her husband, John, joined NCWU’s Go Group in 2021. Since then, they have had the opportunity to connect with several students from Argentina, Peru and Nepal.
“Our involvement with the international students has meant so much to us,” stated Linda. “We have learned a little about their cultures, shown them a little of American homelife and built an emotional bond that will be with us for the rest of our lives.”
Linda and John invite these students not only into their home, but into their daily lives. They treat these students as if they were their own son or daughter by including them in various activities such as:
- Enjoying a Meal Together (Home Visits & Resturants)
- Birthday & Holiday Celebrations
- Church Services & Activities
- Going to Concerts (Rocky Mount & Raleigh)
- Airport Pick-ups
- Outdoor Projects & Picnics
It’s volunteers like the Shepherd’s that help our Bishop Family provide the very best experience possible for our international students as they adapt and get involved in American culture. According to the Shepherd’s, “every interaction with someone from another culture is a small step along the path to world peace.” In their opinion, “there’s nothing more rewarding for both international students and American families!”
