Here you will find the answers to the frequently asked questions.
MULTI is the youth exchange program of the city Oberhausen in Germany. It even is the biggest youth exchange in whole europe on a municipal level. Every two years youngsters from all over the world visit Oberhausen for two weeks. MULTI in Germany always takes place during the summervacation. Our guests spend a wonderful time with a diverse program in host families. In the other years, the youngsters from Oberhausen have the possibility to travel to our twin cities and meet their friends again.
All participants are insured by the organizer, which is the city of Oberhausen, during the whole time of the MULTI.
The participation in the MULTI in Oberhausen is free for he hosts. However, the host families are asked to ensure meals for the youngsters outside the program and on the family days.
No. The transport of the guests from the airport to Oberhausen is managed by the city. The hosts will meet their guests at the MULTI-Office at the NH Hotel Oberhausen. The return transport from the MULTI-Office to the airport also is managed by the city.
Knowledge of English is welcome, but is not a mandatory requirement for participation in the MULTI. It is sufficient if the youngsters can communicate with each other to a sufficient extent, for this the normal school English is sufficient. In addition, our polyglot or communicating with hands and feet can help with minor language problems.
As the name suggests, family days are there for the family. There is no program on these days and the host families have the opportunity to get to know their guest better through joint activities. The design of the family days is left to the host families. It is easiest if the entire family sits down with the guests and plans together. Excursions to Cologne or Münster are very popular, for example, but we ask that you do not go abroad (Netherlands, Belgium, etc.).
In such a case, there are the telephone numbers of the German country leaders and the emergency numbers, which the MULTI team can be reached around the clock. The MULTI team will immediately work to find the guest and clarify the situation.
No. When registering for MULTI encounters abroad, you can indicate your preferred countries in order of priority. There is no obligation to travel to a specific country. However, due to the limited capacities per country, there is no guarantee that you can travel to your desired country.
If your guest child or your own child falls ill and is therefore unable to participate in the program, please report this to the relevant country leader (the telephone number will be given on arrival of the guests). Also if your guest child has to go to the doctor, please report immediately to the relevant country leader. We take over the doctor’s visit to one of our selected doctors together.
Yes. Young people from neighboring cities can also participate in MULTI as hosts. If necessary, all young people will receive a ticket for public transport (price level B) for the MULTI period.
Of course there is the possibility to accommodate several guests. The desired number of guests can be specified when registering for the MULTI.
If necessary, all participating young people will receive a ticket for public transport (price level B) for the MULTI period, with which they can make their own way to the meeting point. An arrival by car is not necessary.
Of course. The participation of the youngsters and their guests in the program is a prerequisite for a successful MULTI. The program is diverse and offers young people the opportunity to meet new people, exchange ideas and make friends. Urgent exceptional cases should be clarified in advance. In the event of an acute illness, adolescents should of course temporarily refrain from participating in the program. In such a case, a notification to the organization team via the phone numbers distributed is necessary. Accompanying the guest to meeting points and back should also be clarified in good time. If the adolescents are absent on a regular basis, they may be excluded from the MULTI program.
We do not recommend the idea of trips to neighboring countries. On the family days, many host families are considering city trips to our neighboring countries. It should be borne in mind that guests from non-EU countries do not necessarily have a visa for our neighboring countries. The organization team also faces major challenges in the event of an emergency. Most federal state governments also collect their participants’ travel documents. When traveling abroad, these would of course have to be carried. How about a city trip to Cologne or Düsseldorf instead?
Unfortunately, we cannot give any guarantees, as we usually have no knowledge of the capacities of the host countries beforehand. Political or organizational decisions and the security situation in the federal states can also lead to a cancellation of the corresponding youth exchange. The inclusion of a guest nevertheless increases the chances of being able to travel to the corresponding country in the coming year.
No, a strict alcohol ban applies to all participants (from home and abroad) throughout MULTI! This includes both the time of the program and the program-free time. Violations can lead to exclusion. The same applies to the consumption of drugs.
The most important thing is the MULTI pass. Bring this with you every day, as it contains the bus ticket, vouchers and important information for us. So don’t forget it!!! Furthermore, a backpack (e.g. the multi backpack that is handed out on arrival) is recommended e.g. to stow the packed lunch. It makes sense for each participant to bring their own backpack with them, as the visiting siblings do not necessarily spend the whole day together. Possibly. a sweater or a rain jacket are also useful. And of course a good mood.
The most important thing is the MULTI pass. Bring this with you every day, as it contains the bus ticket, vouchers and important information for us. So don’t forget it!!! Furthermore, a backpack (e.g. the multi backpack that is handed out on arrival) is recommended e.g. to stow the packed lunch. It makes sense for each participant to bring their own backpack with them, as the visiting siblings do not necessarily spend the whole day together. Possibly. a sweater or a rain jacket are also useful. And of course a good mood.
The majority of the MULTI program is intended exclusively for the participating youngsters. The host families are of course also cordially invited to the official welcome, the icebreak party, the half-time exchange and the farewell party.
Furthermore, interested parents have the opportunity to actively participate in the program, e.g. as project manager on project days or as driver * in our minibuses. Inquiries can be directed to Marc Grunenberg (contact is mentioned below).
A separate room for the guest is not necessary, a reasonable sleeping possibility (bed, sofa, comfortable mattress bed) is normally absolutely sufficient.
On arrival of the guests, emergency numbers are given to all youngsters and host families who can be reached day and night for acute emergencies. There is also a contact person from the MULTI team for each country group, who is also always available. The MULTI team is of course available to answer any further questions on site.
The program days can be long, so the host families are asked not to send the youngsters to the program without breakfast. During the day, the young people are either given lunch or packed lunches that they can put together themselves. Additional snacks, etc. are not necessary. In the evening, the young people usually eat with the families again.
In some countries there are special rules regarding food preparation. For example, milk and meat products are not eaten together in Israel, and pork is not used either there or in Turkey. This does not mean that the host families have to completely change their eating habits. All that is asked is to offer alternatives to the youngsters concerned. It is best to talk about eating habits or favorite foods in advance or on the day of arrival.
In Germany there are legal requirements that say that youngsters under 16 years of age must be at home until 10 p.m. and young people between 16 and 18 years old by midnight. Of course, these regulations also apply to the MULTI participants. Of course, other regulations within these laws can also be agreed in the host families. We also recommend that youngsters over the age of 16 be at home by 11 p.m. at the latest to rest for the program. Such regulations do not exist in some countries. It therefore makes sense to talk to the guests about the topic and to make them understand the regulations that apply here.
No. We are of course happy if the hosts also take us on a trip abroad. However, it is by no means compulsory.
It sometimes happens that the guest children do not eat so much. There can be different reasons. On the one hand, it is possible that the guest child is simply not used to eating a lot of food at once. Here it offers itself to the guest to offer small meals more often. On the other hand, it is possible that your guest child does not like the food on offer or is not used to it. In this case, do not be sad or offended. This has nothing to do with your cooking skills. For the first time, many young people are so far from home and feel that German eating habits are different and new. Always offer your guest food to try. And most importantly, of course, talk about it. The problem can often be solved in a small conversation. It is best to ask right at the beginning whether there are things your guest child does not like to eat. It can also help to cook together, so your guest child can show you his / her favorite recipe from home, so you can also get to know your guests’ eating culture better. If none of this helps, we are of course there for you. Just call the appropriate country manager (the phone number will be given on arrival) and we will solve the problem together.
It sometimes happens that the guest children do not eat so much. There can be different reasons. On the one hand, it is possible that the guest child is simply not used to eating a lot of food at once. Here it offers itself to the guest to offer small meals more often. On the other hand, it is possible that your guest child does not like the food on offer or is not used to it. In this case, do not be sad or offended. This has nothing to do with your cooking skills. For the first time, many young people are so far from home and feel that German eating habits are different and new. Always offer your guest food to try. And most importantly, of course, talk about it. The problem can often be solved in a small conversation. It is best to ask right at the beginning whether there are things your guest child does not like to eat. It can also help to cook together, so your guest child can show you his / her favorite recipe from home, so you can also get to know your guests’ eating culture better. If none of this helps, we are of course there for you. Just call the appropriate country manager (the phone number will be given on arrival) and we will solve the problem together.