Rotary Youth Exchange

Local Rotary Clubs all across the nation and worldwide participate in the Rotary Youth Exchange program. This exciting venture involves Rotary Clubs serving as "hosts" to exchange students who are 16 to 18 years old and who have finished or are about to finish their secondary year of education.

By providing one or more host family homes during an exchange student's visit, the costs to the student are kept at a reasonable amount. Selection committees at the originating Rotary Club have a committee who consider area youth who are interested in visiting a foreign country and attending school - usually for one year.The prospective students are judged on adaptability, linguistic ability, general awareness and scholastic attainment, among other criteria.

The primary goal of the Rotary student exchange program is international understanding through contact within family. After a student is selected for an exchange he or she will go through an orientation program. However, no matter how thorough the orientation is, the student still comes into their new land and new family as a stranger. Their trip may be the first they have ever taken away from home and we can imagine the difficulties involved. With understanding, good will and care, the visit can be very satisfying and productive for the visiting student and the host family.

For families who desire to be hosts for an exchange student their first step is agreeing to host with their local Rotary Club. Advice and information about the Rotary Exchange Program is available through a district Rotary chairperson and by contacting Rotary International.

The following are some common questions asked about the Rotary Exchange Program:

What are the application dates?

-This varies from Rotary district to district, but generally, a long-term application is due one year before desired departure.

Besides airline tickets and insurance what other costs does a student face?
-There are no supplementary fees as the student exchange program is run by volunteers. The student is generally expected to pay for round trip air transportation, insurance, clothing, visa/passport fees and ancillary fees. The host family covers room and board. The host Rotary Club pays for academic fees at the local high school and many host Rotary Clubs provide a modest allowance for long-term participants.

What countries are visits available through this Rotary program?
-Theoretically, an exchange may take place between any country in which there are Rotary Clubs. However, students are sent only to districts where a local Rotary Club has agreed to host. Once accepted into the program, a student will be asked to choose his/her top three choices from a list of countries with which the district exchanges. All efforts will be made to grant the student his/her first or second choice, but the final destination assignment lies with the Rotary club, not the student. Thus, a student should contact their local Rotary Club(s) to see which countries their district works with.

Currently, in the district which includes the Rotary Club of Dubuque, student exchanges have been made with France, Spain and all South American countries. There are 16 foreign students in this Rotary district this year, but none reside in Dubuque. The Rotary Club of Dubuque has been involved in the Foreign Student Exchange Program in past years.

For prompt and specific questions about being an exchange student or, perhaps, hosting a foreign exchange student in Iowa, please call:

Mike Hamilton, chairperson
International Youth Exchange Program
District 5970
P.O. Box 513
Estherville, IA 51334-0513

Phone- 712-362-3458
Email - 1a1@ncn.net

One host mother once mentioned about this program: "Open your heart, and the rest will follow"
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