Spend next year abroad with the Rotary Youth Exchange

NEWS RELEASE
ROTARY CLUB OF SAULT STE. MARIE
*************************
This year’s information session for Rotary Youth Exchange potential candidates and guardians will be held on Monday, September 16th at 7:00 p.m. in the Russ Ramsay Room at City Hall. The Rotary Youth Exchange Program provides a once-in-a-lifetime experience for high-school aged young leaders interested in advancing international understanding, goodwill, and peace.

Last school year, local student Sophia represented Sault Ste. Marie over 7,000 km away. “I went to Hungary on my exchange and lived in the beautiful city of Szeged. Szeged is known for its universities and the almost always sunny weather,” shared Sophia, “I absolutely loved living there.”

A Rotary Youth Exchange student is an ambassador of their country and city. They will share their culture, language and country with fellow students, host families, and new friends while living and attending school abroad.

“During my exchange year I learned so much about not only the culture and the lifestyle of Hungarians but also about myself. I learned about all the skills I had that I didn’t realize I had until I was there. One of which is my ability to learn and obtain languages.”

Sophia also had the opportunity to go on a tour of Europe with her Rotary District in Hungary. “We travelled everywhere; Italy, Slovenia, France, Switzerland, and Austria. One of my favourite things about being on my exchange was the number of times I got to travel. I got to see so many new and incredible things that I had always dreamt of seeing. And through the Rotary Youth Exchange Program I got to see all of those and more!”

Rotary’s Youth Exchange Program includes local support, counsellor and supervision in-country, hosting by a foreign Rotary Club, and home-stay accommodation including meals with your host family.

“I also really loved my families. At first I was really scared to meet them for the first time but in the end I realized that I got to meet some of the nicest and most amazing people ever,” shared Sophia. “I was also so lucky to have siblings for the first time. As an only child I've always wondered what it would be like to have siblings and this program gave me that opportunity.”

The deadline for submitting a preliminary application to go on Rotary exchange is Thursday, September 26 at 5:00 p.m. There is no fee associated with the preliminary application, which can be completed online at www.rotarysault.com/exchange. Interested candidates who meet minimum criteria for the program will be invited to an interview.

Students that are accepted into the program will attend four District sponsored week-end conferences to prepare them for their year abroad. “Outbound" students will depart for their assigned country in either July or August of 2025 for approximately eleven months. Students considering youth exchange after 2025 are still strongly encouraged to attend the information session to learn more about the program and application.

*************************