Introduction
District 7950 encompasses 65 Rotary Clubs in Rhode Island, Southern Massachusetts, Cape Cod and the islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket however few clubs participate in Youth Exchange. This is a short introduction to Youth Exchange, and to encourage our efforts to foster world peace and promote understanding one exchange at a time.
If you would like an in-person presentation on Rotary Youth Exchange for your club, please contact us.
Summary
District 7950 encompasses all of Rhode Island, Southern Massachusetts, Cape Cod and the islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. If your club would like to be involved in Youth Exchange, please continue reading.
Rotary’s Youth Exchange Program presents opportunities for students to advance their knowledge and world understanding by allowing them to visit a different country, either for a few weeks during the summer, or for an entire school year. Participating students live with host families in their country for about 3 to 4 weeks in the summer (short term program) or for about 3 1/2 months during the school year. The Long term program relies on three host families, each hosting the student for about a third of the school year under the sponsorship of the local Rotary club.
It is easy to join the Rotary Youth Exchange program. It can be administered by just two volunteers from the Rotary club. One person acts as the Youth Exchange Officer (YEO) who assists interested students with the application process, and works with host families, and the school for the inbound exchange student. The second person acts at the counselor, providing guidance to the inbound student and as a contact for problems that might arise.
How Does the Rotary Youth Exchange Long Term and Short Term Program Work?
The ESSEX Short Term Family to Family exchange arranges for the student’s family to host a matching Rotary applicant (between the ages of 15 and 18 1/2 years) usually in the summer. Exchanges can be arranged by the families for not less than 3 weeks and not more than 6 weeks. The exchange in each country is for an equal amount of time except for Argentina, Australia, Brazil, India, and South Africa. These countries will not exchange unless we the exchange is a minimum of 8 weeks during their summer months. During this period, the student must not have a job or commitments that would interfere with hosting. The cost of travel, the ESSEX fee, Rotary District 7950 fees, insurance, clothing and personal expenses are the responsibility of the participating students and their families. There is no cost to the Rotary Club!
Travel to the host country is arranged by each student’s family communicating with the other student’s family, determining dates, times, travel arrangements in advance of the actual exchange. Often the student who first exchanges accompanies their host sibling on the return flight home.
Qualifications for Long Term and Short Term Exchange Students
.Any student age 15 to 18 1/2, of good character and a desire to visit another country and host in return is eligible for Rotary’s Short Term Exchange. Candidates should be adaptable and flexible, well mannered and have a desire to experience life in another country and culture. Children of Rotarians and non Rotarians are eligible.
One possible way to advertise and promote the program is a presentation to the Interact Club at your local high school. This can also promote word of mouth promotion as well as laying the groundwork for future participation in the Long Term Rotary Exchange program.
Responsibilities of Outbound Long Term and Short Term Exchange Students
Students who are sent abroad under the Rotary Exchange Program are expected to accept the following obligations:
Obey the laws of the host country at all times and accept the discipline of their host parents (failure to do so can result in immediate termination of the exchange with the natural parents bearing and travel surcharge).
Students are required to sign the ESSEX rules for exchange which state among other items that they will not drive a motorized vehicle while under the supervision of the Rotary Youth Exchange program.
Students may be required to address Rotary Clubs, other service organizations, youth groups and community groups during their stay in the host country and will upon return to the United States be expected to address the sponsor Rotary Club, reporting on their experience.
During their stay abroad, students may be expected to attend any official Rotary and Youth Exchange Program functions as directed by their host club.
Students serve as ambassadors for their home country and are expected to behave at all times in a manner that reflects positively on their families, communities and country.
Travel must be directly to and from the host country. Students are not allowed to stay in the host country after the exchange has ended.
Rotary Club Responsibilities
In order to participate in the Rotary Exchange Program, the Rotary club needs to have a member volunteer to serve as the Youth Exchange Officer (YEO). For the short term program, it is sufficient to have one volunteer. If increased participation in the Long Term Exchange Program is a club goal, the club might form a Youth Exchange Committee. The minimum number of volunteers for long term exchange is two, a YEO and a counselor.
YEO Responsibilites
To start in the Youth Exchange Program, the YEO needs to fill out an online volunteer application. This needs to include three personal references, and a criminal background check. This is required by Rotary International and our Department of State for the protection and guidance of our students. This application needs to be renewed every two years and takes about 15 to 20 minutes to complete the application.
An online training course is provided from the Department of State. This contains important information on visa regulations, placement of students, host family interactions among other things. The training ends with an online test that must be passed for certification. Total time for the training and test is approximately one hour.
From November to March, ideally the YEO should advertise for short term students through contacts at the high school or social media. After an application is received, the YEO will meet with the student and family to discuss the program and approve the application. This application is then sent on to the District STEP Chair.