Rotary Youth Exchange
Students are you ready to…
- Form international friendships?
- Gain a fresh understanding of yourself and others?
- Immerse yourself in a different culture?
- Appreciate others’ ways of doing things?
- Act as an ambassador and educate others about your country?
Then you are ready for Rotary Youth Exchange!
This year, about 7,000 young people will see the world the way it is best seen – from the inside out – through Rotary’s Youth Exchange. As a Rotary Youth Exchange student, you will spend a school year living with host families and attending school in a country other than your own. You will learn a new way of living, a new language through hard work, and a great deal about yourself. Rotary’s Youth Exchange full-year program is open to young men and women in their sophomore or junior year. Applicants are selected in September as freshmen or sophomores on the basis of academic record, leadership potential, community involvement and through a written application and personal interview process.
Full-Year Rotary Youth Exchange
The Sherwood Rotary Club will sponsor one full-year outbound student each school year. Currently, Rotary District 5100 (Northern Oregon and Southern Washington) is exchanging with over 20 countries around the world (including Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Czech Republic, Chile, Denmark, Finland, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, South Korea, Switzerland, French, Belgium, Taiwan, Thailand, etc.). Our District sponsors about 45 full year outbound students and a corresponding number of inbound students each school year. We are also looking for host families.
How much will it cost?
As a Rotary-sponsored youth exchange student, many costs are paid by your host Rotary club including: housing, food and some trips. Your costs include: round-trip airfare, health and accident insurance that meets the requirements of the host clubs and districts, all travel documents such as passports and visas, clothing and spending money, emergency fund for unexpected expenses during the year and, extra travel or tours throughout the year.
Short-Term Summer Youth Exchange
District 5100 also participates in the Rotary Short Term Exchange Program (STEP). STEP is open to students from 8 grade to college sophomores. This is a family-to-family exchange. You will spend approximately 4 weeks abroad with a family and in return, you will host the student from this same family for four weeks. STEP is designed to enhance your opportunities to experience different cultures.To become a preliminary applicant please submit the below form:
Alternatively you can link to the Google Form, use the PDF, or use the Google Doc versions