Youth Exchange

A Two-Way Exchange Doubles the Benefits

The Youth Exchange Program is an educational and travel opportunity for high school students under the age of 18. Students apply to the program and, when accepted, will attend school in another country for a twelve month period. Students arriving from abroad stay in Belleville for a similar period.

Dale & Sonya, 1972 How did Youth Exchange really begin?Get the story from P.D.G. Bill McKay Sr.

Since its inception, the Belleville Club has hosted young adults from all over the world, including South Africa, Brazil, the Netherlands, Japan, Belgium, Australia, Finland, Mexico and France.

Volunteer Families

While in Belleville, the students are hosted by volunteer families, usually on a three- to four-month rotation. The student is expected to participate fully in school life at Centennial Secondary School, become fluent in English, participate in Rotary activities, and also to become an integral member of the family in the homes in which they reside.

While the benefits to the student are evident, the exchange also provides the host families with an excellent opportunity to learn about another culture, to learn another language and to learn about youth from other corners of the world.

An Ongoing Success

Rotary Youth Exchange District Conference Parade of Flags, 1999

One of the program's intentions is to promote peace and world understanding. Students may also join a cross country trip to British Columbia when school is over in July. As a testament to the success and impact of this program, return visits from former inbound students happen on a frequent basis, with up to 3 or 4 former students making visits to the Belleville Club and with their former host families every year.

Outbound Students

Students who venture abroad on the exchange (outbound students) will also be expected to attend school, attend Rotary functions with their host club and become integral members of their host families. Upon their return, the members of the Belleville Club have been entertained with wonderful presentations on the student's year abroad and stories of adventures with the hosts with whom they will remain in touch with for the rest of their lives.

One of Rotary International's longest running programs

The existence of the program in District 7070 can be attributed to Belleville Rotarian Bill McKay Sr., who encouraged the Club and the District to adopt this program after meeting a fellow Rotarian from South African while on a European vacation. The Belleville Club received its first student in 1972.

More Information

If you are interested in becoming an exchange student or in hosting an inbound student, please contact the Club for more information.

You can also enter Rotary International's website for Youth Exchange manuals and application forms.

		Left: Eric and Sarah Verlaine (Belgian Rotary Exchange Student) March 2000 Below, from left: Erin Pleizer (outbound), two friends, Sarah Verlaine (inbound), and Sarah Nicholson (outbound) June, 2000