WHO WE ARE
International students often struggle with culture shock, stress, and loneliness when leaving their homes to study in the US. International Friendships, Inc. (IFI) is a national organization partnering with local churches, universities, and volunteers to provide life-changing hospitality and friendship to international students. We work strategically to make the world feel at home and extend God’s love globally — right where we are.
Just the Beginning
When Nat arrived in Ohio from Thailand as an international student, he held excitement and nerves in both hands. Like many students new to the U.S., he wondered how he would adjust to life in a new country. “I was nervous about making friends and finding my way,” Nat remembered. Those worries began to ease when he discovered IFI through his ESL program in Cleveland, a connection that would quickly shape his experience. During his very first week, IFI staff invited Nat into their home for dinner. Between food and games, strangers began to feel like friends. [...]
