PC Int'l Youth Exchange
SUMMER YOUTH EXCHANGE
The Short Term Youth Exchange Program pairs students from different countries to spend 6 to 8 weeks together during the summer months -- half spent here and the other half of that time spent together overseas, in the home of the student with whom he or she is paired.
Our District provides all pairing, orientation, and support administration for students in this Program. Participating Districts world wide must be certified by Rotary International, indicating that they provide background checks, outbound orientation, youth protection training, and Rotary oversight of host homes.
PUTNAM COUNTY ROTARY CLUB will cover the application and orientation fees of $300 / student for up to two Putnam County students annually. Applicants must be 15-19 years old during the summer of their exchange year.
There is no language requirement as students are generally placed with English-speaking hosts. We pair with students in the northern hemisphere so that the respective students' summer vacations align with one another.
Applications are accepted in December; pairings generally occur by April 1st, and meanwhile all students and all parents must attend (but will truly enjoy!) our District Outbound Orientation Weekend Program in mid-March.
Travel generally occurs in June, July and August. Parents are responsible for their student's passport, travel, insurance, overnight stay in Rock Falls for Orientation, and the incidental costs associated with hosting the "matched" student here for about 4 weeks.
PC Rotary is proud to have sponsored one PCHS student in a Summer Exchange with a student in Italy iin 2013, and another in a Summer Exchange with a student in Germany in 2015, two students and a school staff person Exchange with Argentina in 2017..... and Summer Exchange with students in Italy in 2018 and 2019 ! We have stepped up the pace in 2019 with our hosting of LONG TERM Rotary Youth Exchange Student Valentina Daza Gutierrez from Colombia, in 2019-2020!
Austin Pletch exchange with Nicola from Italy.....Owen Mallery exchange with Bennett from Germany.... Ryan Caulfield, Grace Lamboley & Ms. Stewart exchange with Arsenio, Francisco and Ms. Tello from Argentina.... Ben Just exchanges with Tommaso from Italy and (not yet pictured) Justice Petersen and Marta Pinelli from Italy team up in Summer 2019 ---- followed by Sandbergs' hosting of LT Exchange Student Valentina Daza Gutierrez from Colombia, in the Fall, 2019!... can we add your picture here!?
OTHER PROGRAMS OFFERED BY ROTARY ....
SISTERHOOD OF SCHOOLS PROGRAM: Inspired by an Argentine Rotarian who had been a Rotary Youth Exchange Student in Sycamore IL in his youth. we are able to partner with schools in Argentina whereby we send two students to Argentina for six weeks, and they send two students here for six weeks -- each traveling during their respective summer vacations! A teacher accompanies each team, though not through the auspices of Rotary. In the year 2017 PCHS is participating with a school in Bolivar, in the southern region of Buenos Aires Province in Argentina -- their students traveled here in January-February, and ours headed there from May to early July!
YEAR-LONG YOUTH EXCHANGE is Rotary's flagship Program, in which a student is hosted by a Rotary Club overseas and, typically, in several host homes over the year, to broaden the cultural experience. Our Rotary District 6420 (Northern and Northwestern Illinois) sends and receives Rotary-sponsored Long Term Youth Exchange Students as part of a multi-district organization called Central States Youth Exchange, providing training, orientation programs, group events, insurance and travel support.
For APPLICATIONS & more information on these and other Rotary International experiences, email PutnamCountyRotary@gmail.com !
More information is also available at www.rotary.org