It’s about courage. It’s about leadership. It’s about overcoming language barriers. It’s about leaving your comfort zone and going away for 10 months to a foreign land. It’s about getting together monthly with 16 other young people from 16 other countries and sharing activities and ideas.  And it’s about so much more!

Since the early 1990’s, the Portsmouth Rotary Club has sponsored both inbound and outbound students. Our committee has grown from a one man show to a dedicated group of volunteers today. That means inbound and outbound students are provided quality support to ensure the best exchange experience possible.

RECRUITING

Our Rotary Youth Exchange program starts every year with recruiting at high schools in the greater Portsmouth Area.  Successful candidates are good students academically with a desire to live and learn abroad.  An aptitude for languages is helpful.  Students must be between the ages of 15^1/2 and 18^1/2 by July 31^st  of their deploying year.  Interviews begin November 1^st and selections are made usually prior to January 31^st of the deploying year.  Typically academic credits earned abroad are not good in the US and vice versa.  However, the exchange experience is a powerful enhancement to the college admissions process and/or professional resumes. Contact our Rotary Youth Exchange Committee  to arrange for an appointment.

OUTBOUND

The Portsmouth Rotary Club underwrites at least $300 and sometimes up to $800 of an outbound student’s $2,600 to $6,000 annual expenses.  You can select three choices from a long list of countries where Rotary International exists.  We cannot guarantee these choices, but more often than not students will be placed with first or second choices.

Once in-country, you will live with a host family and attend local schools. Families provide room and board at no cost, education is free and the host Rotary Club pays a monthly allowance.  Major unfunded expenses are airfare, district fee, health insurance, emergency fund and passport fees.

INBOUND

The Portsmouth Rotary Club funds about $2400 of the inbound student’s expenses. Host families are expected to donate room and board, while the club provides the inbound student with a monthly stipend of $100, as well as money for various other expenses, such as birthday and holiday presents.

HOST FAMILY

An annual challenge for our Rotary Youth Exchange Committee is recruiting host families. If you think your family would be interested in hosting one of our inbound students, please contact us. You will be interviewed by at least two members of our Rotary Youth Exchange Committee  to determine if we have a good fit. Typically, inbound and outbound students live with three families during their 10 month tour, which coincides with the academic year. Families of outbound students are expected to host the inbound student for at least three to four months, if possible.

Our Rotary Youth Exchange Committee is anxious to support both host families and the inbound student. Portsmouth Rotary Club members readily invite exchange students for weekend trips and provide transportation to our District events, etc., when needed.  Our inbound and outbound students are also assigned a personal Rotary counselor to stay in touch with and ensure that every aspect of the exchange experience goes well.