Youth Exchange Host Families

Thank you for your interest in being a host family for a Rotary Youth Exchange Student. We know you will find this experience rewarding, possibly challenging, but definitely memorable.

Any caring and responsible family with an interest in hosting a young person from another land can be a tremendous host family! The best host families are really just normal families and they don’t fall into any one, easy-to-define category.

Rotary differs from many international exchange programs in that our students generally live with two or more families during their exchange year. This gives the student a more well-rounded experience in a culture, having experienced family life from multiple perspectives. It is also less of a commitment for host families; the typical length of stay is about three to four months instead of a full year.

Rotary's Host families run the full spectrum of possibilities.

• Families do not need to be affiliated with Rotary to host Rotary Exchange Students.
• Families with small children make great host families because young children get the experience of having a big brother or sister and the exchange students often enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of practicing their language skills with a younger child.
• "Empty Nesters" or retired couples are good too because they can have more time to spend with their student than younger parents do and they often enjoy having a young person around the house.
• Families with high school age children are ideal because host brothers and sisters can quickly get the student involved in school and community activities.

As a host family, you will be responsible for room and board for the student, supporting and guiding the child through the cultural adjustment and overseeing schoolwork. Generally, you'll treat this child just as you would your own.

Host families are not reimbursed or paid for their efforts. Nor is there any charge to become a host family.

The parents of an outbound student are encouraged, but not required, to accept an incoming exchange student in their family.

Would you like more information about being a host family in Rotary District 7170? Download the Host Family Handbook or send us an e-mail and we will tell you who to contact in your community.