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An Overview of the Rotary Youth Exchange Program
WHAT IS YOUTH EXCHANGE
The Rotary Youth Exchange Program is arranged by Rotary Clubs for young people to experience a year of education overseas, in a wide choice of countries. It also provides many other opportunities, both during and after the exchange is complete. The Rotary program is recognised as the best student exchange program by schools, parents and students because of its sound infrastructure.
Students stay with host families who are arranged by the hosting Rotary Club. In the majority of exchanges there are more than one host family. The preferred number being three or four. Host families may or may not be members of Rotary, but are always Rotary approved.
Who can apply?
Any boy or girl. No special preference is given to sons or daughters of Rotary members during selection. Applicants should be in years 9, 10 or 11 in the year that they make application, must be older than 15½ years and younger than 17½ years on the date of departure. For planning this should be taken as 1st February in the year following application.
Applicants should be making sound progress at school and have a general interest in people and places. They should possess a good general knowledge of Australia - its political system, socio-economic policies and its involvement in international affairs.
Applicants must have displayed high standards of personal conduct and attitudes which are widely accepted in our community. They must have an outgoing personality and be interested in cultural or outdoor pursuits.
Rotary is looking for young people who can act as personal ambassadors.
How are students selected?
Students are selected by Rotary Clubs on the basis of their application and a personal interview. Applications close with local clubs around the end of February. It is acceptable to apply to more than one Rotary Club, if desired.
Applicants and their parents are interviewed by the Rotary Club. The successful applicant from the Club is then nominated to the respective District Youth Exchange Committee. This committee then assesses all nominated applicants before arranging exchanges with overseas Clubs. Students have the opportunity to prioritise any preferred countries of exchange that are available, however, there are limited places in any one country and a preparedness to accept an exchange in any of the available countries is necessary.
Rotary provides training
Rotary Clubs have an important role in this exchange. They provide one of their members to act as a counsellor. The counsellor's role is to maintain close contact with the student up until the time of departure. This contact is then expected to continue during the year of exchange, not only with the student but also the student's family. This keeps everyone informed of the progress of the exchange.
The District Youth Exchange Committee also coordinates "Briefing days" where the focus is to prepare the student as much as possible for their 12 month exchange. Parents/Guardians of students are required to be involved in these Briefing days and it preferred that all counsellors, or a designated Rotary Club delegate, participate as well.
Are there other obligations?
Students are required to adhere to the rules of the program, as applied in the country of exchange. These are to do with personal behaviour and the expectations of being an ambassador for their country, their family, themselves and Rotary.
During the exchange year away, students are required to complete a year of secondary level schooling.
Schooling considerations
For students needing to return to secondary education in Australia, there may be credits available for subjects studied whilst away. However, this needs to be checked with the school before departure. The question of breaking up the VCE years is up to personal choice. Many students successfully do this and many more leave on exchange after completing year 10.
The real bonus for education though, is the experience that students get from the exchange itself.
What are the benefits?
The benefits of the exchange are many and varied. Students grow considerably in self confidence, tolerance and self-reliance through having to accept greater responsibility for themselves and their actions.
They have to adapt to unfamiliar and different surroundings and ways of life which are different from home. For some it will be the first extended period of separation from their own family. This will bring about many trials and tribulations which they will need to overcome and by so doing develop many "survival skills".
To live away from home for the 50-52 weeks duration of the exchange is a demanding yet rewarding experience. It is not always smooth sailing and requires a great strength of character, tolerance and a clear understanding of one's self.
The exchange provides a unique opportunity for young Australians to experience at first hand the cultures of a different country, a new way of life and in some instances another language. Often, the friendships they make will be life long and important in achieving the aims of the exchange - the building of goodwill and understanding between countries.
What to do now?
Applications in writing must be submitted on the appropriate application form. These are availabe between late December to end February from the District Secretary or any participating Rotary Clubs, or you can fill in an expression of interest online and it will be forwarded to your closest participating club.
Each Club's successful applicant then completes a final application which is then considered in conjunction with a personal assessment by the District Youth Exchange Committee. This application includes school and medical reports as well as personal information with parents and students endorsement of the exchange rules.
WHAT IS YOUTH EXCHANGE
The Rotary Youth Exchange Program is arranged by Rotary Clubs for young people to experience a year of education overseas, in a wide choice of countries. It also provides many other opportunities, both during and after the exchange is complete. The Rotary program is recognised as the best student exchange program by schools, parents and students because of its sound infrastructure.
Students stay with host families who are arranged by the hosting Rotary Club. In the majority of exchanges there are more than one host family. The preferred number being three or four. Host families may or may not be members of Rotary, but are always Rotary approved.
Who can apply?
Any boy or girl. No special preference is given to sons or daughters of Rotary members during selection. Applicants should be in years 9, 10 or 11 in the year that they make application, must be older than 15½ years and younger than 17½ years on the date of departure. For planning this should be taken as 1st February in the year following application.
Applicants should be making sound progress at school and have a general interest in people and places. They should possess a good general knowledge of Australia - its political system, socio-economic policies and its involvement in international affairs.
Applicants must have displayed high standards of personal conduct and attitudes which are widely accepted in our community. They must have an outgoing personality and be interested in cultural or outdoor pursuits.
Rotary is looking for young people who can act as personal ambassadors.
How are students selected?
Students are selected by Rotary Clubs on the basis of their application and a personal interview. Applications close with local clubs around the end of February. It is acceptable to apply to more than one Rotary Club, if desired.
Applicants and their parents are interviewed by the Rotary Club. The successful applicant from the Club is then nominated to the respective District Youth Exchange Committee. This committee then assesses all nominated applicants before arranging exchanges with overseas Clubs. Students have the opportunity to prioritise any preferred countries of exchange that are available, however, there are limited places in any one country and a preparedness to accept an exchange in any of the available countries is necessary.
Rotary provides training
Rotary Clubs have an important role in this exchange. They provide one of their members to act as a counsellor. The counsellor's role is to maintain close contact with the student up until the time of departure. This contact is then expected to continue during the year of exchange, not only with the student but also the student's family. This keeps everyone informed of the progress of the exchange.
The District Youth Exchange Committee also coordinates "Briefing days" where the focus is to prepare the student as much as possible for their 12 month exchange. Parents/Guardians of students are required to be involved in these Briefing days and it preferred that all counsellors, or a designated Rotary Club delegate, participate as well.
Are there other obligations?
Students are required to adhere to the rules of the program, as applied in the country of exchange. These are to do with personal behaviour and the expectations of being an ambassador for their country, their family, themselves and Rotary.
During the exchange year away, students are required to complete a year of secondary level schooling.
Schooling considerations
For students needing to return to secondary education in Australia, there may be credits available for subjects studied whilst away. However, this needs to be checked with the school before departure. The question of breaking up the VCE years is up to personal choice. Many students successfully do this and many more leave on exchange after completing year 10.
The real bonus for education though, is the experience that students get from the exchange itself.
What are the benefits?
The benefits of the exchange are many and varied. Students grow considerably in self confidence, tolerance and self-reliance through having to accept greater responsibility for themselves and their actions.
They have to adapt to unfamiliar and different surroundings and ways of life which are different from home. For some it will be the first extended period of separation from their own family. This will bring about many trials and tribulations which they will need to overcome and by so doing develop many "survival skills".
To live away from home for the 50-52 weeks duration of the exchange is a demanding yet rewarding experience. It is not always smooth sailing and requires a great strength of character, tolerance and a clear understanding of one's self.
The exchange provides a unique opportunity for young Australians to experience at first hand the cultures of a different country, a new way of life and in some instances another language. Often, the friendships they make will be life long and important in achieving the aims of the exchange - the building of goodwill and understanding between countries.
What to do now?
Applications in writing must be submitted on the appropriate application form. These are availabe between late December to end February from the District Secretary or any participating Rotary Clubs, or you can fill in an expression of interest online and it will be forwarded to your closest participating club.
Each Club's successful applicant then completes a final application which is then considered in conjunction with a personal assessment by the District Youth Exchange Committee. This application includes school and medical reports as well as personal information with parents and students endorsement of the exchange rules.