E X C H A N G E

This year, about 9,000 young people will see the world the way it is best seen - from the inside out through Rotary's Youth Exchange Program. This could be your year.

As Rotary Youth Exchange student, you will spend a year, or perhaps just extended holiday, 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're busy learning, the people you meet will be learning too-about your country, your culture, and your ideas. You will be a young ambassador. You will be helping to bring the world closer together-and you'll be making some good friends in the process.

If you're ready for the challenge-and the rewards of living in another land as an exchange student, or, as a host parent, of opening your heart to a young exchangee, then you're ready to discover new worlds through Rotary's Youth Exchange Program.

 

What is Rotary?

Rotary is an organization of business and professional leaders, united worldwide, dedicated to humanitarian
service, ethical standards in business, and the professions, and to promoting world understanding and peace
through programs like Youth Exchange. With more than 23,000 clubs in towns and cities in 164 different
countries and geographical areas, Rotary has an extensive network of volunteers, right in the Rotary clubs
operated one of the world's largest youth exchange programs, and almost entirely with volunteers.

Rotary has the experience - the experience of more than 30 years of sponsoring successful international
exchanges among young people, and...

Rotary has the commitment - the personal commitment and dedication of almost one million individual
Rotarians who want to give you the opportunity to make your Youth Exchange experience one of personal
growth and warm memories.

 

Here's What You Need to Know

Rotary's Youth Exchange program is open to young men and women, generally between the ages of 15 - 19, the sons and daughters of Rotarians and non-Rotarians alike. Applicants are selected by a sponsoring Rotary club on the basis of a written application and a personal interview.

The program offers two types of exchanges:

A long - term exchange of an academic year's duration, during which the student lives with more than one family and attends school in the host country.

A short term exchange, which may vary from several days to several weeks. It does not include an academic program and often takes place when schools are not in session.

Exchange can occur between any two countries in which there are Rotary clubs. In recent years, Rotary clubs in 54 different countries sponsored or hosted Youth Exchange students. A thorough orientation
program for students and their parents is provided by the sponsoring Rotary club. And the host Rotary
club provides support and guidance on the receiving end of the exchange.

While room and board for the exchangee is provided by the host family, the student and his own family
assume certain financial obligations. These include round-trip air transportation, clothing, health insurance,
and incidental expenses (pocket money) for the student. For long-term exchanges, the host Rotary club
will provide a modest monthly allowance and usually pays the student's tuition for all required academic
programs.

 

Be a Youth
Exchange Host

Hosting a Youth Exchange student can be as rewarding as being one. It's an opportunity to make a personal
contribution to advancing world understanding while expanding your own horizons and those of your family.
And it's a chance to build a relationship someone special, someone who will be part of your life for a long time
to come.

If you have children of your own, you can appreciate the responsibility that comes with hosting a Youth
Exchange student. You will be expected to provide parental guidance and supervision for the student as well
as room and board during his/her stay in your home. To facilitate the exchangee's assimilation into the culture
and allow more families in the community to participate in the Youth Exchange experience, the student usually
stays with more than one family during an exchange.

What types of families open their doors to Youth Exchange? All types. Rotarian and non-Rotarian families with young children, grown children and no children - all have shared the joy of hosting a new "son" or daughter form another land. All it takes is the willingness to care and a heart that's ready for a touch of Adventure.

 

You're
a Step Away
from a Better World

You can make a difference - in a world of differences - by taking a step towards promoting world understanding through Youth Exchange. Whether you step off an airplane as an exchange student, or as
a host parent, step back from your front door to let a young person enter to become part of your family for
a time, either way you will be taking a step in the right direction. Either way, you'll be right in step with Rotary.

Contact your local Rotary club today - the world needs more ambassadors for peace ad inter-country
understanding.

To contact the Rotary Club of Sarnia by phone at (519) 541-1066

Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon Monday to Thursday
Callers may leave a message before or after those hours.