Nearly 300 international students will converge in Chatham this weekend.
The students have started the school year and are currently living with host families in Chatham-Kent.
Victoria Bodnar, coordinator of resident attraction and retention community attraction and promotion with the municipality, said the exchange program isn't something new for the community but there has been an increase in terms of interest.
"Certainly there are more students coming this year than I can recall for the past couple of years so that's great news for Chatham-Kent -- in being seen as a welcoming community," said Bodnar.
The students are from different parts of the world. Bodnar said in the Lambton Kent District School Board alone, there are students from 23 countries involved in the program.
"Every time we speak with international students, they're excited to be here, they're looking for that rural community connection," she said.
The international study experience is known to help students improve their English and learn about Canadian culture. However, Bodnar said it also acts as an opportunity for local residents to learn about other cultures.
"Every time we're able to engage with international students, it's a really fun experience and it also helps to kind of promote and be proud of what's going on in the community," she said. "To see different ways of life or different ways of thinking is something that diversity brings to us in different forms so to be able to provide that or support that at a school level is pretty huge, it's a benefit to all of us."
International students and their host families, as well as municipal representatives, will meet each other at an event Saturday afternoon.
