Youth Exchange – District 7430

Rotary Programs �  Long Term Academic Year (age 15-18.5)

- 40 countries - 10-12 months - 2 or more Host Families

�  Short Term – Family to Family (age 15-18.5)

- 40 countries

- Summer Program

- 2-6 weeks typically

MISSION

� Make the world a smaller, friendlier place.

� Plant the seeds for a lifetime of international understanding and peace.

Expectations of Rotary Club �  Appoint a Committee to include Youth Exchange Officer

and Club Counselor. Often times there are other Rotarians (and sometimes spouses) interested in supporting the exchange. �  Counselor – works directly with the student �  YEO – works directly with the host family and is the

liaison between the host club and host family

�  Experience shows that the more members supporting the exchange the less stressful and cumbersome the experience can be. Sharing the responsibility makes the year flow without a heavy load on anyone.

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HOW YEO/COUNSELOR BECOME CERTIFIED

�  Complete and submit Volunteer Application via the ESSEX Volunteer Portal

�  References will be sent automatically

�  Waiver for background will be sent to you automatically – annual requirement

�  Access to the Dept of State Online testing will be sent to you automatically – annual requirement

NOTE: YEO cannot view the students application until they have been vetted. (DOS)

CLUB COUNSELOR

- Someone genuinely interested in youth and be able to relate to young people easily - Be prepared to be the second line of parenting and/or person of authority - Be prepared to process the Inbound application in a timely manner (4-6 wks) - Welcome student prior to and when the he/she arrivals in August - Meet with the Student on a monthly basis – document - Be an ear to listen and shoulder to cry on if there is a need - Supply monthly allowance (monthly) - Encourage members to get involved with the student - Involve the student in club activities - Share the students culture with the club by Celebrating important Holidays - Make sure you celebrate the students birthday

YOUTH EXCHANGE OFFICER (YEO)

HOST FAMILY – ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF THE EXCHANGE….. �  Select, process and support Host Families in your

community – RI requires at least 2 host families per student.

�  Help organize transportation to District, club activities. �  Contact host families, at least monthly, document as

required. �  Invite Host Families to your club… constantly thanking

them for their support. Educate them on Rotary. Huge source for new members.

Expectations of Student �  Adapt to host family

�  Learn our language and culture

�  Attend school with passing grades

�  Represent country and Rotary

�  Participate in Rotary, School and Community

�  Adhere to Rules and Regulations of the Program

Expectation of Host Family �  Provide a safe, non threatening, respectful and appropriate environment

�  Adhere to the Youth Protection Policy and Program Guidelines

�  Room and Board

�  Treat student like your own

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

�  Assist with transportation

�  Help with challenges �  Language �  School �  Culture shock �  Homesickness

INBOUND Application Process

�  Receive and process the IB application per detailed instructions – in a timely manner – no more than 4 weeks One….identify a local High School Two…. Identify a Host family in your school district

�  Sharon Rittenhouse – Administrative Assistant is available to help at any time…. She will be the YEP Contact to assistant clubs in processing the application and helping securing host family documentation

Host Family Processing �  Identify Host family

�  Conduct In-Home interview �  ensure HF capable of providing nurturing

environment �  Ensure HF financial secure �  An inspection of the home is to be one at this time

and again 60 days into the exchange (DOS) �  Confirm not a relative of the student (DOS) If family approved….contact Sharon Rittenhouse and she will follow-up with the family to secure the proper documents (all done on-line). This includes application, background checks and references. *Reminder that HF cannot view the students application until vetted and approved

Student Protection Policy

�  Effective since 2006-2007 by RI and DOS

�  Committed to creating and maintaining the safest possible environment for all participants

�  “Background checks should be done for all District adult volunteers and hosts who will have direct, unsupervised one-on-one contact with exchange students.” Definition of Volunteer: any adult involved with Rotary YEP activities who has direct interactions with students. This includes, Club and District YEP Officers, Rotarians and non-Rotarians (their spouses or partners) that host students for activities or outings or who might drive students to events and functions regularly. In general, background checks need not be conducted for adults who will have ONLY casual or occasional group interactions with YEP students. Any volunteer adult taking the student away or overnight should be background checked.

Class of 2014-2015

Your YEP Committee at work

Join us anytime….. Keep yourself young

IB Class of 14-15

Chef DG Gary – cooking dinner

Learn to Dance

Play some softball

BE A HOST FAMILY

�  Johanna – Brazil – Nazareth

�  Sarah – Brazil – Boyertown

�  Carly – Brazil - Quakertown

�  Emily – Italy – West Reading Wymossing

�  Christina – Spain - Blue Bell

�  Joy – Peru - Ambler

�  Eric – Poland – Saucon Center Valley

�  Kenna – France – Emmaus

�  Michael – Germany – Saucon Center Valley

�  Amanda – Denmark – Boyertown

�  Lilly – Argentina - Doylestown

�  Jennifer – Ecuador - Boyertown

�  Katie – Bolivia – Central Bucks

�  Mahlon – Chile - Boyertown

�  Maggie – Spain – Boyertown

Outbound Class of 2014-2015

�  Fabiola – Switzerland – Blue Bell

�  Justine – Belgium - Kutztown

�  Julia – Spain - Quakertown

�  Annika – Finland – Bethlehem Morning Star

�  Juliana – Austria – Newtown

�  Kacper – Poland – West Reading Wymossing

�  Boss – Thailand - Nazareth

�  Roberto – Ecuador – Allentown West

�  Mathilde – Denmark - Ambler

�  Harald – Sweden - Boyertown

�  Sasha – Germany - Boyertown

Inbound Class of 2014-2015

YEP Calendar �  September – Camp Conrad Weiser YMCA

�  October – Olivet Blue Mountain Camp – Hamburg – Hike Hawk Mountain, Carve Pumpkins, eat apple pie, Halloween costume party

�  Outbound Interviews – Nov at Holiday Inn Lansdale/Kulpsville

�  January 3 & 4 – Outbound Orientation for Students and Parents – Bucks Country YMCA - Quakertown

�  February 7 & 8 - Ski Weekend – Spring Mountain

�  March 19-21 - Washington Trip

�  April – District Conference Gettysburg

�  June 6th – Farewell Picnic –

COME FIND OUT WHAT YEP IS ALL ABOUT

JOIN ANYONE OF THE EVENTS

HAVE FUN…. KEEP YOURSELF YOUNG!!!!!!

www.rotary7430yep.org