Youth Exchange Rotary District 5130 For the Counties of Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino, Lake, Humboldt and Del Norte California, USA
For the Parents of the Outbound Exchange Student Rotary International Youth Exchange is one of the best opportunities for your son or daughter to broaden their horizons and understand the World in which their future rests. The Rotary Difference Our discription of the Rotary Youth Exchange Program has objectives that are good reason to be involved with most exchange programs. The Rotary International Youth Exchange Program has more: Security Rotary has a fail-safe network consisting of a District Youth Exchange Chairperson, a Rotary Club Youth Director, a Club Counselor and finally the Host Parents. This complex system assures that many eyes are watching over your son or daughter. No other exchange program can boast such a claim. Economy Rotary provides an opportunity for International Youth Exchange and charges only a minimal $400 ($100 of which is refunded providing your student completes their exchange and both you and your student attend the District hosted debriefing held in August following the student's return). application fee. No other exchange organization can provide such a superior exchange program and certainly not at the minimal cost of the Rotary International Youth Exchange Program. All hosting Rotary Clubs offer the student a monthly cost of living stipend. Some sponsoring Rotary Clubs offer scholarships or other financial aid to the outbound student. Supervision Rotary has rules. Rules have been developed which reflect a long history of international youth exchanges. You can be assured that the rules are designed in the best interest of your child. The enforcement will be just and tempered by our organizational structure. Your child will not be judged by one host parent, or one regional advisor. In the event of a misunderstanding the student will have the opportunity to discuss the issue with the Host parent, the Club Counselor, the Club Youth Director, the Club President, the Area District Co-Chair and finally the District Chairperson. Character Development No other program involves the Youth Exchange Student in so many activities that build leadership and enhance responsibility as does the Rotary International Youth Exchange Program. The student will be encouraged and assisted in addressing the Host Rotary Club. The student will be involved socially with the prominent leaders of the community. Rotarians in European, Scandinavian, South American and Asian countries are invariably the leaders of their communities. Students will mature and develop character while participating in any exchange program. Rotary offers the assurance that opportunity will be given for this development of character to be of the highest quality. Supervision and Rotarian involvement are the keys to such development. When your son or daughter returns we will ask them to provide their sponsoring club with a program describing their year abroad. The student will become knowledgeable of Rotary International and the World and community services we provide. What Should A Parent Be Prepared For? The Decision Discuss the concept of international exchanges with your child. Compare the options. Should the exchange be during High School years or after graduation. Each has advantages and each has complications. Support your child but do not "talk them into" becoming an exchange student. The Preparation Encourage your son or daughter to develop their language skills. Lack of language skills will not eliminate anyone from the program, however, begin building them immediately. Many countries, such as Denmark and Sweden, will provide a high intensity language course soon after the student arrives. There may be additional fees for these courses so be prepared or ask your outbound counselor to research the question. Encourage the student to save money. If it is the student's money that is being spent it becomes a much more meaningful experience. Rotary has no affiliation or interest in any insurance company, travel agency or other commercial service related to you student's exchange year. However, we do have experience with several services that have proven to be very helpful. IT'S YOUR WORLD TRAVEL 1969 SW Hillcrest Road Seattle, WA 98166 800-955-6077 206-328-0616 Office 206-324-2512 FAX E-mail: ed@iywt.com www.iywt.com This company has been working with Rotary Districts in this program for nearly 3 decades, currently supporting approximately 52 Rotary districts throughout USA and Canada. A staff of 6 are dedicated exclusively to Rotary Youth exchanges, handling over 900 per year. Their commitment to serving the Rotary program includes frequent attendance at Rotary International Youth Exchange world and regional conferences so they are well prepared to serve you and your student. The services they will provide to each student include participation at our Outbound Student/Parent Orientation, acquiring the mandatory Student Visa and Open Return airline ticket and will patiently assist you with the complicated process and many documents required for participation in international youth exchange. All students are required to acquire their Student Visa and Open Return airline ticket from It's Your World Travel. The student must be able to return home with essentially no notice. This is for the protection of the student in the event of an emergency or in the event that the student is deemed incompatible with the program. Our partner Rotary districts have specific dates they want your child to arrive and It's Your World Travel will schedule flights accordingly, often focusing first on students with the earliest departure dates. Remember you must have the "Long Term Exchange Guarantee Form" (from application) which is returned to D5130 by the hosting Rotary district chairman before you can get a long-term Student Visa. Until this form arrives It's Your World Travel cannot apply for the Student Visa and without that visa they cannot book a ticket so it is important that we all act promptly in getting the GForm to them when it is returned. Most foreign Rotary districts have specific dates they want your child to arrive. It's Your World Travel is familiar with these arrival dates and will be sure to book your student's flight as soon as they obtain the Student Visa. Contact the airlines and determine luggage limitations. Rotary requires specific medical insurance. Ask your district chair to provide the information necessary before purchasing insurance. Provide the student with family photos, local tourism information and information about the economy, entertainment and social structure of your community. The exchange student will be asked to present an informational program to the host Rotary Club.Slides or power point presentations are very helpful and well received by Rotary Clubs. Discuss this with your local Rotary Club Counselor. Often the club will have a slide package that your son or daughter may enhance with personal slide additions. Your student will be expected to purchase a standardized blue blazer. It is a tradition that this be worn during travel and at Rotary events. Students love to adorn the blazer with pins and buttons depicting where they are from and where they have been. By the time your child comes home the blazer will be covered with memory provoking pins and buttons. Laptop computers or other personal internet accessing devices are highly discouraged. Having constant access to a personal computer, especially during the first 5 months can be very detrimental to your student's ability to complete their exchange. The purpose of the exchange program is to create new friendships within the host community. Students have a difficult time making this transition if a laptop or similar personal device is constantly available for communications with old friends and parents back home. Don't worry, the hosts will provide plenty of access to a computer The Departure Assist your child in packing their luggage for international travel. Apron strings are tough to cut. Gain solace from the fact that this is going to be one of the most memorable years in your son or daughter's life. During the Year Write letters often. Send photos. Send little packages of goodies. Limit telephone calls. Telephone calls increase homesickness. It is best that you call no more often than once each 3 weeks. The less the student speaks his or her native language the sooner the new language will become second nature. Ask relatives and friends to write your child. Avoid sharing bad news unless it is absolutely necessary. Nothing makes a child more homesick. Visiting your child can be a great experience for both you and the child. Make your visit near the end of the exchange year. Coordinate the visit with the student's host family as early as possible. Don't buy airline tickets and then find out that it is a bad time to visit. Know the Cycle! Your son or daughter will go through periods of emotional highs and lows. Help them through the tough times illustrated by our graph. Be supportive, but don't think their state of mind is unique. Almost all students in this program will experience this in some form or another. Your Connection Always feel comfortable communicating with the Rotarians of the sponsoring Rotary Club. If you become aware of your son or daughter experiencing problems in their Host country, Rotary is prepared to respond. Tell your home club counselor who will confer with the district chair. Do not call the foreign Rotary district! Rotary will always appreciate your application to serve as a Host family to students from around the World. It really is a small, small world after all! Back to Top
For the Parents of the Outbound Exchange Student
Rotary International Youth Exchange is one of the best opportunities for your son or daughter to broaden their horizons and understand the World in which their future rests.
The Rotary Difference
Our discription of the Rotary Youth Exchange Program has objectives that are good reason to be involved with most exchange programs. The Rotary International Youth Exchange Program has more:
What Should A Parent Be Prepared For?
Back to Top
Contact District Chair Glenda Sales: ye5130@sonic.net 707-545-4127(h) 707/544-0472 x14(wk) 707-486-6773(Cell) Copyright 2010 - RI District 5130 Youth Exchange Program............. Web design by: Madison Design Website Maintained by John Necker
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