HOW TO APPLY &
More fine print
Timeline
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Nov. 19 8 pm (zoom): Q & A info session
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Nov. 30, 2024: Applications due
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Dec. 14, 2024: Mandatory student/parent Selection interviews: at Meridian Valley Country Club (24830 136th Ave SE, Kent, WA)
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Dec. 30, 2024: Host family orientation and home visits completed
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Jan - April 2025: Rotary matches students and families
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April - May: Match assignments completed and shared with family and students
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May 18, 2025: Mandatory orientation for students and family at Meridian Valley Country Club
1. PLAN EARLY: Apply for passport
You need a US Passport to participate in an exchange. If you don’t have one, apply ASAP. This is a lengthy process which can take several months. If you have a passport make sure the expiration date is POST March 2026.
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2. CONTACT ROTARIANS IN THE AREA
Youth Exchange is administered locally. There are approximately 10 Rotary clubs in our District that participate in this program. Identify the club closest to you. You may also contact the District Youth Exchange Chair Hal Beals at hwbeals@gmail.com.
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3. FILL OUT AN APPLICATION
Summer Program: $500 paid to Rotary District 5030 Youth Exchange Committee. This covers selection interviews, orientations, background checks, travel insurance and Rotary wear.
Trip: Families matched for the exchange cooperate in setting the exchange dates. One student flies to the host country, then both students fly together to the second exchange. District 5030 participants must purchase tickets from our Rotary approved travel agent.
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Costs
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Round trip airfare purchased through our Rotary approved travel agency - $1200-$1800.
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The student you host is a member of your family and is expected to participate in family activities and trips. If you would pay for your child, then you are expected to pay for the exchange student.
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Incidental Expenses: Exchange families provide room and board for the exchange student. If the family takes a special vacation or trip with the student, families should discuss cost sharing in advance of the exchange.
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Estimated out of pocket for the family: $1800-$2500.
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EXCHANGE BASICS
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Host families must agree to a background check and reference checks for all adults over 18 or living in the home. There is an in-home interview process. This helps Rotary ensure visiting exchange students are placed into a safe and welcoming environment.
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The exchange student should have their own bedroom or their own bed in a shared with no more than one host sibling of similar age and gender.
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Exchange students are expected to become a member of your family. They should be included in all family activities and can be expected to keep their spaces tidy and participate in a few reasonable household chores, as you would expect of your own teenaged children.
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Host families are not provided with any form of financial assistance in exchange for hosting a student.
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