Rotary District 5370 Youth Exchange Program Welcome And thanks for coming Orientation Program for Host Families and Club Youth Exchange Officers.

Rotary District 5370 Youth Exchange Program

WelcomeWelcomeAnd thanks for comingAnd thanks for coming

Orientation Program for Host Families

and Club Youth Exchange Officers


You’re Expecting a New ArrivalYou’re Expecting a New Arrival

Congratulations!Congratulations!

Orientation Program for Host Families

and Club Youth Exchange Officers


Orientation AgendaOrientation Agenda

What is Rotary?What is Rotary? Purpose of the Rotary YE ProgramPurpose of the Rotary YE Program Who are Rotary exchange students?Who are Rotary exchange students? Expectations – families, students, clubsExpectations – families, students, clubs Arrival and settling inArrival and settling in SchoolSchool Rotary involvementRotary involvement Activities and calendarActivities and calendar Support systemSupport system Being the first, second, last host familyBeing the first, second, last host family End of the yearEnd of the year Other topicsOther topics


What is Rotary?What is Rotary?

World’s oldest and most international service World’s oldest and most international service organizationorganization• 1¼ million Rotarians, in 170+ countries1¼ million Rotarians, in 170+ countries• Celebrating 100Celebrating 100thth anniversary in 2005 anniversary in 2005• 32,000 clubs, in 520 districts32,000 clubs, in 520 districts

Rotary Motto: “Service Above Self”Rotary Motto: “Service Above Self” ““The Four Way Test”The Four Way Test”

• Is it the TRUTH?Is it the TRUTH?• Is it FAIR to all concerned?Is it FAIR to all concerned?• Will it build GOOD WILL and better friendships?Will it build GOOD WILL and better friendships?• Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

The Rotary FoundationThe Rotary Foundation• Ambassadorial ScholarshipsAmbassadorial Scholarships• Polio PlusPolio Plus• Group Study ExchangeGroup Study Exchange


What is Rotary?What is Rotary?

Our Rotary District is 5370Our Rotary District is 5370• 3 Provinces and a Territory3 Provinces and a Territory

Alberta, British Columbia, Northwest Territories, Alberta, British Columbia, Northwest Territories, Saskatchewan Saskatchewan

Includes major cities of Dawson Creek, North Includes major cities of Dawson Creek, North Battleford, Lloydminster and St. AlbertBattleford, Lloydminster and St. Albert

• 63 Rotary Clubs63 Rotary Clubs• Approximately 2,500 RotariansApproximately 2,500 Rotarians• In 2007-08:In 2007-08:

19 inbound exchange students (from 15 countries)19 inbound exchange students (from 15 countries) 20 outbound exchange students (to 16 countries)20 outbound exchange students (to 16 countries)


Purpose of the RYE ProgramPurpose of the RYE Program

Provide high school students an Provide high school students an opportunity to spend a year studying opportunity to spend a year studying in another country, learning the in another country, learning the language, discovering the culture, language, discovering the culture, developing skills and maturitydeveloping skills and maturity

Bring the world into our local Bring the world into our local communities through friendshipcommunities through friendship

Promote Rotary’s goal of world peace Promote Rotary’s goal of world peace and understanding, one person, one and understanding, one person, one exchange at a timeexchange at a time


Purpose of the RYE ProgramPurpose of the RYE Program

District-to-district programDistrict-to-district program 8,000 exchange students per year8,000 exchange students per year Open to children of Rotarians and Open to children of Rotarians and

non-Rotarians alikenon-Rotarians alike Operated completely by volunteer Operated completely by volunteer

Rotarians as part of Rotary’s Rotarians as part of Rotary’s commitment to international and commitment to international and community servicecommunity service


Who are Rotary Exchange Students?Who are Rotary Exchange Students?

Outstanding young peopleOutstanding young people Age 15-18½ upon arrivalAge 15-18½ upon arrival Carefully selected and well preparedCarefully selected and well prepared MostMost speak English well speak English well Anxious and excited to:Anxious and excited to:

• Learn our languageLearn our language• Discover Canadian cultureDiscover Canadian culture• Represent their countriesRepresent their countries• Become part of your familyBecome part of your family


Expectations of Host FamiliesExpectations of Host Families

Provide room and boardProvide room and board Treat student like your own childTreat student like your own child Help with challengesHelp with challenges

• LanguageLanguage• SchoolSchool• Culture shockCulture shock• HomesicknessHomesickness

Provide an ear to listen, a shoulder to Provide an ear to listen, a shoulder to cry on, a hand to depend oncry on, a hand to depend on


Expectations of StudentsExpectations of Students

Adapt to host familyAdapt to host family Learn our language and cultureLearn our language and culture Perform well in schoolPerform well in school Communicate Communicate Represent country and RotaryRepresent country and Rotary Participate with Rotary, school, and Participate with Rotary, school, and

communitycommunity Return home around mid to third Return home around mid to third

week of Julyweek of July


Expectations of StudentsExpectations of Students

Program RulesProgram Rules• DrivingDriving• Alcohol and DrugsAlcohol and Drugs• SmokingSmoking• School attendanceSchool attendance• RelationshipsRelationships• WorkingWorking• TravelingTraveling• Visits from homeVisits from home• Phone calls, e-mails, IMPhone calls, e-mails, IM


Expectations of Host ClubsExpectations of Host Clubs

Select host familiesSelect host families Provide counselorProvide counselor Help with school arrangementsHelp with school arrangements Supply monthly allowanceSupply monthly allowance Bring to meetings regularlyBring to meetings regularly Involve in club activitiesInvolve in club activities Involve with members’ livesInvolve with members’ lives Support host familiesSupport host families Help with transportation for “special Help with transportation for “special

events”events”


Arrival and Settling InArrival and Settling In

Welcoming your studentWelcoming your student• Notify us of any flight changesNotify us of any flight changes• Check-in by YE Committee memberCheck-in by YE Committee member• Assist with lost baggage reportsAssist with lost baggage reports

First Night QuestionsFirst Night Questions A Welcome Party?A Welcome Party? School arrangementsSchool arrangements


SchoolSchool

Educational program, student visasEducational program, student visas Visit ASAP to set scheduleVisit ASAP to set schedule NO ESOL classesNO ESOL classes NO Driver EducationNO Driver Education Encourage participationEncourage participation

• SportsSports• Music, Drama, etc.Music, Drama, etc.• InteractInteract

HomeworkHomework


Rotary InvolvementRotary Involvement

Counselor visits once/month (min.)Counselor visits once/month (min.) Club meetings once/month (min.)Club meetings once/month (min.) Encourage involvement by membersEncourage involvement by members Help with school issuesHelp with school issues Support host familySupport host family Arrange transition to new host familyArrange transition to new host family Monthly allowanceMonthly allowance Inbound student activity feeInbound student activity fee


Support SystemSupport System

Club LevelClub Level• CounselorCounselor• Youth Exchange OfficerYouth Exchange Officer• PresidentPresident

District LevelDistrict Level• Country CounselorCountry Counselor• Long-Term CoordinatorLong-Term Coordinator• ChairpersonChairperson


Being 1Being 1stst/2/2ndnd/Last Host Family/Last Host Family

First Host FamilyFirst Host Family• Excitement – everything is newExcitement – everything is new• Culture shock – major adaptationsCulture shock – major adaptations• Language strugglesLanguage struggles• School arrangementsSchool arrangements• Often the closest bondsOften the closest bonds


Being 1Being 1stst/2/2ndnd/Last Host Family/Last Host Family

Second (or Third) Host FamilySecond (or Third) Host Family• Transition issuesTransition issues• New rules and family practicesNew rules and family practices• Language and culture begin to “click”Language and culture begin to “click”

Last Host FamilyLast Host Family• Comfortable with language and cultureComfortable with language and culture• Big events: prom, graduation, departureBig events: prom, graduation, departure• Preparing for separationPreparing for separation• Tearful goodbyesTearful goodbyes


The End of the YearThe End of the Year

Leaving for home will be harder than Leaving for home will be harder than leaving home was a year earlierleaving home was a year earlier

Reverse culture shockReverse culture shock ““The more successful the exchange, The more successful the exchange,

the harder the re-entry”the harder the re-entry” You WILL see them again, and you You WILL see them again, and you

will have travel opportunities unlike will have travel opportunities unlike any you’ve experienced before.any you’ve experienced before.


Other TopicsOther Topics

The Exchange CycleThe Exchange Cycle Medical insurance and careMedical insurance and care Dietary issues Dietary issues (religious or other)(religious or other)

Sibling relationshipsSibling relationships Choosing friendsChoosing friends The Emergency Fund and its purpose The Emergency Fund and its purpose Connecting with your student’s Connecting with your student’s

parentsparents


QuestionsQuestions

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Rotary District 5370 Youth Exchange Program Welcome And thanks for coming Orientation Program for Host Families and Club Youth Exchange Officers.

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