Youth Exchange

A Rotary Short Term Exchange presents opportunities for applicants to advance their knowledge and world understanding by allowing them to exchange in a different country. Participants will live with host families in their selected land usually for three to six weeks in the summer, under the sponsorship of their local Rotary Club.

Objective

To foster world peace, international understanding and good will by extending international communication at the personal level through the exchange of students of high school age. It is our hope that these young people will be able to observe, first hand, the problems and accomplishments of other countries by living with and meeting people of cultures, creeds and colors other than their own.

Who is eligible?

Any applicant, age 15-19 of good character who possesses a warm personality and a desire to live abroad and host in return. Candidates should be adaptable and flexible, well mannered and want to experience life in other countries and cultures. Children of Rotarians and non-Rotarians are equally eligible.

How do you go about participating in the Rotary Short term Exchange Program?

Applicants must be sponsored by a local Rotary Club. Contact any member of a local club who will put you in touch with its Youth Exchange Chairperson regarding details. Your High School Guidance Counselor usually cooperates with the Rotary Club and can help you make that contact.

Why is it called an exchange program?

You will be matched with a student of similar interests in a country of your selection or approval. The two of you will spend an agreed upon time together – half the time in your home and half the time in their home.

Is proficiency in a foreign language needed?

NO! The program is cultural in nature, but is also for a short period of time. Many countries throughout the world teach English as a second language and most participating students are quite proficient in speaking our language. If you have taken a foreign language in high school and elect to visit a country that speaks that language, you will be able to gain some conversational ability, but most students do not find language to be a barrier to having a great exchange experience.

How does a student benefit from being abroad?

Being away in a foreign country has a powerful broadening and accelerating effect on your maturing process. Managing your finances and making decisions influences your independence from what your parents would have done for you as a matter of course. You develop an understanding of and a tolerance for people which will benefit you throughout your life.

How much does it cost?

Three elements comprise the cost of the program. First there is a $65.00 application fee which includes the cost of processing and administration. (Check made out to ESSEX STEP)

A three month Short Term Plan B insurance is mandatory at a cost of $110.00. (CHECK MADE OUT TO CISI-BOLDUC)

Third is the cost of round trip airfare from your home to the foreign country. Travel arrangements can be made through the ESSEX recommended travel agency, Bokoff-Kaplan. The ESSEX STEP Chairman and the insurance company will receive the travel arrangements automatically when made by Bokoff-Kaplan. If travel arrangements are made through any other agency or individual, it is required that the itinerary MUST BE PROVIDED to the ESSEX Short Term Chairman and CISI-Bolduc insurance company by E-Mail or Fax at least 30 days prior to departure.

What is so special about Rotary’s Short Term Exchange Program compared to other programs?

The Rotary International Short Term Exchange Program is VOLUNTEER DRIVEN. It is organized and administered by VOLUNTEER Rotarians and their families throughout the world. The operation is done at several levels: the local Rotary Club, the district and regional levels. They select the students, prepare them, arrange hosting abroad, travel, insurance, etc. All this work is done by Rotarians as a service. They are not paid to providethis service.

In programs where people are paid to find students and host students, they tend to sacrifice quality in order to satisfy quotas and their bank accounts. Rotary does not believe this to be in the best interest of the participants. Ultimately such operational costs end up being passed on to the parents. The Rotary program is the least expensive program. Students have local contacts from local Rotary Clubs who are directly involved in the welfare of the students. At times of immediate need, students who are away from home will be more comfortable knowing that any Rotarian of their host club will be available and be able to help and offer guidance.

How does the program work?

Once your application package is submitted to your district chairman, it will be forwarded to Ed Skwirz, who will check it and send one copy to your first choice of countries and two copies to the country contact. Your contact here will email/fax the foreign contact and try to make a match keeping in mind your age and interests. When the match has been established, you will be informed and you can start to communicate with your match. Your families can then decide on dates and make travel arrangements.

How do I apply?

Download information and the Short Term Exchange Application form available at www.exchangestudent.com.
Fill out the requested information – including the name, address and phone number of your local Rotary Club chairman and your district chairman (email addresses are greatly appreciated). We request that ALL applications be typed (easier to read when sent by fax). You cannot save this application with the information inserted. Be sure to print each page as you complete it.
Print out 6 copies. (5 copies to your district chairman, one for your files)
You and your parents should sign all copies with blue ink.
Make one copy of the health insurance policy at www.culturalinsurance.com. You MUST take the 3 month short-term Plan B.
Two checks:
1. to "ESSEX STEP" for the amount of $65.00
2. to CISI-Bolduc for the amount of $125.00
Keep one copy of the application for your files and send the other 5 copies to your district chairman.
Apply for your passport, if necessary.

Note: Although you have already completed your country choices on the application, it is very, very important that you communicate to your club chairman and/or your district chairman how flexible you are. For example, If you are willing to go to any Spanish-speaking country, make sure your chairman advises us on your application checklist. If you only will go to your first choice or if there is somewhere you won’t go, let us know. Sometimes we are unable to get cooperation from the foreign contacts. When this happens having several options helps find you a suitable match.

What happens next?

As soon as your country contact receives your application, he or she will send you, your local chairman and your district chairman a letter advising you who your contact is. They will then contact their foreign counterpart to start the matching process. Sometimes this takes a while. Not all foreign contacts have access to fax and e-mail. Also snail mail is very slow and not dependable in some other countries. Once a match has been achieved you will hear from your contact. It is not unusual that you could hear directly from your match before you hear from your contact. Upon hearing from or contacting your match, you should start making plans. Your families should agree on the dates of your exchange and make travel arrangements. If you hear from your match prior to hearing from your contact, please let your contact know immediately.

Who makes the travel arrangements?

You and your parents are responsible for making your travel arrangements. We recommend Bokoff-Kaplan. They are very familiar with our program and know exactly what you need OR you can make arrangements with a travel agent of your choice.

Either way you must send your travel itinerary to your county contact, the ESSEX STEP Chairman, and your departure date to CISI-Bolduc as soon as possible.

Why must I carry this insurance when I already have it?

Many of the health-care policies carried by your families have limited coverage overseas. This policy through CISI-Bolduc fills in many of the gaps in coverage. It is accepted around the world. It covers you from the moment you take off until you land again on US soil.

When can I expect to hear about my match?

This past summer matches were extremely slow in coming through. We were still completing matches in July. Normally the country contacts start to receive matches in April and are all completed by the first week of June. You will hear as soon as your country contract is notified.

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