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Rotary Youth Exchange
Sue Godey
Rotary District 5040
Youth Exchange Chair
What is Rotary?
• Rotary International
International service organization whose purpose is to bring business and
professional leaders together in order to provide humanitarian services,
encourage high ethical standards and to advance goodwill and peace through
the world.
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Established 110 years ago
Secular organization
Currently 34,000 clubs world-wide with 1.2 Million members
Open to all people regardless of race, colour, creed, religion, gender or
political preference.
4 Rotary Clubs on the North Shore 2 in North Van, 2 in West Van.
Rotary Club of Lions Gate is seeking to sponsor a student.
Rotary Youth Exchange Programs
Short Term Program (STEP)
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Takes place in the summer
Typically 4 week period
Direct Exchange Family to Family
Family pays for the cost of the exchange
Long Term Exchange Program
Began in 1927 now up to 8000 students in 60
countries.
 1 year program
 Cultural Exchange
 One student leaves, another arrives
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and attends the school of the outbound
student
Low Cost compared to ‘paid’
international exchanges
What we look for in a Rotary Youth Exchange student:
Above average academic standing.
Flexible, adaptable, tolerant.
Community or volunteer history.
Must be sponsored by a local Rotary Club
Open to new experiences and cultural
differences.
• Ready to take on a life altering, amazing and
unforgettable year in their life!
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What we ask of our students
• Act as ambassador for your home country, your
town, your local Rotary club, your family.
• Abide by program rules of your host club and
Rotary International (4 D’s)
• Accept the supervision of the host family, host
club and Rotary International.
• You are not a guest but a member of the Rotary
family.
• Be an active participant in your exchange year
(Bucket Lists!) Self starter.
Start that Bucket List!
Student Selection
 Open to all students from 15- 17 ½ years in the year they are outbound.
 Outbound student’s school must accept inbound student’s registration.
 Local Rotary Club interviews those interested and qualified.
 Once the local club has decided on their ambassador, District interviews being
held in New Westminster, December 6 2015, for successful applicant.
 Completion of forms including medical, dental, academic completed by
February 2016
 Outbound Student’s families willing to host inbound student for 3 months.
 Criminal record checks completed for all Rotarians, host family members over
19 and adults interacting with students are required.
Rotary Youth Exchange is not an Academic Exchange
• It is a cultural not an academic or travel exchange.
• You will not likely get academic credits with the
exception of a language credit.
• You may have to forego a school year in Canada.
• Check with local school counsellors on front loading
courses, correspondence course credits, and how the
year away will affect you.
Inbound Orientation
Countries that we exchange with:
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Brazil
Taiwan
Japan
Germany
France
Mexico (specifically Puebla)
Belgium
Sweden
Denmark
Will consider Spain, Finland, Italy
Students should have 3 choices .
Local Rotary Club Involvement with YEX
• Provides Counsellor for inbound student
• Arranges for host families for inbound students
• Selects outbound students from local community
(3 host families within the exchange year)
• Pays for various orientation sessions and travel for
Inbounds (costs defrayed among all participating Rotary
Clubs in District)
• Supports, and nurtures inbound student’s exchange year.
• Works with District Chair to ensure compliance with
regard to student safety/anti harassment policy.
Costs of Exchange – Outbound Students
*$5,200.00 which includes:
Roundtrip airfare
Health and Medical insurance
Visa processing fees
Blazers, business cards.
Orientation sessions both going out and when arriving in
host country and returning.
• *$200.00 returned to families that attend Rebound in
August.
• Bursary available for families in financial hardship and
need.
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Costs Continued:
Does not include:
• Non Mandatory trips, tours, events.
• $500.00 USD emergency fund which is held in trust by host club
and returned at end of exchange if not used.
• Language courses – some countries make this a mandatory
requirement.
• Spending money although clubs provide a monthly allowance.
• Gifts for host families and Rotarians.
• Extra curricular programs such as sports, drama etc. that are
typically available in Canada but not within school programs
overseas.
Youth Exchange Year
• September/October Clubs choose outbound student
• December – District Interviews
• January – countries chosen, students and families advised.
Paperwork starts!
• May – 3 day Outbound Orientation – Squamish for students and
parents. (sorry, no siblings)
• August – leave for host country to arrive before school year in
September (exception Brazil)
• August 2016 – Rebound Orientation in Gavin Lake (just outside of
Williams Lake), immediate family members welcomed along with
students – a chance to share year, and gives us an opportunity to
address reverse culture shock and assist with reconnections.
Outbounds 2015-2016/Inbounds 2014-2015
Why do we (Rotary) do it?
• Deeper cultural understanding , building better
global citizens and is profoundly rewarding.
• Youth returning home with a broader view of the
world.
• Tomorrow’s Rotarians
• Builds life long friendships and bonds.
• Builds peace and world understanding one
student, one exchange at a time.
2015-2016 Inbound Students
Questions?
For more information:
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www.d5040youthexchange.ca
Facebook – District5040 Youth Exchange
www.rotarydistrict5040.com/youth
Your local Rotary Club
Sue Godey, District Chair
suegodey@telus.net