Overview
The Rotary Club of Ottawa sponsors both inbound and outbound students for the both Long-term (LTEP) and Short-term (STEP) Exchange Program every year.
Inbound - A term for students a host Rotary Club receives from another country for an exchange.
Outbound - A term applied for students a Rotary Club supports for an exchange in another country.
The objective of Rotary Exchange Programs is to foster world peace and international understanding. It is hoped that the participants will experience firsthand, the challenges and accomplishments of other countries, by living with and meeting people of different cultures.
As a long-term Rotary Exchange student between the age of 15 and 18, you will spend one academic year living in another country, usually with two or more host families. You will become part of those families and their community. These Rotary accredited families are volunteers who will welcome and care for you, supervise your year and introduce you to their culture and lifestyle.
In your host country you will learn another language, experience different foods, study different subjects and enjoy a new way of living. You will also attend high school in your host district, participate in Rotary and community activities, make new friends, see exciting places and impart knowledge about the uniqueness of your country and sponsoring Rotary district.
It’s the opportunity of a lifetime! Are you ready for it?
Rotary International has the best administered and lowest cost International Youth Exchange program in the world, allowing over 8,000 students to exchange annually to around 60 different countries. And since this is a Rotary International program, you will have the opportunity for more experiences at your destination, with the Rotarians in the Rotary Club hosting you. You will also have the support of those same Rotarians to help deal with any unusually difficult situations.
You’ll learn a new way of living, a great deal about yourself, and maybe even a new language. You’ll also be an ambassador, teaching people you meet about your country, culture, and ideas.
If you’re ready for the challenge and the rewards of living in another country as an exchange student, then you’re ready to discover new worlds through the Rotary Youth Exchange Scholarship program.
A year of study overseas as a Rotary Youth Exchange student gives you:
- an opportunity to develop your personal self confidence and maturity
- an opportunity to develop a lifetime of international friendships
- an opportunity to develop a real understanding of many different cultures
- an opportunity to develop new language skills
- an opportunity to develop a base for future education and career goals
- an opportunity to develop in many ways