We are happy to announce that the Rotary District 6580 Youth Exchange Program is back for the 2023-2024 academic year! We are now accepting applications for academic year 2023-24. Applications are due October 15. Please contact Meg Butcher at mbutcher@cbbel-in.com for a link to the application to begin the process.

Rotary Youth Exchange is one of the largest, oldest and most respected exchange programs.  Its goal is to promote the advancement of international understanding, goodwill and peace at the person-to-person level.  While on exchange, students will have the opportunity to learn the language and culture of their host country.

 What is included in the Youth Exchange Scholarship?

• School tuition
• Room and board (homestay) for a full academic year in a foreign country
• Small monthly stipend
• Airport transfers on arrival and departure in the host country
• 24-hour worldwide emergency assistance throughout the program
• Pre-departure and in-country orientations
• Overall, the scholarship is valued at around $20,000

 Where can a Rotary Youth Exchange student go?

Rotary Youth Exchange includes nearly 40 countries, mostly in Europe, South America and Asia.

 How long is the program? 

10 - 12 months.  

 What are the qualifications?

Age: Student must be between 16-18 years old at the time of departure.

Academics:  Student must be in the top half of his or her class for the most recent year.

 How much does it cost?

The Rotary Youth Exchange fee was $6,500 in academic year 2019-2020, the last year in which District 6580 participated. That fee covered most of a student's expenses in preparation for the year abroad, transportation, conferences, and insurance. The student and his/her family are responsible for some expenses such as language preparation, required emergency funds, school uniforms if required in the host country, and trips during the student's stay abroad. Some countries also require additional insurance, the cost of which is not covered by the fee.  Please keep in mind that costs have risen dramatically since 2019-2020; we will most likely have to adjust the fee upward. 

 District 6580 does not presently have the resources to offer scholarships to help cover student expenses.  Students and families can, however, set up easy installments to pay the exchange fee.

 For more information, please reach out to District 6580 Rotary Youth Exchange Chair, Rowena Cross-Najafi (rcross11@msn.com) or District 6580 Rotary Youth Exchange Outbound Coordinator Meg Butcher (mbutcher@cbbel-in.com).

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District 6580 Rotarians and students attend the July 2019 RYE summer conference.