Be A Short-term Exchange Student
Rotary's Short-Term Exchange Program (STEP) is a true "family to family" exchange. Your student will go overseas for 3-6 weeks with his/hers hosting sibling and then your child will return home with his/her host sibling and spend 3-6 weeks with your family. The object of this STEP program is to foster world peace, international understanding and goodwill by extending international communication at the personal level through the exchange of high school level age students. It is our hope that these students will be able to see firsthand the problems and accomplishments of other peoples of different colors, creeds and cultures.
The Rotary STEP program matches Rotary applicants with students in countries of their choice of the same gender and age. Students must be between the ages of 15-18.5 and will typically exchange during the summer months choosing amongst 30+ different countries. The cost of travel, the ESSEX fee, Rotary District fee, Rotary CISI Bolduc Insurance, clothing, personal expenses are the responsibility of the participating students and their families.
Travel to the host country is arranged by each student's family communicating with the other student's family, determining dates, times and airlines to be booked for the exchange.
The earlier the application is submitted to the Rotary District, the better your chance of exchanging in your first country of choice. Applications are accepted starting in September prior to the summer you want to do your exchange.
Qualifications for the Short-term exchange program
Through many years of experience, we have found the following general qualifications useful:
- Any student, age 15-18.5, of good character, who possesses a warm personality and a desire to live abroad and host in return
- Candidates should be adaptable and flexible, well mannered and want to experience life in another country and experience another culture
- Children of Rotarians and non-Rotarians are eligible
Responsibilities of a Short-term exchange student
- Students are expected to obey the laws of the host country at all times and accept the discipline of their host parents
- Students are required to sign the Rotary/Essex Rules and Guidelines
- Students may be required to address Rotary Clubs, other service organizations, youth groups and community groups during their stay in the host country and will, on their return to the USA, be expected to address similar groups on their experience as an Rotary exchange student
- During their stay abroad, students may be expected to attend official Rotary and Youth Exchange Program functions as directed by their host club
- Students are ambassadors for their home countries, as well as Rotary and must at all times behave in a manner which will reflect positively on their families, communities and country
- Students must travel directly to and return directly from their host countries. Students are not allowed to stay in the host country after the completion of the exchange period
For more information, contact Charlie.