From staff reports
Local Rotary Clubs in Northwestern Pennsylvania are offering students the opportunity to study and live in another country during the 2019-2020 school year as a part of the Rotary Youth Exchange program.
The Rotary Youth Exchange program offers high school students from the U.S. and other countries the opportunity to live and study in another country during a school year.
Eligible students should be of good character and reputation; be approximately between the ages of 15 to 18 and one-half at time of departure; have above average academic ability; and have a pleasant personality.
A preliminary application with a local interview is followed by final interviews in November. Country preferences will be taken into consideration and placements made in January 2019.
The student’s share of expenses include a $450 youth exchange program fee, airfare, insurance and other travel costs.
The program is for one school year and the hosting Rotary club will provide housing with host families, food, schooling and a monthly allowance. For more information, visit www.exchangestudent.org.
The Rotary Youth Exchange program also offers the following two important opportunities for students and parents:
Hosting students
Short Term/Summer Youth Exchange
The Short Term/Summer Youth Exchange program is one in which an area student travels to another country for three to four weeks and lives with a family that has a similar-aged child.
As part of the short term/summer program, the child from the other country will also travel to our area and stay with the family of the U.S. child.
Short Term applications are due March 30 of each year.
To receive a preliminary application or for more information on how to participate in Rotary Youth Exchange, contact a local Rotary member in your area or Jeff Simmons, Rotary District 7280 outbound coordinator at (724) 473-0016 or jssim89167@yahoo.com