A GUIDE TO ROTARY
YOUTH EXCHANGE




PROMOTION OF
INTERNATIONAL
UNDERSTANDING AND PEACE
CREATE A SAFE,
COMFORTABLE ENVIRONMENT
IN WHICH STUDENTS CAN
LEARN ABOUT OTHER
CULTURES
ENABLE STUDENTS TO
ADVANCE THEIR EDUCATION
BY STUDYING ABROAD
TO ACT AS AMBASSADORS
Carl-Wilhelm Stenhammar
Rotary International President, 2005-06
Why do you feel the Rotary Youth Exchange program is
so important?
“One of our goals is to create peace and better
understanding between people. I think Rotary’s
Youth Exchange program is the best way of doing
that. My dream is for every 17-year-old to become a
Youth Exchange student. If we could achieve this,
there would be no more wars.”




1927 – COPENHAGEN,
DENMARK – SHORT-TERM
EXCHANGES
SCOTTSBLUFF-GERING AND
VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA – 1ST
INTERNATIONAL YEARLONG EXCHANGE – 1958
1972 ROTARY
INTERNATIONAL
ESTABLISHES AS OFFICIAL
PROGRAM
CURRENTLY: 80 COUNTIES
PARTICIPATE SENDING
8,000 STUDENTS EACH
YEAR

Long-Term Exchange
◦ Academic year

Short-Term Exchange
◦ Home stay
◦ Camps

New Generations Exchange
◦ 18-25 years
◦ 3-6 weeks
◦ Vocational or community service element

No other organization is better suited.
◦ 1.2 million Rotarians around the world, largest
service organization in the world; 32,000 clubs
create an extensive network of support
◦ 50 years of exchange experience.
◦ Financial ability to provide an affordable
program for students and their families.
◦ Availability of families who want their children to
have this experience and who are interested in
having foreign students in their home.
Maya Frost
Author – “The New Global Student
How to pick the right exchange program?
“There are many other organizations creating
wonderful exchange opportunities for
students, but I’m going to focus on only
one. I have my own personal reasons for
recommending it, but even if I didn’t, I’d
pick Rotary International over all others,
hands down.”




An enormous network of volunteers
around the globe.
Unmatchable level of support to families
and students
Offers its exchange programs at a
considerable lower price than most other
organizations.
Rotary International is committed to
humanitarian work on both a local and a
global scale.



Low costs – Rotary club volunteers administer
the program at the local level, which helps
keep costs low for students and their
families.
Selection and orientation process starts 9-12
months before the student leaves on
exchange
Application process starts at club level
DISTRICT
COMMITTEE


COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON:
Appointed by the District
Governor and responsible
for stimulating, coordinating
and promoting club
participation.
COMMITTEE: Responsible
for final selection of
outbound students, oversees
travel arrangements, visa
processing and placement of
the students within the
District Clubs.





Total Budget – approximately $100,000/year
(including Bus Trip - $75,000)
District Assessment - $2500 + clerical
support
OB Application Fees - $11,000
IB Registration Fees - $8,000
Not a Rotary Foundation Program


DISTRICT 5440 TO ONE OF 15-25 DISTRICTS
IN EUROPE, SOUTH AMERICA, CENTRAL
AMERICA, ASIA, AUSTRALIA
WE SEND A STUDENT TO A PARTICULAR
DISTRICT-AGREE TO HOST A STUDENT FROM
THAT DISTRICT SOMEWHERE IN D5440




Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico
Australia
Belgium, Czech Republic/Slovakia, Denmark,
France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Poland,
Sweden, Switzerland
Taiwan, Thailand


Each club has a Youth Exchange Committee
The Committee is Responsible for:
◦ Execution of Club Compliance Agreement for
Youth Protection Policy
◦ Interviewing and selecting students
◦ Placement of the students referred to their club
within families in the community
◦ Act as liaison between exchange student, family,
school district and district exchange committee
◦ If a club sends outbound students, they must
accept equal number in return during the same
year; however clubs may host a student even if
they do not send one.

TO SEND A STUDENT:
◦ recommend that club
assist with application
fee - $600
◦ Club banners

TO HOST A STUDENT:
◦ monthly allowances $100-$125 suggested
◦ $375/student for
District meeting
registrations
◦ Gifts for birthdays,
Christmas
◦ Meal costs at Rotary
meetings, other
functions
◦ May assist with cost of
Southwest Trip
Students between the
ages of 15 and 19
(depending on the laws of
the country) and not
graduated at time of
application.
Children of Rotarians are
eligible but do not receive
preferential treatment

Students who will make good ambassadors:
◦ Academically above average top 1/3 of class
◦ Community leadership skills
◦ Well-rounded personalities
◦ Good character and reputation
◦ Inquiring minds
◦ Adaptability and flexibility
◦ Complete and unqualified
support of parents





Maturity Level
Ability to exercise good judgment
Compatibility with Rotary goals
Health, both physical and mental
Number of students district can support








24-26 Sept 2010 - Inbound Student Orientation –
Wyoming Wilderness Camp - Esterbrook, Wyoming
31 Oct, 2010 Outbound Applications due to District
Committee
4 Dec, 2010 - Outbound Student Interviews Cheyenne, WY
28-30 Jan 2011 - Inbound Ski Week-end – Grand
Targhee Ski Area - Wyoming
April 22-24, 2011 - Outbound Orientation Douglas, WY
May 12-14, 2011 - District Conference –Greeley, CO
June 12-26, 2011 - Southwest Bus Tour
July - Aug 2010 - Outbound Departure to Host
Country



To insure success of
program
Contractual
arrangements with
other countries dictate
some rules
Safety and security of
students is highest
priority


In the event of an emergency (civil unrest,
injury, accident or death of student), the club
MUST contact the District Youth Exchange
Committee Chairman prior to making any
other calls.
Established protocol for handling any crisis
Rotary International is committed to creating
and maintaining the safest possible
environment for all participants in Rotary
activities. It is the duty of all Rotarians,
Rotarians’ spouses, partners, and other
volunteers to safeguard to the best of their
ability the welfare of and to prevent the
physical, sexual, or emotional abuse of
children and young people with whom they
come into contact.





Policy
Selection and screening
Training
Support and communication
Program participants
Students are prohibited from:

◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
Drinking
Driving
Drugs
Devotion
Delinquency
Downloading
Disfigurement



Obey the laws of
the country they are
in.
Travel with an adult
chaperone and only
with the permission
of host parents and
district chairman.
Attain passing
grades






Not work for wages
Carry health insurance
through Rotary
Not smoke
Attend mandatory
District Rotary
meetings
Be a good ambassador
for his or her country
And Most Importantly .
..
Students travel
education visa
on
an



Cultural Insurance – CISI/Bolduc – leader
in educational travel and cultural
exchange insurance market
All students must carry a policy
sanctioned by Rotary regardless of family
insurance
Some host countries require students to
purchase an additional policy unique to
that country



Plan A is required for Outbound Students (if
student is required to purchase insurance in
host country, that takes precedence)
Fee is paid at or after Outbound Orientation
Plan B is required for all Inbound Students
(with some exceptions) and must be paid
within 30 days of arrival to U.S.







Applications accepted by local clubs in fall.
Local club interviews applicants and makes
selection
Selected applicant is advanced to district
interview level by end of October
Nov/Dec - District interview process
Country placement
Orientation - late spring
Departure - July/August










Airline ticket
$300 emergency fund
$600 application fee
Rotary-approved health/personal liability
insurance ($300-$600)
Visa, passport expenses
Medical exams, immunizations
Extra spending money while there
Business cards and trading pins, gifts
Motel, meals and travel expenses for District
interview and District Orientation meeting. Both
parents/guardians are required to attend.
Bus tours


District Interviews
December 4th – Cheyenne
Outbound Orientation – April
22-24 - Douglas
(Must attend with parent(s) or
guardian(s))
OUTBOUND STUDENTS
2010-2011






District Chairman selects students to be
sent to Host club
Host Club arranges suitable host families
of good character - not necessarily
Rotarians
3-4 Host Families is best
Appoints Club Counselor who cannot be
host parent
Provide with monthly allowance
Provide transportation to Rotary functions




Keep student’s passport and airline ticket in a
safe place in club’s possession!
Collect $300 emergency fund!
Students must stay until school and District
Conference are finished.
Make sure student has made return airline
reservations by March

Exchange Visitor Program Rules
English Proficiency
Medical Insurance
Orientation
Between 15 and 18.5 and have not completed
more than 11 years of primary and secondary
school (i.e. cannot have graduated in home
country)
◦ Must notify District Committee State
Department liaison of date student arrives in
U.S. and when they depart
◦
◦
◦
◦


Most students arrive in July/August - leave
following summer
Some Southern Hemisphere arrive in January



Required by Department of Homeland
Security
Within 10 days of move to different host
family
Failure to report punishable by fine or
imprisonment and/or deportation






Ask fellow Rotarians to host
Ask fellow Rotarians to ask families they
know
Ask families who have or are sending their
child on exchange
Youth Exchange Alumni
Host Families do not have to be Rotarians
Single parent is o.k. if same sex as student
or if other children in home

Inbound
Orientation
Second/third
weekend in
September
Inbound
Ski WeekEnd
January
WHAT A WONDERFUL TIME WE HAD!
Sending a student home, while difficult, is
necessary if that student put the program at risk.



Student or parents request the child’s return
due to homesickness, illness or family
problems
Violation of Rotary Youth Exchange program
rules
Lack of Commitment to Program on Student’s
part