It’s a program that builds peace, one young person at a time.
The Rotary Youth Exchange Program has been operating in St. Thomas for about 20 years, most recently through the efforts of the Railway City Rotary Club.
Exchanges for students ages 15-18 are sponsored by Rotary clubs in more than 100 countries.
Right now, a student from Spain is in St. Thomas, explains Youth Exchange Officer Sue Bandeen.
At this point, Bandeen is seeking four or five families to host Outa, the inbound student from Japan arriving in August for the coming school year.
Host families will have Outa in their home for 8 to 12 weeks starting in August through to July when he returns to Japan.
The program is an opportunity for St. Thomas high school students and the incoming students to learn a new language, discover another culture, and truly become global citizens.
The Rotary Youth Exchange Program is the most successful program of its type in the world for high school students.
The program is an opportunity for students to make the most of the social, educational and cultural benefits offered.
Bandeen stresses the undertaking is not possible without the generosity of families who host incoming students.
Bandeed explains through Outa, the inbound student from Japan and the outbound students over the years from St. Thomas, she and the other members of the Railway City Rotary Club have great hope in the future.
For more information on the program and the Railway City Rotary Club, visit http://www.railwaycityrotary.club
Written by Ian McCallum
