Embark on a Journey of Global Understanding: Become a Host Family for Rotary Exchange Students

Mike Taylor – Feb 23, 2024 – Rotary Club of Fonthill

In a world where cultural exchange and mutual understanding are more crucial than ever, the Rotary Club of Fonthill proudly continues its tradition of participating in the Rotary International cultural youth exchange program. Every year, this program opens doors for over 8000 youth aged 15-18, offering them the opportunity to explore and live in countries across the globe.

At the heart of the Rotary Youth Exchange program lies a noble mission: the promotion of world peace and understanding. Young individuals from our communities eagerly apply and are carefully selected and prepared to embark on a life-changing journey, spending up to a year immersed in a foreign culture. While these adventurous souls venture abroad, the sponsoring Rotary Clubs, including the Rotary Club of Fonthill, extend their hospitality to students from foreign lands, introducing them to the richness of Canadian and North American cultures.

“After experiencing a year abroad, our exchange students return home brimming with excitement and newfound appreciation for global diversity,” says Mike Taylor, Rotary Youth Exchange Officer. “Their journey not only enriches their lives but also fosters a deeper understanding of our interconnected world.”

Now, more than ever, we invite members of our community who share our vision of promoting world peace and understanding to consider the invaluable opportunity of hosting one of these exceptional students. Whether for a period of three months or longer, hosting a Rotary exchange student offers a unique chance to embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion while providing a nurturing environment for young minds to flourish.

We asked some of our past inbound student participants what they would say to potential new host families and here are some of their reflections.

Charlotta Palm
Turku, Finland
Exchange Year 2014-15

“It is a great experience both for the student and the host family! The host family can get the chance to learn a lot about a completely new culture, but also learn a lot about themself and their own culture. By introducing your own home town to a completely new person from another country, you get to see the city/town you call home in a completely new light as well. As long as both parties try their best to communicate and be open to potential differences, I believe this can be such a rewarding experience for everybody.”

Clement Manent
Cogolin, France
Exchange Year 2015-16

“It’s a real pleasure for us to discover new prospects. And for a new host family It’s great to learn more about the student’s home culture. Also it create links with new people from a Rotary club. Hosting a student will help make you so much more memories than you think.”

Leon Von Reuden
Paderborn, Germany
Exchange Year 2016-17

“It’s totally worth it and not easy to put into words. Hosting and being hosted is a great experience for everyone. You broaden you view and learn how to deal with new situation and people from other cultures. I’m still in contact with my host families after almost 7 years and 3 out of 4 families visited me in Germany. All in all, its an opportunity that no one should miss.”

Federico Roman-Holt
Coronel Oviedo, Paraguay
Exchange Year 2017-18

“Students will always try to do their best. Each person comes home with a different culture and language but that will never be a problem to be able to learn and develop as a good exchange student.”

Greta Zsikla
Soltvadkert, Hungary
Exchange Year 2018-19

“My family hosted an Exchange student before my Youth Exchange year. It was so much fun, I had a close contact with my host sister Abby. But I had no idea until my Exchange year what the host families mean to the Exchange students. They were my safe point during my exchange. I knew I could tell them anything and I felt that they trusted me to let in their life. My host families mean a lot for me. I could learn a lot both as an exchange student and as a host family”

Fanny Etienne
Liege, Belgium
Exchange Year 2019-20

“I would say that for the host student is a great experience but for the host family as well because they can learn a new culture from them. So don’t hesitate to host a student in your family!!”

Fonthill Rotary looks to enlist 3-4 families per year to host our students for 3-4 months at a time and we are actively recruiting for one family for this year’s student as well as looking ahead at our next student who will be arriving at some point in August.

Join us in fostering global connections and building bridges of understanding, one host family at a time. If interested or if you have any questions at all please reach out to Mike Taylor at taylor.mikey03@gmail.com.

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