Rotary Club of St. Albert Youth Exchange

Welcome and introductions Program overview Costs Choosing the student Student responsibilities Process & timelines Questions? Agenda

Program Overview

Worldwide organization with over 1 million members in 32,000 clubs Service projects address poverty, illness, hunger, illiteracy, pollution, clean water. Major emphasis on service to YOUTH. What is Rotary?

What is Rotary Youth Exchange?

Every year about 7,000 students participate in Rotary Youth Exchange. Rotary Club of St. Albert sponsors a student every year. Student chosen now will be on exchange during school year. Program Scope

Students live and study for one year in a different culture: To further their education and broaden their outlook To learn a different way of living, a new language and a great deal about themselves. They view the world from a new perspective. Program Objectives

To further international goodwill & understanding by enabling youth to understand and appreciate the culture and accomplishments of people in other lands. To bring the world closer together.

To create goodwill ambassadors who project a positive image of Canada in other cultures. Program Objectives Students inform everyone they meet about Canada and Canadian culture.

Students are sponsored by The Rotary Club of St. Albert, and hosted by a Rotary Club in their exchange country. Students live with 1 to 4 host families (usually Rotarians) and attend a local school. How Does it Work?

Argentina Austria Belgium (Dutch) Brazil Czech Republic Denmark Ecuador Finland France Germany Japan Netherlands Norway Poland Slovakia Sweden Switzerland Taiwan Thailand Where might I go? ** ** Subject to change

Supports in Canada: District 5370 RYE committee Counsellor from local Rotary club Supports in host country: District RYE committee Host Rotary club and counsellor Host families Rotary Supports

The Rotary Club of St. Albert cost shares 50% of the total cost of $6,000 (Approximate) Hosting Rotary club provides room & board, allowance, and registration fees for required RYE events. What will it cost?

Parents/student are responsible for: Clothing, gifts, souvenirs Pre-trip medical/dental exams, vaccinations Extra spending money if needed Optional travel/trips/activities Parental registration for orientation weekend Passport $500 emergency fund (refunded) $500 contract fee (refunded) MAY be responsible for language camp in some countries What will it cost?

Can total $4000-$6,000 for the year depending on country and student. But family saves the cost of having student at home for a year. What will it cost?

Student Experiences

Dustin Gagnon (Switzerland )

Connor Malone (Thailand )

Parent Experience

Host Parent Experience

Choosing the Student

Age: Must be born on or after January 1999 to be eligible for the RYE program. Must be at least 15 years of age at departure Personality Exhibits leadership qualities; Independent. Friendly & outgoing. Likes meeting new people. Flexible & adaptable. Willing to try new things. Accepts cultural/religious differences. Reliable & trustworthy. Accepts discipline. Good character & reputation. What are we looking for?

Academics Good student. Upper 50%. Conscientious and hard working. Willing to postpone graduation. Involved in school, community, church, athletics, arts. Good communicator. Comfortable speaking in public. What are we looking for?

Parents whole-heartedly support the exchange. An excellent ambassador for Rotary and for Canada. What are we looking for?

RYE is NOT a holiday nor a travel program. There are expectations of our RYE students.... Student responsibilities

Attend school regularly and be an involved and cooperative student. Be open to/accepting of new experiences & cultural differences. Follow program rules/expectations and accept the supervision of host Rotary club and host parents. Student responsibilities

Be an active participant in host family, club and exchange activities. Be polite, courteous, positive & friendly. Create a good impression of Canada and Canadians. Be grateful for your experiences and commit to giving back to your hosts and community. Student responsibilities

Keep your sponsoring Rotary Club regularly informed about your experiences through Blog, Facebook, Twitter, etc. Be committed to immersing yourself in the culture and learning/experiencing as much as you can, including becoming fluent in a new language. Complete the 3 yr exchange cycle. Student responsibilities

The Four “D’s” RYE’s Code of Conduct Drinking Driving Serious Dating Drugs NO!

Be first: I am a person of action! Be curious: I seek to understand! Be on purpose: I am certain of my outcome and move steadily toward it! Be grateful: I focus on things I can be thankful for! Be of service: I give of myself! Be here now: I live in the moment! RYE’s Six “Be’s”

Process and Timelines

DatesActivities Sept/OctLocal information sessions at high schools. October 19Deadline for Student application submitted to committee at AND October 26Selected Parent/Student interviews November 1Selected Student contacted to begin necessary paperwork December 4Deadline to submit Long Form application to District January District committee interviews nominated student & parents. Confirmation of Student nominee by District late January March Parents and Student Orientation weekend (Mandatory) Edmonton – Four Points Sheraton East Feb – July 2016Student attends Breakfast with the Rotary Club of St. Albert meetings each Friday at 7:15 am at the Sturgeon Golf Club Student researches host country and begins to learn the language. Obtains passport and VISA’s if necessary.

Process and Timelines DatesActivities March 18-20, 2016 Student, parents & counsellor MUST attend orientation weekend in Edmonton. June 2016Student makes presentation to Rotary Club of St. Albert July/Aug 2016Student travels to host community. Sept 2016 to June 2017 Student lives with host families and attends school. July 2017Student returns to St. Albert as a “Rebound” RYE student. Sept 2017Student attends Rebound Weekend. Student makes presentation to Rotary Club of St. Albert. TBA March 2018Student assists at Spring Orientation for outbound students. $500 contract fee refunded if all responsibilities have been met.

Are you ready to..... Totally immerse yourself in a new culture?Make international friendships?Learn a new language?Appreciate other ways of doing things?Be an ambassador for Rotary & Canada? Then you’re ready for Rotary Youth Exchange!

Download Application form District 5370 Rotary Website Rotary Club of St Albert Website, lower right side contains info and application form Laszlo Szojka Tony Porter