What is Rotary Youth Exchange?

 

Rotary's Youth Exchange Program is an opportunity for young people to experience a year of education overseas in a wide range of countries. It also provides many personal experiences and opportunities during and after the year of exchange.

Rotary's Youth Exchange Program is recognised by participants, parents and schools as the best student exchange program in the world. It is the largest of its type in Canada and it is backed up by caring and dedicated Rotarians who provide the infrastructure of the program. Students stay with host families as arranged by the Host Rotary Club.

 

In most cases there is more than one host family, the usual arrangement being three or four. This enables students to experience life in a foreign culture with several family units. Host families may or may not be members of Rotary.

All Host families are approved by the Host Club and go through a series of checks before approval. Annually about 20 students are sponsored by Clubs in District 5550 to participate in the Long Term Program (1 calendar year, August through July)

 

 Who can apply?

Any boy or girl may apply as long as the age criteria in the following paragraph is met. Sons and daughters of Rotarians have no preference in selection.

Applicants:

1.    Must be aged 16 and not have turned 18 at the time of departure. For planning purposes, this should be taken as 1 August in the year of departure. Actual departure is mid August for most countries.

2.    Should be making sound academic progress at school and preferably be in the top one third of their year group academically.

3.    Should also have an interest in people and places.

4.    Should have a good general knowledge of Canada, its history, political system, socio-economic policies and its involvement in international affairs. Applicants must have displayed high standards of personal conduct and attitudes which reflect and are widely accepted in the community.

5.    Must have an outgoing personality and be interested in cultural and/or outdoor pursuits.

Rotary is looking for young people who will act as a personal ambassador for their family, sponsoring community, Rotary District 5550 and Canada.

 

How are students selected?

Students are selected by Rotary Clubs on the basis of their application and a personal interview. Applications usually close with local Rotary clubs at the end of June or at lastest end of September. Applicants and their parents are interviewed by the Rotary Club to whom application is made. The successful applicant from the Club will then prepare a long application form and and forward it to the district.  A final interview will follow with a District Youth Exchange representative.

The District Committee has published a list of countries we may be exchanging with for the upcoming year and you will indicate your first four preferences from among these countries.  This may or may not end up being your placement depending on availability and age restrictions for that country.  The earlier you get your application in to the district, the better your chances of getting your choice as placement is on a first come basis. 

 

Rotary provides training  

Rotary clubs have an important role in the exchange. They provide one of their members to act as Counselor. The Counselor's role is to maintain close contact with the student until departure. The counselor will also remain in contact with student while on their exchange, and with the student's parents. The District Committee also provides training days for the student and their parents to assist all in preparing for the year of exchange.

 

 

Are their other obligations?

Students are required to adhere to the rules of the Youth Exchange Program including specific rules applicable to the Host District and country. These rules cover travel, insurance, personal behavior and Rotary's expectations of students who will be acting as Rotary ambassadors.

Schooling considerations

While youth exchange is meant to be a cultural experience, students are traveling on a student visa, and therefore must attend school while on exchange. When students return following their year of exchange, credits may be available for subjects studied while on exchange. This must be checked with the student’s own school (and school to which they will return) before departure. The question of at what point in the students secondary schooling they participate is a personal choice.  The real bonus for education though is the personal development experience students get from exchange itself.

What does an exchange cost?

Actual costs vary depending on the country of exchange and the student's personal budget. A 'global fee' is payable to the District Committee which covers the formal parts of the exchange including travel, insurance, attendance at training days, orientation manuals, blazer, business cards and assistance in obtaining visas. Students will receive a monthly allowance from their Host Clubs of approximately $100 (CDN) but families should be prepared for additional day-to-day living expenses. Parents/students are also required to pay for Rotary organized tours in the Host country (voluntary but most exchange students undertake them), some schooling expenses (as determined by the Host Club) and providing an Emergency Fund of approximately $500 (CDN) redeemable at the end of the exchange.

 

What are the benefits of exchange?

The benefits of exchange are many and varied. Students grow in personal self confidence and maturity, become more open in their views and tolerant, are more self-reliant and accept greater responsibility for themselves and their actions. They also develop leadership skills. Exchange students have to adapt to unfamiliar surroundings, to different ways of life and to a culture that is different from what they experience at home. For some it will be the first extended period of separation from their own family. This will bring about many trials and tribulations which they will need to overcome and by doing so they develop many "survival skills".

 

To live away from home for 10 months is a demanding yet rewarding experience. It s not easy and requires great strength of character, tolerance and a clear understanding of one' self. The exchange provides a unique opportunity for young Canadians to experience at first hand the culture and life style of a different country and a new language. Often the friendships they make will be lifelong and important in achieving the aim of youth exchange: the building of goodwill and understanding between nations.

 

What to do now?

If you are interested in making an application, you must do this on the appropriate initial Application Form, available from the from any participating Rotary Club or your school councilor. This Application Form must be submitted to a Rotary Club, which will select a student from the received applications and a round of personal interviews of applicants. The Club's successful applicant then completes a final, official long application which includes school and medical reports as well as personal information and a copy of the official Youth Exchange Program rules.

For further information see:  www.rotarydistrict5550yep.org

The contacts for your area will be listed in the district committee list.  They can direct you to the closest Rotary Club.