Early this year District 9790 had 6 German Students come out on a 6 week exchange. These students were hosted by the Rotary Clubs of Jerilderie, Rutherglen and Tallangatta for 3 weeks and they spent the other 3 weeks joining the long term exchange students on the "Rock to Reef" tour. I am sure that if you speak with any involved Members from any of these Clubs that they will be full of praise for this "new youth exchange" format.

The District Youth Exchange Committee believes that the future of Youth Exchange may be in increasing the number of short term exchanges (for between 4 and 8 weeks) as against the long term exchanges (for 11 or 12 months) which were the "traditional youth exchanges" in the past.

There are a numerous ways that such exchanges could be organised under District 9790 including:
	Club to Club, Club to District and/or District to Club.
	District to District, District to Country and/or Country to District.
	School to School (using Rotary as a facilitator).
Options for hosting the students may also differ from what has been the norm in the past (Club Member hosting) and could also include:
	Hosting by the families of prospective outbound short term exchange students.
	Hosting through the school community (and for a few schools that may have boarding facilities as boarders).
	Hosting by "Friends of Rotary".
There are also many options for when (and for how long) such short term exchanges could be held including:
	6 weeks +/- in conjunction with our annual "Rock to Reeftour for inbound exchange students (as was arranged earlier this year for the German students). Our Outbound students would likewise have a 6 week +/- exchange with another District and partake in the Country Tour that they arrange for exchange students. The advantage of this arrangement is that all exchange students (short and long term) will have the opportunity to participate in the respective country tours and meet up with all (short and long term) other exchange students. The problem with this arrangement is the disruption to the school term(s) that such an exchange will cause.
	For school based exchanges for one term of the school year reciprocated during the same school year. This also has the advantage of outbound students meeting up with the inbound students in their own country.
	8 weeks +/- in conjunction with our respective summer holidays. Inbound students from Northern Hemisphere Districts would come in June/July/August and our outbound students would go in December/January/February. Disadvantages of this arrangement are that both exchanges will be hosted over the respective winter months and the exchange wouldn't coincide with the Country Tour. The advantage of this arrangement is that there will be schooling opportunities for the students on exchange.
	4 weeks +/- for inbound students over our summer holidays in exchange for 4 weeks +/- for outbound students over the Northern Hemisphere summer (June/July) holidays. A advantage of this arrangement is that disruption to the school term(s) will be minimised. Disadvantages of this arrangement are that as the host country students will be on holidays there will be no schooling opportunities for the inbound exchange students (however there will be lots of opportunities for the students to improve their language skills) and the exchange wouldn't coincide with the Country Tour.
	At the end of the final exams. The advantage of this option is that some countries that currently don't participate in youth exchange because they don't allow the final years to be split (the U. K. For example) may participate. The disadvantage being that students are likely to be somewhat older and may just party and not take the "student exchange" seriously.
Your feedback is required
Germany had again proposed to send 5 short term students to take part in next year's "Rock to Reef" tour and to host a number of students over the Christmas holidays. Could you please have discussions on the relevant merits of short term versus long term student exchanges with your Club Members and/or school communities and advise us:
1	Is your Club prepared to host one or more of these students for 3 weeks before/after the "Rock to Reef" tour?
2	Is your Club prepared to advertise for students to go to Germany for 6 weeks +/- over the Christmas holidays?
3	Are there any other exchanges that your Club would prefer (please provide details of country, time of year, duration etc.)
4	Do you know of any school that may be interested in arranging exchanges through Rotary?
5	Have you any other suggestions about the relevant merits of short term versus long term student exchanges?
	Click here for on line survey form

Please feel free to Charles Knight should you require any further information on short term exchanges.

Rotary Club of Tallangatta
Short Term Exchange Co-ordinator
D9790 Rotary Youth Exchange Committee
P.O. Box 12
Tallangatta Vic 3700
(H) 02 6071 5120
(M) 0428 222 210
Email: knight@towong.vic.gov.au

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