What are the special characteristics of a Rotary Exchange?
A Rotary Youth Exchange presents a very special opportunity. Exchange students are hosted by a Rotary club, so immediately you have both a support network and a social network with a club that is based around your local community. The club will be there to help you settle in and for you to be part of during your year away and they will have one of their club members as your counsellor so you have someone to go to during your year. Rotary is a global service organisation with over 1 million members so having an exchange programme operating as part of this global network brings a special dimension to being an exchange student – you won’t be an exchange student, you will be a ROTARY exchange student with all of the associated advantages. Our returned student’s tell us that they rate our program number one.
Students that have undertaken an exchange and their parents tell us that there are several aspects of a Rotary Exchange that they rate very highly.
Rotary Structure
Rotary is a well-known and respected global service organisation so it is well suited to utilise this network of clubs and members that have a common service focus, to administer an exchange programme. It provides an excellent support structure.
Certification
Each countries exchange programme must adopt the standard exchange requirements issued by Rotary International and each District and its clubs must complete an annual recertification process. This ensures common standards and processes for exchanges and the care of students.
Pre Departure Preparation
Returned students rate their pre-departure preparation very highly and report that they are very well prepared for most aspects of an exchange.
Rotary Club Hosting
Students are hosted by a Rotary Club. This ensures that the student has an immediate network of people to meet and settle into the local culture. The extent of club involvement will vary by country but having a host Rotary club provides a comforting level of support for students
Rotary Activities
Most Rotary Districts will organise several activities for exchange students during the year and this provides the opportunity to meet fellow students from around the world and share the same exchange experience and become friends for life.
More than one Host family
Returning exchange students tell us that they really like staying with several host families. This gives them a variety of family experiences and the chance to see the culture of their host country from a different perspective of view each time. Having several host families also increases contacts and friends on exchange and students usually find they get to do different things with each host family.
