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BBYO International Convention 2026


Global Ambassadors Week Home Host Registration

BBYO, the world’s largest pluralistic Jewish youth movement is holding their International Convention (IC) in Philadelphia in February with thousands of Jewish teens from across North America and around the world coming to town. In the days before, hundreds of teen delegates from 50 countries arrive in Philly for a pre-program (with professional staff) and are customarily home housed with local Jewish families for an enriching experience before heading to the main event site for the convention.

 

BBYO is seeking host families to meet their goal of home housing 500 teens — and they're more than 50% of the way there (they need about 200 more beds)! Teens will arrive on both Thursday, February 5 or Sunday, February 8 – all teens move to the convention site on Wednesday, February 11. If you’re able to host teens for the three or six nights, you can take part in a powerful and unique opportunity with these extraordinary teens. Teens are home hosted in minimums of at least two, but past host families have welcomed three, four, six, whatever works for your home and family.


Hosting shouldn’t interfere with school or professional hours: BBYO hosts the teens at programming all day from morning through early evening and will arrange multiple pick-up and drop-off points throughout the area to make transportation as local to you as possible. The bus stops are slated  (but will expand as more hosting clusters are confirmed) for the following neighborhoods:


 •Ambler/Fort Washington

 •Center City

 •Cherry Hill

 •Penn Valley

 •Plymouth Meeting

 •Southampton


Some baseline criteria to host:

  • Comfortable housing with safe, clean, and appropriate sleeping arrangements. Teens can share a full bed or larger, including quality pull-out beds. 
  • All host families will greet their international delegates at Philadelphia International Airport or William Gray Amtrak Train Station for pick-up on Thursday, February 5 or Sunday, February 8.
  • Transportation (adult drivers only, please) will be required for morning drop off and evening pick-up each day at multiple area points. 
  • Family time begins Friday evening through Monday morning apart from a communitywide party for all Jewish teens Saturday night. Monday and Tuesday nights (Feb 9 & 10) are also family nights.
  • Host families need to provide breakfast each morning and dinner each evening.
  • A 3-part Pennsylvania state compliance and background check process on all host adults living in PA will commence upon signing up.
  • Hosts living in New Jersey will similarly complete a background check screening process through BBYO's compliance partner, Vetty. 
  • Families hosting 5+ teens are eligible if requested for a grocery gift card to offset the cost of meals for the week.
  • All registered and confirmed host families will have access to 
    • Deeply discounted admission for local teens to the BBYO Liberty/South Jersey Global Ambassadors Week Kickoff event on Saturday, Feb. 8
    • Discounted admission to join the international delegation at the Philadelphia 76ers vs New York Knicks on Wednesday, February 11
    • Two free Adult Tickets for BBYO's IC Community Reception + Opening Ceremonies on Thursday, Feb. 12

If you have any questions or would like more information, please reach out to the BBYO Global Ambassadors Week Team at gaw@BBYO.org.


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Pennsylvania Compliance Requirements


If you live in Pennsylvania: The state of Pennsylvania requires background checks and fingerprinting for all volunteers who have direct contact with minors (anyone under the age of 18). As a home host living in PA, you are required to comply with these state-mandated regulations. This background screening will need to be processed for all members of the home host's household over the age of 18 years old. BBYO takes the security of our teens seriously, and we appreciate your help in taking this crucial step to help ensure a safe environment. 


 All adults in the home will receive an email asking them to create an account in BBYO’s Volunteer Management System (VMS) in order to initiate their background check. Once you have created an account, you will receive links to complete the Pennsylvania Background Check, Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Check, and the FBI Fingerprint Check or Review/sign a disclosure statement. Please make sure to take immediate action upon receiving this email. Any adult that has not been cleared cannot stay overnight in the home during the home hosting period. 


If you live in New Jersey: All adults in the home will receive an email asking them to initiate their background check. This check will be sent through our background screening provider, Vetty. Please make sure to take immediate action upon receiving this email. 


Below, please complete the names and email address of any adults in your home over the age of 18.









Address Information








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Hosting Info & Preferences



















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Volunteering at IC


Summary

Thank you for your interest in hosting international delegates. This cross-cultural exchange is a meaningful opportunity. We encourage you to explore the culture of your guest(s) and learn about their unique Jewish community! Please remember that there will be cultural differences, and opportunities to learn from one another throughout the experience. 

 

As a reminder, you'll need to be able to provide the following to qualify as a Global Ambassadors Week home host:

  • Complete and submit results of three-step PA compliance process.
  • Provide comfortable housing with safe, clean and appropriate sleeping arrangements. 
  • Provide transportation (adult drivers only) to our pick-up and drop-off locations each day except during Shabbat. 
  • Greet your international delegates at Philadelphia International Airport on their arrival day. 
  • Provide vegetarian/kosher style/kosher breakfast and dinner during programming days. 
  • If your family is engaging in an outing like a movie or eating out at a restaurant, you'll be comfortable to pay for your international delegates. This does not include casual socializing, like going to a mall where delegates shop with spending money that they have brought to purchase gifts, souvenirs, etc.  

Thank you! 


BBYO appreciates our Philadelphia community and would not be able to put on incredible programs without your help. Make sure to click "submit", or the form will not be received.