Welcome
Rotary Youth Exchange
Host Families for Students Visiting from Another Country
The Rotary Club of Alliance is seeking host families for an international student who will attend Alliance High School during the 2026-2027 school year.
Interested in learning more?
Learn more by reaching out to Missie Gardner, Rotary Club of Alliance’s youth exchange officer, at gardnemf@mountunion.edu, or complete this interest form.
Hosting a Rotary Youth Exchange student offers a rewarding opportunity to broaden cultural horizons, build lifelong friendships, and contribute to international understanding. Families gain a unique perspective on another culture, language, and way of life, while the exchange student benefits from experiencing a new culture and developing valuable life skills.
Rotary differs from many international exchange programs in that our students generally live with three or more families during their exchange year. This gives the student a more well-rounded experience in a culture, having experienced family life from at least three different 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. The time frames for the stays would be (approximately):
- August through mid-November
- Mid-November through February
- March through early June
Without the willingness and sincerity of families who have opened their hearts and homes to students they have never met, the Rotary Youth Exchange Program would not exist. We hope you will consider being one of these families and supporting our efforts to continue to bring this cultural exchange opportunity to Alliance.
What makes a good host family?
We are seeking responsible and willing families of all types – those with younger children, families with children around the age of the student, or those with no children in the home. Single parents, couples, and retirees can all make excellent hosts.
The most effective host families are:
- Caring and respectful with each other
- Flexible and able to adapt to having someone new in the home
- Good-humored and able to put a problem or situation into perspective
- Patient and willing to work through common misunderstandings
- Willing to engage in different activities and visit places outside the home
- Interested in a variety of topics of conversation, culture, and recreation
Responsibilities
Rotary Club
- School placement and associated school fees
- Host family identification and training
- Transportation support to and from Rotary activities (and other activities if needed)
- A local Rotary club counselor
- Financial support for Rotary sponsored trips
- A monthly student stipend of $100
Host Family
- Room, board, and day-to-day care and support
- Incorporation of the student into daily life as a family member, not a guest
- Supervision of the student as if they were your own child
- Involvement of the student in family activities and chores
- Inclusion of the student in family, community, and cultural activities
Student and Their Family
- A recommended budget of $6,000 to $8,000 to cover the program fee, airfare, insurance, travel documents, etc.
- Optional travel and spending money are additional
- Participation in all Rotary-organized district youth exchange orientations and monthly overnighters
- Attendance at weekly Rotary Club meetings
Take the Next Step
If you are interested in hosting, please consider taking the following steps:
- Learn more by reaching out to Missie Gardner, Rotary Club of Alliance’s youth exchange officer, at gardnemf@mountunion.edu
- Complete the Host Family Application at https://yehub.net/OER-hfapp
The host family approval process does include several steps, including:
- Reference checks and background checks, including law enforcement public record checks, for all adult members of the host family
- A home visit and interview by members of the Alliance Rotary Club
Those selected to host will be required to complete an orientation and online training prior to the student’s arrival in their home.
Travel Opportunities for Alliance-Area Students
Rotary Youth Exchange’s outbound program gives students life-changing opportunities to live with host families, study abroad, and build friendships across the globe. Below, you’ll find friendly, easy-to-scan information about both our long-term (academic year) exchanges and short-term family-to-family exchanges – who can apply, what you’ll gain, what it costs, and how to get started. Exchanges can take place in more than 100 countries and geographical areas.
Long-term Exchange
- Students live abroad for one full academic year (typically 10–12 months).
- They attend school in the host country and live with one or more carefully screened host families.
- They benefit from a deep cultural and language immersion – a transformative experience.
Short-term Family-to-Family Exchange
- This exchange typically involves two students from different countries directly hosting each other’s children for a period.
- This opportunity is great for younger students or families who want a cultural exchange without a year away.
- Family-to-family exchanges are often organized as summer exchanges or during school breaks.
Who is eligible?
- Above-average student with demonstrated leadership in the community
- Open to new experiences and cultural differences
- Sponsored by a local Rotary club
- Completed written application and in-person interview
Benefits of Participating
- Immersive cultural learning and new perspectives
- Rapid language improvement and confidence speaking another language
- Lifelong friendships across countries and cultures
- Personal growth – independence, resilience, problem-solving
- Opportunities for community service and participation in Rotary activities abroad
What does it cost?
The expenses that students and their parents cover typically include, but are not limited to, the following.
- Round-trip airfare
- Health and accident insurance
- Travel documents
- Clothing and other necessities
- Spending money
- Emergency funds for unpredicted expenses
- Ancillary travel and tours
In most clubs and districts, students do not pay placement fees, so those with financial constraints can share the exchange experience.
Sharing in the costs are host families (who pay for room and board), the host community (which covers school tuition and arrangements), and the host Rotary club (which offers a small stipend of usually US$50-$100 monthly).
Interested in learning more?
Learn more by reaching out to Missie Gardner, Rotary Club of Alliance’s youth exchange officer, at gardnemf@mountunion.edu, or complete this interest form.