About Youth Exchange
Every
year more than 8,000 teens will see the world the way it is best seen —
from the inside out — through the Youth Exchange program. This could be
your year.
As a Rotary Youth Exchange student, you will spend a
year living with a host family in a country other than your own. You may
learn a new language; you will learn a new way of living and a great
deal about yourself. But there's more. While you are busy learning, the
people you meet will be learning as well — about your country, culture,
and ideas. You will be an ambassador. You will be helping to bring the
world closer together, and you'll be making good friends in the process.
If
you are ready for the challenge and the rewards of living in another
land as an exchange student, then you are ready to discover new worlds
through the Rotary Youth Exchange.
Eligibility
If
you are a high school student between the ages of 15 and 18 [Students
must be over 15yrs 6months and under 18yrs on 1 September 2011], then
you are eligible for Rotary Youth Exchange. As the world’s oldest
exchange program of its kind, Rotary Youth Exchange takes pride in
choosing students who are academically above average, articulate, and
demonstrate leadership in their communities.
Ideal candidates
should also possess qualities — like flexibility and a willingness to
try new things — that will enable them to become excellent cultural
ambassadors. You do not have to be involved with Rotary in any way in
order to apply, although children of Rotarians are more than welcome to
participate.
Student responsibilities
All
students are ambassadors of the Rotary club that sponsored them and of
their country. They are expected to follow the Youth Exchange program
rules, be open to new experiences, and strive to learn the language of
the host country.
The student and his/her own family will assume
certain financial obligations. Rotary Youth Exchange is one of the least
expensive international exchange programs open to high school-aged
students. Because volunteers in Rotary clubs and districts administer
the Rotary Youth Exchange program, you will not have to pay fees to an
agency to arrange an exchange.
With Rotary, you and your parents or guardians are responsible for:
* Round-trip airfare to your host country
* Health and accident insurance
* All travel documents, such as passports and visas
* Clothing and spending money
* An emergency fund for your use during the year
Room
and board while you are away will be provided by your host families,
and your host Rotary club will finance the tuition for required academic
programs. Also, on long-term exchanges, your host Rotary club will
provide you with a modest monthly allowance. Some Rotary clubs have
established scholarships for disadvantaged students to help fund the
cost of plane tickets and other expenses. Check with your local Rotary
club to see if they offer such assistance.
Although Rotary
International offers support to local Rotary Youth Exchange programs
through publications and suggested guidelines, Rotary districts and
clubs run their programs independent of Rotary International. Therefore,
each club or district program will have its own specific rules for
students to follow. Students accepted into the program sign and agree to
abide by a list of program rules prior to their departure from home.
While the host Rotary club will discuss all program rules with you, you
and your parents may wish to review the program rules to be sure
everyone has a clear understanding of what is expected.
Do you
still have questions? Then send an email to Chris Byrnes the Burlington
area co-coordinator for Youth Exchange chris@byrnesmedia.com
Frequently Asked Questions:
In
most cases, no. However, you will enjoy and adapt better to your host
country if you have studied the language before your arrival. If you
have never taken any language courses, you should do study on your
own as much as possible before your departure.
In
most study abroad programs, students only get the chance to live with
one host family. With Rotary, you have the opportunity to live with
up to three different families. Because the main goal of the Rotary
program is to promote peace and understanding among the different
cultures of the world, you will gain greater insight into the ways of
your host country by living with more than one family.
No. As a Rotary
Youth Exchange student, you will have a student visa that enables you
to live for an extended period of time abroad. Student visas
expressly prohibit you from working at a paying job at any time
during your stay.
Host families
are selected in much the same way you are selected as an exchange
student. They must complete an application and an in-home interview
with the individuals coordinating Youth Exchange in their area. Host
family parents do not have to be Rotarians, but many Rotary club
members apply to serve as host families.
Organized sports and
extracurricular activities are different from country to country. If
you are interested in playing a particular sport or practicing a
certain extracurricular pursuit, be certain to discuss it with your
host Rotary club. Your host club will then try to enroll you in
whatever form of organized extracurricular activity you wish.
Program rules
generally consist of common-sense stipulations, such as no driving of
motor vehicles and the need to obtain special permission for travel
while on an exchange. Generally, as a Rotary Youth Exchange student,
it is your responsibility to:
•
Abide by all the program rules of your host Rotary club and district.
• Accept the supervision of the
host district, host club, and host family.
•
Act as an ambassador of your own country.
•
Be open to new experiences and cultural differences.
