The International Friendship Program brings international students and Lafayette community members together in an active cross-cultural exchange. Partners and students come together during monthly group events designed to help all the participants get to know each other better. Successful pairs strengthen their friendship through shared meals, family events, off-campus outings and other activities of mutual interest.

By engaging in these types of interactions, students become more quickly integrated into American and campus life and all participants gain an understanding of diverse cultures. For students, interactions with a caring Friendship Partner can be a great help when acclimating to living abroad. Such a special relationship also lets them know they are a valued and integral part of the Lafayette community and provides them with positive learning experiences beyond the classroom. Partners get to experience a unique foreign culture first-hand and develop friendships that often last a life-time.

Find out more by reading the program’s FAQs for partners or for students, and by taking a look at Participant Testimonials.

The program is sponsored by the Office of International Student Advising under the direction of Janine Block, Assistant Director of Intercultural Development (blockj@lafayette.edu), and Sena Yevenyo ’22 (yevenyos@lafayette.edu), the IFP Student Coordinator responsible for the matching process and organizing group events.