Are you a student between the ages of 15 and 17 who is itching to see the world? Then this opportunity may be for you!
The Huntsville Rotary Club is currently accepting applications for its youth exchange program. Students spend a year in another country, getting to know the culture, cuisine and host language all while developing friendships of a lifetime The Rotary Youth Exchange program is open to high school students between the ages of 15 and 17 on departure (the maximum age of a student is 17 and 6 months as at July 1 in the year of departure on the exchange) and it does not matter whether your parents are members of a Rotary Club – the program is open to children of Rotarians and non-Rotarians alike.
Students from Huntsville have travelled to Brazil, Belgium, Spain, Thailand, France, Argentina and many other countries. You will have to pay for airfare and some other expenses.
“I strongly recommend this program to other high school students in Huntsville as a way to broaden their horizons and experience a culture that is very different from Canada,” said Graham Johnson, who participated in the program between Grades 11 and 12. His destination was in the city of Liège, in the French-speaking region of Belgium.
“My older sister, Katherine, had gone to Italy with Rotary 10 years earlier and absolutely loved her year there, and so I decided to do the same,” explained Johnson.
During the year, I learned French fluently, made international friends and had the opportunity to visit nine European countries. By being completely immersed in a foreign culture, one is able to better understand their society and why things are done differently there, making it a valuable educational experience as well.Graham Johnson
Johnson also had some advice for those who may be considering the program. “Do not be worried about homesickness, or missing your friends. It may be difficult at first, but I made even better friends in Belgium than I ever had in Canada. My most memorable moments were with fellow exchange students, when we would go on trips during weekends to nearby cities or countries.”
Rotary Youth Exchange students gather for a photo op with the flags of their respective countries at the American War Memorial in Bastogne, Belgium.
For more information and frequently asked questions, click here and/ or contact Rotarian Julia McKenzie at 705-783-4234. The deadline for submissions is November 4, 2016, so if you’re interested, act quickly.
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