Welcome to Rotary District 5170 Youth Exchange!

Are you ready for the adventure of living in another culture?  

Would you like to host a student from another country?

When you step off the airplane as a Rotary  Exchange Student in another country, you have the opportunity to…

*  Become part of another culture                   *  Learn another language

*  Gain confidence and maturity                      *  Broaden your view of the world

*  Learn a lot about yourself                            *  Forge lifelong friendships

We invite you to explore our site, learn more about Rotary Youth Exchange, and if it's right for you, take those first steps toward one of the most amazing, memorable, adventurous years of your life.  Rotary District 5170 Youth Exchange will prepare you for your adventure while at the same time introducing you to other exchange students, both presently in the USA from other countries and students who have returned after completing their exchange.  It's an adventure which can teach foreign language skills, cultural sensitivity, service to humanity and an understanding of the wider world. 

Long-Term and Short-Term Exchanges

Rotary has both long-term and short-term exchange programs. The former is for the full academic year while the latter is usually during summer vacation. Students for either exchange are selected by a sponsoring Rotary Club on the basis of a written application and personal interview.

 Requirements

• Must be between 15 and 18 1/2 years old at the time of departure
• Average or above academic achievement
• Outgoing and adventuresome
• Flexible and open to living in a different culture

Youth Exchange is open to the children of Rotarians as well as those of non-Rotarians.

When students return, they will be asked to share their experiences with family, friends, Rotary Clubs, their school and community so that other young people can learn about Youth Exchange and our global neighbors.

Long-Term Exchange

Students spend a full academic year with two or more host families beginning in late summer. Host parents provide room and meals as well as support and guidance. The host Rotary Club provides a limited monthly spending allowance, a counselor, and supervision.

Although parents should be prepared to cover travel, health insurance and a few other costs for the outbound student, Rotary arranges travel and assists with visa arrangements. In some cases scholarships may be available to help defray exchange costs. Talk to your local Rotary Club or Rotary District Chairperson about your individual situation.

Short-Term Exchange
In a Summer Cultural Exchange, students spend three to six weeks in their host country visiting with another family and seeing another part of the world. The ESSEX Short-term Exchange Program arranges for the student's family to host a matching student from another country in return.  This program provides an excellent opportunity to experience a new culture in a brief period of time. Like the long-term exchange, the short-term exchange requires a sponsoring Rotary Club in each country, and students are selected on the basis of a written application and interview process.


The Interview Process
You should contact your local Rotary Club for details on how to apply. If the club decides that your application matches their opportunities, you will be interviewed by the local club in the fall and your application sent on to the Rotary District Youth Exchange Committee for a second round of interviews. Final selection is made by the Rotary District and usually occurs in the late Fall. Orientation sessions during the months prior to departure help prepare students and parents for both outbound and inbound experiences. Students participating in the academic year exchange usually leave for their overseas adventure in mid- to late August (summer) and return at the end of the academic year (generally mid- to late June).

Short-term exchange students may undergo a somewhat less stringent interview process during the winter or spring prior to departure.

For more information about the Youth Exchange Program please contact the
District Youth Exchange Officer