Rotary Youth Exchange District 59505960

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• Rotary Youth Exchange District 5950/5960

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What is Youth Exchange?

• Youth Exchange is a cultural exchange program for
  high school students desiring immerse themselves
  in discovery.

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Youth Exchange Goals

• Youth Exchange
• Provides young people
• with the opportunity to
• experience cultures
• other than their own
• Gives participants a
• broader view of the world and a deeper
  understanding of themselves
• Develops leadership and communication skills in
  youth
• Advances international understanding and world
  peace

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Youth Exchange History

• The first exchanges began in 1927 involving only
  European students
• Exchanges between California and Latin American
  countries started in 1939
• Activities spread to the Eastern United States in
  1958
• Youth Exchange became an official program of RI
  in 1972
• Its now one of the best known programs in Rotary

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Did you know?

• Background
• One of the largest programs
• of its type in the world
• 8000 students exchanged
• this past year between over
• 80 countries
• Program is open to high-school age students of
  both Rotarians and non-Rotarians
• Its been around 80 years nearly as long as
  Rotary
• 95 of all Rotary districts participate in the
  Youth Exchange program.
• Only 30 of Youth Exchange students are children
  from Rotary families.

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Unique Among Exchanges

• Completely non-profit
• District-to-District Exchange Managed at the
  local level
• Rotary Youth Exchange is one of the most
  affordable exchange programs
• Districts 5950/5960 exchange approx. 120
  inbound/outbound students per year
• We are one of the more active districts in the
  program

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RYE allows students to

• Meet people from other countries and experience
  their culture
• Gain a better understanding of the basic needs
  we all share and the diversity that makes each
  culture unique

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Furthermore it challenges to

• Learn another culture
• Become fluent in another language
• Make new friends
• Learn about themselves

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Benefits of Hosting a Student

• RYE allows host families to
• Learn about another culture
• Gain a new son or daughter

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Benefits of Youth Exchange

• Youth Exchange benefits
• the community and the
• Rotary Club
• Students at high school get
• opportunity to learn about
• another culture
• Community gets to reach out to another
• part of the World
• Rotary Club gains a son or daughter for a year

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Youth Exchange Guidelines

• Eligible students must be
• Between the ages of 15 1/2 and 18 ½ (cannot have
  turned 19 years of age at the time of departure.
• At the high-school or equivalent academic level
• Above-average academically
• Socially ready to handle living abroad for a year

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Long-term Exchanges

• A long-term exchange lasts for an academic year.
  Outbound students stay with 2-3 host families and
  are required to attend school in their host
  country.

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Outbound Timeline

• September - October  complete application
•     Late October  Interview by local Rotary Club
•     December 5  Final Interview
•     December 22  Receive acceptance letter
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• January 23, 2010 - Orientation 1
• February 20, 2010 - Orientation 2
• March 13, 2010 - Orientation 3 
• Summer 2010 Depart for your exchange country
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•     August 6, 2011  Rebound Weekend

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How Can You Say No?
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For More Information

• www.rotary.org
• www.rotaryexchangemn.com
• Contact your local Club Youth Exchange Officer or
  the District Office
• Rotary Youth Exchange D. 5950/5960
• Diane Confer (Executive Secretary)
• 11251 Red Fox Drive
• Maple Grove, MN 55369
• 763.553.1604 diane.confer_at_comcast.net