Youth Exchange Program

The Rotary Youth Exchange program operates throughout the world, whereby Rotary Districts agree to exchange students for a period of approximately 12 months.

The program caters for students between 16 and 19 years of age. Australian students generally complete their secondary education prior to participating in such an exchange.

The purpose of the exchange is to expose students to the culture of another country and provides the opportunity to establish life-long friendships.

Students are home hosted while away on exchange and most will experience such hosting with 3 or 4 families – they become part of the family and are expected to undertake a share of duties within each home.

Students must attend school while on exchange and they will also travel extensively as a group of exchange students as well as some individual travelling with host families.

Students coming into District 9600 have two major tours to look forward to:

• Sunshine Safari in December each year - a bus trip around the Sunshine Coast region for a week and
• Walkabout tour of approximately 3 weeks up and down the east coast of Australia and through central Australia.

While not participating in the Program this year, the Rotary Club of Ashgrove/The Gap has been heavily involved for many years.

The Club has sent Outbound students to the following countries and hosted Inbound students from overseas during the following years: