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, 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 – 1 ST INTERNATIONAL YEAR- LONG 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 ◦ 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 - $ clerical support  OB Application Fees - $11,000  IB Registration Fees - $8,000  Not a Rotary Foundation Program

 DISTRICT 5440 TO ONE OF 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

 Sept Inbound Student Orientation – Wyoming Wilderness Camp - Esterbrook, Wyoming  31 Oct, 2010 Outbound Applications due to District Committee  4 Dec, Outbound Student Interviews - Cheyenne, WY  Jan Inbound Ski Week-end – Grand Targhee Ski Area - Wyoming  April 22-24, Outbound Orientation - Douglas, WY  May 12-14, District Conference –Greeley, CO  June 12-26, Southwest Bus Tour  July - Aug 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 on an education visa

 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 4 th – Cheyenne  Outbound Orientation – April Douglas (Must attend with parent(s) or guardian(s))

OUTBOUND STUDENTS

 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

WANTED: HOST FAMILIES FOR REALLY GREAT KIDS!

 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 Week- End 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