Discover the World Through Rotary Youth Exchange
Welcome to the world of International Youth Exchange through the management of Rotary District 5020. District 5020 is an International District located in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States and Vancouver Island in the Canadian Province of British Columbia. Rotary District 5020 values inclusion, and works to provide life-changing international and intercultural learning experiences which includes individuals from all backgrounds, including students with disabilities and those representing all genders, races, nationalities, and religions.
Rotary Youth Exchange is part of the global network of Rotary International; made up of 1.2 million business and professional leaders in more than 33,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. The members of these autonomous clubs are called Rotarians, all volunteering their time and talents to serve their communities and the world. Many of these dedicated volunteers' main focus is bringing peace to the world one young person at a time through Youth Exchange.
Rotary Youth Exchange In Action
Stories
Hear first hand how Rotary Youth Exchange made a difference in their lives
See More Videos Below
BY NATALIE CRAWSHAW
Youth exchange volunteers are often asked how youth exchange fits into the world of Rotary service. The people who are the most obvious beneficiaries of the program aren’t yet Rotary members and it can seem like there is an awful lot of work that goes into sending one person off on an academic year in another country. While those two things are true, youth exchange is also a program with a very long view on things. Let me explain by telling you a more personal story.
BY CHRIS CARTHUM
Living overseas as a high school student can be a tough thing for anyone, including the strongest willed and strongest minded. I know many people that have said they would love to go on exchange, but they would miss their friends too much or would fail immediately. I thought this as well going into my exchange, as I felt relatively unprepared in comparison to other exchange students I have seen, past and present. There were even moments where I considered dropping out! Leaving my friends and family behind to live in a foreign country with virtually no knowledge of the language was, without a doubt, the most challenging thing I have done. But I saw it through, and I never looked back....
BY MADELINE STERNIG
As I sit back and close my eyes, I can almost feel like I am there—the wind blowing through my hair as I walk towards my uncertain fate: a twenty passenger aircraft. As I settled in my seat, I remember feeling chills down my back as the realization flooded my head.
My life was about to change forever. Nervous excitement coursed through my veins as the announcements began to play overhead as my first flight to Seattle was about to begin. The wheels started to turn faster and faster. The plane shuddered violently as the plane.....
How My Exchange Has Changed Me
Dateline: Belgium...It’s been about 10 months since I stepped on a plane, scared out of my mind, and flew to Belgium. I had heard from many people that I would change, my friends and family would change, that things back home would change, and a year ago that scared me. The idea of change was so bad and so weird to think about. Now, here I am, reaching the end of the best year of my life.
