ROTARY YOUTH EXCHANGE - AN OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME
 
INFORMATION FOR PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS: 
 
A year of study overseas as a Rotary Youth Exchange student gives you:
an opportunity to develop your personal self confidence and maturity
an opportunity to develop a lifetime of international friendships
an opportunity to develop a real understanding of many different cultures
an opportunity to develop new language skills
an opportunity to develop a base for future education and career goals
an opportunity to develop in many ways
 
How our Exchange works:
 
As a Rotary Exchange student, you will spend one year living in another country, usually with three or four host families. You will become part of those families and their community. These Rotary accredited families are volunteers who will welcome and care for you, supervise your year and introduce you to their culture and lifestyle.  In your host country you will learn another language, experience different foods, study different subjects, enjoy a new culture and enjoy a new way of living. In addition you will learn a great deal about yourself and gain confidence and self-sufficiency.  You will attend school in your local community, as well as participating in Rotary activities and civic functions. At the same time you will make new friends, see exciting places and experience adventures that will take a lifetime to recount.
 
INFORMATION FOR PROSPECTIVE HOST FAMILIES:
 
Any caring and responsible family with an interest in hosting a young person from another land can be a tremendous host family!  The best host families are really just normal families and they don’t fall into any one, easy-to-define category.  Families do not need to be affiliated with Rotary to host Rotary Exchange Students.  Families with small children make great host families because young children get the experience of having a big brother or sister and the exchange students often enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of practicing their language skills with a younger child.  “Empty Nesters” or retired couples are good too because they can have more time to spend with their student than younger parents do and they often enjoy having a young person around the house.  Families with high school age children are good because host brothers and sisters can quickly get the student involved in school and community activities.
Rotary differs from many international exchange programs in that our students generally live with three or more families during their exchange year. This gives the student a more well-rounded experience in a culture, having experienced family life from at least three different perspectives. It is also less of a commitment for host families; the typical length of stay is about three to four months instead of a full year.
 
For more information on becoming an exchange student or a host family please contact us:  YEX@rotarycs.org
 
Youth Exchange Student Application:  MS Word format