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About Youth Exchange
The most powerful force in the promotion of international understanding and peace is exposure to different cultures. The world becomes a smaller, friendlier place when we learn that all people - regardless of nationality - desire the same basic things: a safe, comfortable environment that allows for a rich and satisfying life for ourselves and our children. Youth Exchange provides thousands of young people with the opportunity to meet people from other lands and to experience their cultures, thus planting the seeds for a lifetime of international understanding. You will attend school in your local community, as well as participating in Rotary activities and civic functions. At the same time you will make new friends, see exciting places and experience adventures that will take a lifetime to recount. Rotary's Youth Exchange Program is recognised by participants, parents and schools as the best student exchnage program in the world. It is the largest of its type in Canada and is backed up by caring and dedicated Rotarians who provide the infrastructure of the program. You will stay with three or four host families who have been screened by Rotary. These Rotary accredited families are volunteers who will welcome and care for you, supervise your year and introduce you to their culture and lifestyle. You will become part of those families and their community. For over 75 years, students and host families have broadened their horizons through Rotary Youth Exchange. More than 80 countries and over 8,000 students each year participate in the program, which is administered at the regional level by Rotary districts and at the local level by Rotary clubs.
History of Youth Exchange
Globally minded
Rotary clubs are made up of volunteers who are involved in community service, emphasize high ethical standards, and work toward peace and understanding in the world. Over 1.2 million Rotarians in more than 32,000 clubs create the extensive network that provides support for Youth Exchange.
Age Requirments
Rotary International documents contain Guidelines for Youth Exchange. Districts develop their own rules, particularly regarding age and eligibility. In District 7080 our age rules are more restrictive and this applies to all Inbound and Outbound students of our District.
District 7080 policy is that an exchange student must not be under 15 yr, 6 months or over 18 yr at time of departure, which is taken to be September 1, 2011. Therefore a student chosen in 2010 must be at least 15.5 years but not yet 18 on 1 September 2011.
You should find all the answer to your questions by reading through the links of the left of this page. You will also find names of people to contact if you have questions.