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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 2010], 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:
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Round-trip airfare to your host country
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Health and accident insurance
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All travel documents, such as passports and
visas
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Clothing and spending money
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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.
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