After several years of inactivity, there’s interest again; can we participate?

For several years our district has participated in Rotary’s International Youth Exchange long-term program. But in recent years with concerns about terrorism, fewer students and their parents have participated..  

No incidents have been reported involving Iowa exchange students and Rotarians around the world have taken extra care to prevent any. Slowly, more candidates are considering the once in a lifetime opportunity to spend a year in a foreign country to broaden their vision of the world.

The long term program which our district participates in is open to students ages 15 – 18 ½ for one academic year when they live with host families and attend a local school. Applicants need to be above average with demonstrated leadership in the community who are open to new experiences, be sponsored by a Rotary club and complete a written application and in-person interview.

While there is no fee to participate, students and their families must provide round trip airfare, purchase a health and accident insurance policy, receive a passport and student visa and have a minimum amount of spending money. Our district sets this amount at $4,200 regardless of the student’s destination to equalize costs for all students. The fee also covers the cost of three pre-trip meetings to cover rules and to learn about Rotary. Most clubs who receive students provide an allowance and opportunities to travel.

Rotary’s youth exchange program in our district has joined the Central States Youth Exchange Program which coordinates efforts to comply with U.S. law and to expedite visas.

One of the major issues in past years has been the difficulty in finding three or four families to host inbound students. There’s no doubt that hosting a student can be a burden for the family, but those who have done so in the past say it’s a very rewarding experience and frequently they host a second or third student.

The youth exchange program is not funded by the Rotary Foundation so it is open to sons and daughters of Rotarians. Students with knowledge in a foreign language are frequently but not always placed in a country where that language is common. But placement depends on District Chair Mike Hamilton’s ability to negotiate an exchange with that country. Some countries have extra requirements or conditions, such as an upper age limit or language skills.

Six years ago Maggie Luce of Waterloo was picked to spend a year in Brazil on such a program. It opened up a new world to her, including spending part of her junior year studying in Italy. Today she is a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar studying in Limerick, Ireland. Her experience is not unique.

If you know of someone who is interested in applying, direct them to www.rotary.org and click on the heading “students and youth for details. They can also contact Mike Hamilton, the district chair, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . The interview process normally begins in November.

For more information contact Mike Hamilton, Youth Exchange Committee Chair