Rotary Youth Exchange What is STEP? (Short Term Exchange Program) – Youth Exchange
STEP allows students to experience another culture, country and language. It offers a fun learning opportunity while building lifelong friendships and helps students grow with increased awareness, knowledge and confidence.
Rotary International has sponsored youth exchange programs for more than 50 years with the goal of building international goodwill and understanding. Through STEP, two students spend about eight weeks together experiencing each other’s family, country and culture; four weeks with their host family abroad and four weeks back home.
Exchanges generally occur from late June through late August. Some southern hemisphere countries have split-season exchanges with American students traveling in July/August and their foreign guest visiting in December/January. We attempt to match students and families with similar ages, common interests and gender. You will receive information about your host sister/brother by late April and can begin the correspond at that time.
Students should first contact their local Rotary Club to begin the application and interview process. Rotary district 6780 is part of the Ohio-Erie Multidistrict which consists of ten districts which are located in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Ontario, Canada. Ohio-Erie (O-E) works with Rotarians abroad to arrange STEP matches. Opportunities may exist to host an inbound exchange without sending a student abroad. These are called one-way exchanges. Please contact your local Rotary Club if interested or you can email Betty Vickers at Betty.Vickers@gmail.com.
Qualifications
The Ohio-Erie STEP holds its participants to high standards. Students are interviewed by their local Rotary Club and participate in a district-wide orientation program. Host families are also interviewed and must agree to a background check. Flexibility is very important for students
and families involved in STEP.
The student must meet the following requirements to participate in the STEP program:
1. The student must be no less than 15 and no more than 18 years old at departure time.
2. The student and his/her parents will host a student for approximately four weeks during the summer (or December/January if going to southern hemisphere country). The family is expected to arrange activities for the visiting student.
3. The parents are responsible for hosting costs.
4. The student is expected not to take a summer job or become involved in other activities if they interfere with his/her host obligations.
5. The student and their parents will pay the total program costs which include an administration fee, round trip airfare, insurance and spending money.
6. The student and his/her parents must read and sign the Program Rules page. The student and his/her parents must be willing to strictly abide by those rules. We ask that you and your parents sign the Rules Page and return it.
Are you a good candidate for the STEP Program? Ask yourself these questions and if they are Yes, you have a good chance of having a successful exchange.
Do you have an interest in things international, through language classes, social media,friends abroad cultural studies, foreign travel, and/or hosting inbound students?
Do your parents support your decision to participate in an exchange?
Do you make friends easily with both adults and people your age?
Are you polite, pleasant and confident?
Are you flexible enough to adapt to new and changing environments?
Would you be comfortable with traveling away from home for 4 weeks or more?
Are you able to participate in some monthly Rotary meetings held for exchange students? (usually on Saturdays)
Do you have an overall grade point average of 3.0 or above? This is not mandatory, but a good sign of dedication and discipline.
Do you have the ability to make presentations to sponsoring Rotary Clubs here and abroad?
Do you have a sense of humor and a positive and enthusiastic outlook?
Can you make a firm commitment to the STEP program with minimal time and work conflicts? (Your schedule should not interfere with hosting your brother or sister from another country.)
Rules for Parents and Students
1. The student should be willing to accept the advice and supervision of the Rotary club counselor and of his/her host parents abroad.
2. The student must be willing to accept cultural differences in his/her host country without vocal criticism.
3. The student is not permitted to operate a motor vehicle or motorized boat while in another country.
4. The student can not drink alcohol during the exchange. In many host homes, wine and light beers are served with meals. This is permissible provided The student’s parents approve. Any misconduct while under the influence of alcohol is sufficient cause to be sent home.
5. The use of illegal drugs, including “pot” is absolutely forbidden. Use of prescription medications not prescribed to the student is cause to terminate the exchange as well.
6. When the student hosts, he/she should take his/her foreign brother or sister to a Rotary meeting shortly after they arrive. The student should ask to be taken to a Rotary meeting while being hosted abroad.
7. Independent travel is not allowed while abroad. The student can travel with his/her host family with Rotary’s permission.
8. The student should arrange for day-time and evening activities for his/her host brother or sister. Inactivity can lead to boredom and homesickness. Families are not required to take their student on “whirlwind tours” of the country, but meaningful activities are encouraged. The same should be expected while abroad.