Rotary District 5630 Youth Exchange

Outbound

campOutbound Students

High School students in central and western Nebraska may apply for Rotary District 5630’s Youth Exchange Scholarship Program each year. Preliminary applications are due on or before October 15. Local Rotarians will screen the applicants and determine if the student should advance to District Interviews.

The scholarships are for one academic year in which the student lives with 1-3 families in another country. The student attends school, learns the language of his or her host country and studies the host country’s culture and serves as an ambassador of Rotary, Nebraska and the United States. Students often have travel opportunities available to them throughout the exchange year.

Rotary District 5630 partners with Rotary districts in other countries to establish exchanges. Each district must be certified by Rotary International to participate in youth exchange. During the application process, students may indicate a preference for a country. However, placement in the country of preference cannot be guaranteed.

 

Fees

Students who are selected for the Rotary District 5630 Youth Exchange Program, are required to pay a fee to the district. Rotary District 5630 has a flat fee structure. The fee can be paid in full at any time or in four installments. Items covered by the fee are listed, as well as those items that are the responsibility of the student and his/her family.

Long Term Fee–$5,500*

Rotary District 5630 Youth Exchange is responsible for:

  • Roundtrip airfare from Omaha or Denver to host country with an open return date
  • Travel agency fees
  • J-1 Visa
  • Health and liability insurance
  • Parent and student orientation sessions (webinars, meetings, overnight lock-ins for students)
  • Travel and registration to Outbound Camp in Arkansas (June 2016)
  • Language camp in the host country (if appropriate)
  • Rotary business cards, pins, and Rotary shirt.
  • High school registration
  • Room and board with 1-3 pre-approved host families in the host country
  • Monthly Rotary stipend from hosting club $75-100 (in local currency)
  • Local support, counselor and supervision in the host country
  • Rebound Camp in Oklahoma (debriefing and support for returned students in August 2017)
  • Life-long opportunities to engage with other exchange students
  • Life-long benefits of being a member of the Rotary International family
  • *The fee may need to change if there is a significant increase in airfare.

The student and his/her family will be responsible for:

  1. Passport
  2. Travel to the consulate to obtain a visa (if required)
  3. Luggage fees (in excess of basic covered by airline ticket)
  4. Tours and travel in the host country
  5. Emergency fund (determined by host district-usually $300-$500 – unused funds are refunded at the end of exchange)
  6. Required immunizations
  7. Pre-departure medical and dental exams
  8. Navy blue blazer
  9. Spending money while abroad about $100-300/month depending on the student)