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 our children and ourselves. Youth Exchange provides thousands of young people with the opportunity to meet people from other lands and to experience their cultures. This plants the seeds for a lifetime of international understanding.
2009-2010 District 7390 Youth Exchange Calendar of Events/Meetings (click to view)
Rotary International's Eastern States Student EXchange Program (ESSEX) organizes all Rotary student year abroad youth study exchanges for 31 Rotary International districts which span 16 states in the eastern United States, Bermuda and Quebec and New Brunswick, Canada. Exchange students study in a foreign high school, experience a foreign culture, live with one or more host families, learn a new language and have the opportunity to travel.
Additional information on Rotary International's Youth Exchange program is also available from the RI web site.
OUTBOUND CANDIDATES (Application/General Information)
SHORT-TERM EXCHANGE PROGRAM (STEP)
OUTBOUND STUDENTS (Materials During Preparation)
OUTBOUND STUDENTS (Presently Abroad)
INBOUND STUDENTS
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Medical Claim Forms
1) click on RYE Brochures – this is a combination brochure and application for Rotary Youth Exchange Students - currently in English and other languages will be available by CISI soon – Select Plan B Long Term)
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REBOUNDS/ROTEX
HOST FAMILIES
ROTARY CLUB YOUTH EXCHANGE COMMITTEE
ROTARY CLUB YOUTH EXCHANGE VOLUNTEERS (age 18 and older)
Volunteers who are Rotarians need to complete SPC Appendix A “Personal Information” and Waiver forms once every five years. Non-Rotarians must update SPC Appendix A “Personal Information” and Waiver forms annually. Club YEO Chair is responsible for conducting reference checks on all YE volunteers and District YE Chair is responsible for conducting reference checks on all Club YEO Chairs.
ROTARY CLUB HOST FAMILY PACKETS (all forms must be completed and returned to the District office)
In 2006 the Federal Government passed a federal regulation requiring changes in the way the Youth Exchange Program operates in the United States and in 2009 ESSEX standardized all of the forms used by member District Youth Exchange Programs to ensure compliance with United States Department of State, CSIET and Rotary International regulations. Each District 7390 Rotary Club that hosts an Inbound Student will receive a binder/folder for their Inbound Student that will include all of the required forms that need to be completed. At the end of the calendar year, the completed forms are to be turned in to the District 7390 office as we must maintain records on all exchange students for 10 years.
If you have any questions regarding specific information on Long Term Outbound Program contact Tom Barton at tbarton@trolaindustries.com, or for Long Term Inbound Program contact Ken Farabaugh at kenfarabaugh@embarqmail.com, or for Short Term Exchange Program contact Allen Smith at allen@adsesq.com or Linda Spotts at crosswinds@pa.net.
ESSEX tri-fold brochures to recruit Outbound students can be ordered by emailing the District Office at office@rotary7390.org. The cost is 25 cents per brochure plus shipping charges of $3.00 for every 50 brochures ordered. Make check payable to District 7390 Youth Exchange Program and mail check to Rotary District 7390, 515 South George Street, York, PA 17401-2723.
Rotary International is committed to creating and maintaining the safest possible environment for all participants in Rotary activities. It is the duty of all Rotarians, Rotarians’ spouses, partners, and other volunteers to safeguard to the best of their ability the welfare of and to prevent the physical, sexual, or emotional abuse of children and young people with whom they come into contact. The phone numbers and email addresses are listed below for host families, exchange students and the public to report circumstances impacting a student’s health, safety and well being during the exchange student’s exchange visitor program.
Rotary 7390 District Student Protection Officer: Ann Keim, 717-653-8881, Ask35@comcast.net
Rotary 7390 District Youth Exchange Chair: Linda Spotts (W)717-920-5250, (H)717-652-7548, crosswinds@pa.net
U. S. Department of State: Toll Free 1-866-283-9090
Note for the Short Term Applications: Submit Completed STEP Checklist and 7 copies of application, pictures in color, signatures in blue ink on all copies and send to Melissa Bruck, 515 South George Street, York, PA 17401-2723 for processing.