Woodbury Rotary - Rotary Youth Exchange

WE currently have two applications for students who will come to our district for next year. We are looking for host families and clubs for these two students. We have attached their applications. Briefly - the two students that we are looking for homes for are:

Jiri BOCEK, or George as he would like to be called. will come to us from Pisek, Czeck Republic. He will be 17-1/2 years of age when he arrives. His father is a dentist and his mother is a teacher. He has an older brother and sister and a younger sister. Jiri has studied English for 9 years and lists his language skills as good. He has also studied German for 7 years. He will graduate from high school in 2011 so he will be a junior next year. He lists music, sports (ultimate Frisbee) and mathematics as his interests. As his strong trait he lists logical thinking, calculated risks and says he is reliable, trustworthy and capable. His down sides are that he is a little too slow in the morning and a little too active in the evenings. He hopes to follow in his father's footsteps and become a dentist, but he would also like to study thermonuclear physics too. Jiri plays the violin, drums and contrabass and is a member of the school orchestra. This looks like a very nice, well focused young man.

Onichira BUNYAPHALA, or May as she wishes to be called is from Muang Trad, THAILAND. She will be 16-1/2 when she arrives in August. Her parents own a souvenir shop and her mother is a Rotarian. She has two older brothers. She has studied English for 10 years but lists her ability as FAIR. She should be a junior next year. May's favorite hobby is swimming. She has been swimming since she was 8 years OLD. She is also interested in music and performed in a Thai music contest. She says her strength s are that she is a kind person and likes to help friends and studies seriously. Her weakness is that she does not like disorder or pets. She seems to be a sweet young girl from a very nice family.

Perhaps you, or someone you know would be interested in hosting one of them for part of the school year next year.

We currently have 4 clubs already committed to students. They are Lower Twp. (Spain - female) Mays Landing (Russia - female), Washington Twp. (France - male) and Garden State (Mexico - male) and are still looking for more host families for these clubs. We will also be receiving applications from Austria and Brazil and possibly more if we can accommodate more students.

Please share this information with anyone you think would be interested in opening their homes to a student from another country for several months next year? Each student should have a minimum of two and a maximum of four host families. The families do not necessarily have to be Rotarians, but should be recommended and interviewed in their home by a Rotarian.

All students will arrive between the middle and end of August and will depart next June or July.

Please let us know if you are interested or if you know of someone who would like to host an exchange student next year. There is a lot of paperwork that needs to be completed before the summer.

We have selected 8 American students from our district to travel abroad next year. In order for us to complete their exchanges, our district must host at least 8 inbounds students.

WE hope to be able to include your club in our Family of Rotary Youth exchange for 2009-10!

Yours in Rotary,

Bob and Carol Saghirian
District 7640 Youth Exchange Chairman
Essex Country Contact for FRANCE

64 Berkshire Drive
Sewell, NJ 08080 USA

856-228-1717 (home)
856-582-2200 (work)
609-399-2813 (Ocean City - May - September)
856-589-1511 (FAX)

email: RYE7640@aol.com

Programs

Rotary Youth Exchange is open to young people ages 15-25 worldwide. There are two basic types of exchanges: short-term and long-term.

Short-term exchange

General short-term exchange

Ages 15-19
Several days to several weeks long
Don't involve attending high school, but students can tailor their experience to match their interests
Can include homestays, tours, and international youth camps

New Generations Exchange

Ages 18-25
Three to six weeks
Ideal for recent secondary school graduates
Can include homestays, tours, camps, or specialized internships

Read more in the short-term Youth Exchange brochure (PDF).

Long-term exchange

Ages 15-19
One year
Involves living with a few host families and attending a local school

Read more in the long-term Youth Exchange brochure (PDF).

Students

How do I qualify?

Above-average student with demonstrated leadership in the community
Open to new experiences and cultural differences
Sponsored by a local Rotary club
Completed written application and in-person interview

How much will it cost?

Youth Exchange is coordinated at the regional level by Rotary districts and at the local level by Rotary clubs. Costs vary greatly from one area to another. Typically, students and their parents cover the following expenses:

Round-trip airfare
Health and accident insurance
Travel documents
Clothing and other necessities
Spending money
Emergency funds for unpredicted expenses
Ancillary travel and tours

In most clubs and districts, students do not pay placement fees, so those with financial constraints can share the exchange experience.

Sharing in the costs are host families (who pay for room and board), the host community (who cover school tuition and arrangements) and host Rotary club (who offer a small stipend of usually US$50-100 monthly.)

What are my responsibilities?

As a Youth Exchange student, you agree to

Act as an ambassador for your home country
Abide by all program rules of your host Rotary club and district
Accept the supervision of the host family, club, and district
Ask questions of your host family and local Rotarians
Be an active participant in your exchange

Where will my exchange be?

Exchanges can take place in more than 150 countries and geographical areas. Please note, however, that the countries you visit depend on your home Rotary district. Contact your local club or district for more information. Locate the club nearest to you through Club Locator or your local phone listings, or find out whether a club or district has listed its Web site with Rotary International.

Do you offer scholarships or university programs?

RI doesn't offer scholarships or university programs specifically for Youth Exchange students, but local Rotary clubs and districts may offer financial assistance. Contact Rotarians in your area to find out. If you're interested in university programs, explore Rotary Foundation scholarships.

I'm interested. How do I apply?

Youth Exchange is administered by Rotary clubs and districts. Contact Rotarians in your area to apply. Read more.

Host families

By hosting a Youth Exchange student in your home, you'll make a young person's dream come true, and you and your family will share an unforgettable and fulfilling experience.

As a host family, you will

Provide room and board
Supervise the student just as you would your own children
Involve the student in family activities and chores
Enrich the exchange experience by including the student in family, community, and cultural activities

Host families aren't compensated financially. The program is run entirely by dedicated volunteers, which helps keep costs low.

More information:

If you're interested in hosting a Youth Exchange student, read A Primer for Host Families (PDF), which details student and host family responsibilities, Rotary's role, and frequently asked questions.

Identify your local Rotary club through Club Locator or phone listings, and find out if a club or district has listed its Web site with Rotary International.

Rotarians

Dedicated Rotarian volunteers have kept Youth Exchange vital for decades. Rotarians work behind the scenes to handle the logistics of each exchange. For long-term exchanges, the host club and district arranges school enrollment, tuition, and other educational matters.

Youth Exchange officers are the program's leaders. Elected at the club and district levels, these volunteers are trained to serve as liaisons between students and the district Youth Exchange committee.