Our Youth Exchange program has been active since the 1920's and is absolutely thriving today! In this story, Mansfield Rotary Club's Youth Exchange Director, Kathy Croughan gives us a brief history of the incredible program...
Youth Exchange began during the 1920s as an effort between a handful of clubs in Europe. These European exchanges continued until World War II and resumed in 1946. The reciprocal long-term academic exchange grew in popularity during the 1950s and became the primary type of Rotary Youth Exchange. In 1972, the RI Board of Directors agreed to recommend Youth Exchange to clubs worldwide as a worthwhile international activity. Today, more than 8,000 Youth Exchange students travel abroad each year to live and study in about 80 countries.
Types of Exchange
• Long-term exchange. These exchanges usually last one year, during which the student lives with more than one family in the host country and is required to attend school there.
• Short-term exchange. These exchanges vary from several days to several weeks; they often take place when school is not in session and usually do not include an academic program. Short-term exchanges generally involve a homestay experience with a family in the host country.
Rotary District 9790 consists of 63 Rotary Clubs from Melbourne, North east Victoria, and southern NSW. The youth exchange program allows students to spend up to a year living and attending school overseas. These students become ambassadors for their families, their hometowns, and Australia.
Being away from home can be a challenging experience and it is not for everyone. It’s not a holiday and you are not a guest. Homesickness & language development can be a challenge, and you will find that as you negotiate these and other little hurdles along the way, you’ll develop more confidence and independence.
Students on our long programs frequently say they become part of their host community and feel like a local. They build networks of friends that can last a lifetime. Their knowledge of the country increases and their capacity to put matters in perspective matures and grows.
Attend a local school where you’ll have the opportunity to try new subjects or extend your understanding of familiar subjects. A long program is a commitment there will also be many opportunities to have fun and enjoy your overseas experience. If learning another language is your motivation, our long programs provide an opportunity to finetune your skills. Your will have time to adjust, make mistakes, practice and learn. You’ll gain a level of fluency and an accent that only comes with prolonged immersion.
The Rotary Club of Mansfield are proud to offer this opportunity to our youth.
We have previously sent students to Europe and this year the student that we are sending out is going to Japan.
We look forward to bringing you stories and highlights from future exchange programs!