2. LIONS YOUTH CAMPS & EXCHANGES
MD 19 YOUTH EXCHANGE PROGRAM
WHY AND HOW IT WORKS 2

3. Youth Exchange
Cultural exchange between countries to educate youth first hand.
Lions Club in one country arranges for youth from their country to visit another country.

4. Youth Exchange in MD19 http://www.lionsyouthexchange.org/index.htm
Youth Exchange (YEP) has been an LCI program since Young people meet a new culture. YE fulfills the first object of Lions Clubs International: "to create and foster a spirit of understanding among the peoples of the world”.

5. Youth Exchange Objectives
Bring young people into contact with youths and adults of other countries. Share family and community life of another culture. Promote international understanding and goodwill throughout the world.

6. Creating Global Citizens
Experiencing a different culture.
Developing friends.
Share their own culture while learning about and embracing a new one.
Becoming ambassadors for peace and international understanding.  

7. Making Friends & Global Citizens

8. Youth Exchange, Home Stay or Host Family Stay
Visiting youth live with families in one or more private homes during their visit. A Lions Youth Exchange, or “host family stay,” can be arranged independent of a Lions youth camp in hundreds of countries where there are Lions clubs and typically lasts between four and six weeks. In MD19 visits will include Canada and United States when possible.

9. Youth Camp
Lions Youth Camps are one or two weeks long and usually include a host family stay before and/or after the camp.
Visits to places of cultural or natural interest, sporting events, guided discussions, engagement in local service projects alongside Lions club members, visits to school, state and county fairs, etc.

10. Youth Camp Example Camp language: English
Camp capacity: 27 persons, ages years Camp Dates: July, 2017
Family Hosting Dates: Participants from Europe:        July (1 week) Participants from Overseas:    July and 28 July - 4 August (2 weeks)

11. Eligibility Requirements
16 years of age (17 for travel to Europe and South America, 18 for France) and not older than 21 at the time of the exchange. Sponsored by a Lions club from their home area. Arrange for payment of the travel package. Have a Passport and Visa if required.

12. Sponsoring Club Responsibilities
Vouches for the good character of youth and host families. Visits with youth applying to the Lions program. Visits with host families to ensure it is a safe environment for incoming youth. Helps resolve any problems that may develop.

13. Sponsoring Lions Club Part 2
Works closely with Zone and District Youth Exchange chairpersons.
Coordinates the application process with interested youth.
Responsible for helping coordinate travel arrangements.
Hosts an orientation program for participating youth and their families.

14. Who can be a host family?
Any family of good moral character and with the sponsorship of an MD19 Lions Club. Lions' membership is not necessary, but the local Lions club must approve the hosting application.

15. Host Family Responsibilities
Introduce their guest to the local culture. Feed and protect their guest during the visit. Develop a life-long friendship with their guest.

16. Host Families & Lions
Coordinates receiving youth into their community.
Ultimately responsible for youth participant during the visit.
Maximizes cultural experience for the visiting youth.
Club members serve as host families or help arrange host families and help provide room and board for visiting youth.
Forms friendships with visiting youth.

17. Youth Camp and Exchange (YCE) Directory http://members. lionsclubs
Contact information for Lions YCE Chairpersons who are coordinating youth camps and exchanges. Regretfully not every Multiple District that participates in Youth Exchange is shown on the map. For areas where a coordinator is not shown, it is possible to directly contact District Governors and Club Presidents in an attempt to arrange and exchange.

18. Some Rules and Policies
Youths do not have to be students. Not younger than 16 or older than 21. Responsible person in the home most of the time. Youth must have private sleeping arrangements. Health information.

19. When & how long are hosts needed?
Summer Winter Duration determined by sending Lions. Split between Canada and U.S.

20. Frequently Asked Questions
Go to for many of the frequently asked questions, because here we will cover only a few unique questions. 1. May my guest through this program travel on vacation with me? YES, but first notify your YE coordinator and the parents of your guest.

21. FAQ 2
May my guest drive a motor vehicle while visiting me?
NO.

22. FAQ 3 May my guest travel to other parts of the country without me?
NO.

23. FAQ 4
May I share my guest with other family members so that they see a broader view of American life and may other Lions Club members take my guest or a day or a few hours? YES.

24. FAQ 5
May my guest spend a day visiting a local school without my personal attendance? YES, but first make arrangements with the school principal or faculty who will take responsibility for the visit.

25. FAQ 6
My Club, Zone or District has an essay contest and the winner receives a scholarship. If I am not the winner, can I still go on an exchange? YES. Your Club, Zone or District YE Chair can arrange an exchange apart from any individual Club, Zone or District Program.

26. Reasons Heard for Not Participating in Youth Exchange
Club is Too Far From Major Airport
Coordinate with other clubs for pickup and transport to the local club.

27. Reason 2 No One Home During the Day – We All Work
Often other club or family members will help share hosting duties for part of the time period.

28. Reason 3 Too Hard to Find Host Families
This may be true but usually not a permanent condition.
A brief story in a local paper or newsletter will locate potential host families that meet Lions qualifications.

29. Reason 4 Nothing for Visiting Youth to Do in My Locale.
The experience is about sharing local culture with a visitor from another country.
Share the local culture that caused you to want to live there.
Ask for ideas from others in your community.

30. Club, Zone and District Exchange
Sister-city exchanges. Competition for scholarships. Exchanges independent of the Multiple District.

31. The Lions Youth Exchange Foundation of Multiple District 19
501(c)(3) Non-Profit that pays for incidentals for MD19 Youth Exchange
Donations are tax deductible in the United States

32. Program Operation
Exchange Coordinators Finding Host Families Grass Roots

33. Youth Exchange Chair
The person in a Club, Zone, District or Multiple District responsible for promoting and publicizing Youth Exchange in their area.
Districts are encouraged to have two chairs, to spread the work.
Clubs and Zones are encouraged to have a Chair.
The Multiple District has one Chair.

34. Connecting Cultures