Student Exchange Organization:  EF Foundation (Educational Foundation for Foreign
Studies Program)

Exchange student gets rude welcome to America, by Gayle Perez, The Pueblo Chieftain,
September 21, 2006

Seventeen-year-old German native Volkan Deniz applied to be a foreign exchange student in the United States for the experiences he would gain from spending a year abroad.

"I like to learn about new cultures and new countries," Volkan said in an interview Wednesday.  "I wanted to come to the United States to learn more about the country and the people."

Since leaving his home in Schalksmeuhle, Germany on Aug. 15, Volkan has had quite the experience.

Volkan said he initially requested to live with a host family in California where he had hoped to learn to surf.

But the day before he left Germany, Volkan learned that he was being diverted to Colorado.

He arrived in La's Animas where he waited for a host family to be found for him through the Educational Foundation for Foreign Studies program.

"They told me that they didn't have any more spots open in California, so I came to Colorado," he said. "I guess I won't learn to surf."

It didn't take long for the foundation to find a host family in nearby Lamar.

But the family quickly declined to host him in their home once they learned Volkan was a Muslim.

"They stated I couldn't stay with them because of my religion," said Volkan, who was born and raised in Germany to Turkish parents.  Volkan remained in Las Animas awaiting another host family.  In the meantime, classes were beginning in most area school districts.

During a trip through Pueblo en route to picking up another exchange student from the airport, Volkan heard about a contest on a local radio, called in and won 15 gallons of gasoline.

While at the gasoline station to claim his prize, an employee overheard Volkan talking about his situation.

The employee, Gary Dall, said he had hosted another German exchange student the past school year and agreed to take in Volkan on a temporary basis.

"He had already missed a full week of school and we knew he needed to be enrolled in school," Dall said.

Volkan moved to Pueblo and enrolled at South High School, where he is adjusting to the school and his classmates.  He also is a member of the school's soccer team.

Although he is doing well at Dall's home, there are several circumstances that prevent him from staying there long term.

Dall said his previous exchange student left on June 19 after a 10-month stay and he wasn't ready to host another student this soon.

"It's a very emotional experience," he said.  "When he left it was like losing son."

Also, Dall said that Volkan's family had requested he live in a traditional family home with other children.  Dall does not have any children.

"He's not a problem for us.  He's a fine boy and a lot of fun to be around, but he really needs to be in a home where he has peers," Dall said.

Volkan agreed, adding that he had requested to be with a family with children.

"I would like to be with somebody my own age so we hang out and do things together," he said.

Volkan said he wants to remain at South to complete his senior year.

In spite of all he has gone through in his short stay in the United States, Volkan doesn't plan to leave before his stint ends in June.

"I think this is all part of the experience," he said with a smile. "I've never thought about leaving.  It would destroy the whole experience if I were to go back now."

Dall said anyone interested in hosting Volkan for the remainder of the school year can contact him 671-2749.

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A STRANGE EXCHANGE Student shortchanged by shady dealings, by Julie Kay/The Reporter.Com -- 07/15/06

A 30-year-old Vacaville woman accused of stealing money from an exchange student she hosted last fall is being investigated by the Solano County District Attorney's office on suspicion of grand theft and felony misconduct, authorities said.

In the meantime, the exchange organization responsible for the student's placement has refused to refund his money, asserting the student "handled his personal spending money inappropriately."

Joseph Kessi, 18, arrived from Ghana last September to attend Vacaville High School, where he placed on the soccer team and excelled in his classes.  The young man was featured in The Reporter after leaving the home where his host mom reportedly had stolen his money and after having been "adopted" by Woodland's Michelle Dickey and the Vacaville Rotary Club.

Dickey provided Kessi room and board without compensation throughout the school year, while rotarians gave Kessi a monthly stipened and took him on a variety of sight-seeking adventures.

The article touched only briefly on Kessi's experience in his first host home.

"He said he wanted to put it all behind him and pretend it never happened," said Dickey.

Dickey and other Rotarians say Kessi told them his parents borrowed from family members to pay the $7,000 total program cost.  He arrived in the United States with $1,200, he said.  Shortly after his arrival, his first host mother convinced him to buy a television and DVD player, which they used in her home, he said.

She advised him to put his money in a bank account but told him he couldn't open one without a social security number, Kessi told Dickey.  She then offered to open an account for Kessi, into which he deposited his remaining money, Dickey said.

The woman also called Kessi's parents, telling them she could get Kessi into the University of California, Davis if they sent her $500.  Kessi's parents had an American uncle wire the money to her; Kessi never saw it again.

After hearing Kessi's story, and later discovering what appeared to be evidence of felony misconduct, Dickey and Kessi filed a report with the police.

Police videotaped interviews with Kessi, Dickey, and Kessi's first host mother.  Vacaville Police Detective Bob Horel, who handled the case, said authorities obtained copies of bank records and confiscated the host mother's computer for evidence.  Having reviewed these, the police attempted to located the woman, but were unsuccessful, said Horel.  Police then handed the case to the Solano County District Attorney's Office for further investigation of possible grand theft and felony misconduct, said Horel.  Accounding to the DA's office, the case is still under investigation.

The organization which originally placed Kessi, the New York-based Program of Academic Exchange (PAX), said it will accept no responsibility for what happened.

In a July 11 e-mail addressing the situation, PAX president Libby Cryer said her organization "clearly and unmistakably advised the student, both verbally and in writing, that PAX rules specified that a student should not put money in a joint account."

"While we have regrets whenever a PAX student makes a costly mistake, we also make it very clear that students must abide by program rules and must accept responsibility for their own actions when they don't," Cryer continued in the e-mail.

Cryer wrote that she "spoke regularly and at length with Detective Horel."

"Detective Horel concluded that there was no case for legal action in this matter," Cryer continued.  "He passed the case along to the district attorney, who, in turn, concluded no legal action was in order.

"PAX finds no reason to reimburse any amount to the family of Joseph Kessi (sic) and does not intend to do so."

In a telephone conversation Friday, Cryer declined to answer further questions on the situation, saying that the e-mail she sent contained a thorough explanation.  Asked about differences between her's and Horel's accounts of the progress of the case, Cryer said her information was based on her understanding of what Horel said.

Dickey said she was "absolutely shocked at (PAX's) response."

"Putting the fault on Joseph...'Oh he shouldn't have opened a joint checking account,'" she said.  "I think what's so frustrating is he was completely victimized and nobody's taking any responsibility for it at all."

Danielle Grijalva, who directs the Committee for the Safety of Foreign Exchange Students, based in Oceanside, filed a complaint about the issue with the State Department in June.  Its investigation is under way. 

Student exchange organization:  Program of Academic Exchange (PAX)

EXCHANGE STUDENT CLAIMS SHE WAS TARGET OF FRAUD, by Tasha Kates, Lockport Union-Sun & Journal, June 14, 2006