|
|
Welcoming Eva Scheiringer (Austria) 23rd July 2005.
Downloads Application Form ; Guidelines
The Rotary Youth Exchange Programme generally provides for the selection and sponsorship of students in the 15½ to 17½ year age group to travel to another country to spend twelve months attending a secondary school and living with host families in that country.
OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME
1. To further international goodwill and understanding by enabling students to study at first hand some of the problems and accomplishments of people in lands other than their own.
2. To enable students to advance their education by studying for a year in an environment entirely different from their own and undertaking study courses and subjects not normally available to then in secondary schools of their own country.
3. To broaden their own outlook by learning to live with and meet people of different cultures, creeds and colours from their own, and having to cope with day to day problems in an environment completely different from the one they have experienced at home.
4. To act as Ambassadors for their own country by addressing Rotary Clubs, Community organisations and Youth Groups in their host country and by imparting as much knowledge as they can of their own country and its problems to the people they meet during their year abroad.
5. To study and observe all facets of life and culture in the country where they are hosted so that on their return to their home country they can pass on the knowledge they have gained by addressing Rotary Clubs, Youth Groups and Community organisations.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
1. Rotary Youth Exchange students preferably should be 16 and have not turned 18 years of age at the time of departure from Australia.
2. Applicants must have above average academic ability and must have an outgoing and pleasant personality to fit them for the role as an Ambassador for Australia. They must have the ability to accept discipline and be capable of adjusting to new and strange conditions.
3. Applicants must be of good character and reputation.
4. Sons and daughters of Rotarians are eligible for Youth Exchange, but receive no special preference in selection. All applicants are selected solely on merit.
OBLIGATIONS OF ROTARY
1. The District Youth Exchange Committee has the obligation to select and adequately brief outgoing students, and arrange for Rotary Clubs in another country to host each student for one year.
2. After selection of students, the District Committee will make every endeavour to place them with host Rotary Clubs abroad who will pay a monetary allowance and will maintain liaison with the host Clubs throughout the Exchange year to ensure a smooth functioning of the Exchanges.
STUDENTS TRAVELLING OVERSEAS FROM AUSTRALIA
OBLIGATIONS OF STUDENTS
1. Students are expected to obey the laws of the host country at all times and accept discipline of the host school and the host parents. Students are expected to adapt to the home environment of the host families - the host families are under no obligation to adapt themselves to the student.
2. The student is an Ambassador for Australia and must at all times behave in a manner which will reflect credit on his or her family, community and country.
3. Students will not be permitted to 'go steady' with a boy or girl friend. Dating, preferably in company will be tolerated, but for obvious reasons romantic involvement is to be strongly discouraged to the extent that an applicant breaching the rule could be sent home.
4. Students must return to Australia at completion of the year. Students will not be allowed to stay after the termination of the school year.
OBLIGATION OF PARENTS
1. The parents are required to provide the cost of transporting of the student (including all costs for visa, passport, and air departure taxes) to and from the host country. This cost varies considerably and depends on the final destination of the student and whetter he or she travels singly or under a group or a student concession.
2. The parent is required to take out a $100,000 temporary life policy. D9600 provides an insurance policy 'CIGMA RESCUE' that covers the student for adequate medical and hospital insurance for the twelve months.
3. Parents will provide all clothing including school uniforms if so required for the student while abroad, and will also provide and maintain an emergency fund of $500-00 which can be drawn on with the consent of the student's counsellor or host parents.
4. Parents are responsible for all travel costs, e.g. the main Safari or other trips as provided by the hosting District. These are not compulsory, but are for the student/parents expense.
5. Provide extra spending money if required - the pocket money given monthly by clubs can vary from A$70-00 to A$100-00.
6. Parents are required to provide the student with a suitable gift for the student to present to the host families, and also the Counsellor.
7. WHILE THE STUDENT IS AWAY, IT IS A REQUISITE OF DISTRICT 9600 THAT THE PARENTS OF AN OUTBOUNDER HOST A STUDENT FOR THE MINIMUM OF 4 MONTHS. THIS IS NECESSARY TO ASSIST THE DISTRICT AND CLUBS TO MEET THEIR RECIPROCAL OBLIGATIONS.
A "FAMILY POOL" has been established from which you may be called upon to host a student from another club other than your own.
TIMETABLES FOR ROTARY YOUTH EXCHANGE PROGRAMME - FOR OUTWARD STUDENTS
1. Applications must be lodged in witting on the form attached to this circular with the Rotary Club in the town or suburb in which the student RESIDES.
2. Initial Application closes with the local Rotary Clubs on the 30th March in the year to the departure of student.
3. Local Rotary Clubs Committees will interview students and their parents and will recommend suitable students for further consideration by District Selection Committee.
4. Recommended students to be interviewed by the District Selection Committee will be required to complete 3 copies of the official application for Rotary International Youth Exchange programme giving :-
- Personal particulars and background
- General information relating to the applicant
- Applicant's school activities
- Endorsement of sponsoring Club
- Guarantee form by applicant and parent
- Medical and dental examination
- Parental/guardian release form
5. Completed applications for Rotary International Youth Exchange close with the District Committee on l2th April.
6. District Selection Committee will interview all applicants recommended by individual Rotary Clubs within their District and will make a selection of students to be sent abroad subject to the District Committee being able to secure host agreements from Rotary Clubs abroad. No student is to be regarded as a Rotary Club's Youth Exchange Student until officially accepted as such by a host Rotary Club in another country.
7. District interviews will be completed by 30th May.
8. The District Committee will endeavour to arrange for an exchange with the country of the applicant's first choice but, where this proved impossible to arrange, reserves the right to negotiate a hosting agreement with a Rotary Club in another country.
9. Briefings for out bound students will be held in September and December.
10. Students selected by the District Youth Exchange Committee will depart from Australia in January for twelve months.