Rotary Youth Exchange – Long-Term Exchange Program Section G: Rules and Conditions of Exchange

As a Youth Exchange student sponsored by a Rotary club or district, you must agree to the following rules and conditions of exchange. Violation of any of these rules may result in dismissal from the program and immediate return home, at student’s expense. Please note that districts may edit this document or insert additional rules if needed to account for local conditions.

Rules and Conditions of Exchange

1) You must obey the laws of the host country. If found guilty of violating any law, you can expect no assistance from your sponsors or native country. You must return home at your own expense as soon as released by authorities.

2) You will be under the host district’s authority while you are an exchange student and must abide by the rules and conditions of exchange provided by the host district. Parents or legal guardians must not authorize any extra activities directly to you. Any relatives you may have in the host country will have no authority over you while you are in the program.

3) You are not allowed to possess or use illegal drugs. Legal medications that are prescribed to you by a physician are allowed.

4) The illegal drinking of alcoholic beverages is expressly forbidden. Students who are of legal age should refrain. If your host family offers you an alcoholic drink, it is permissible to accept it under their supervision in the home. Excessive consumption and drunkenness is forbidden.

5) You may not operate a motorized vehicle, including but not limited to cars, trucks, motorcycles, aircraft, all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles, boats, and other watercraft, or participate in driver education programs.

6) Smoking is discouraged. If you state in your application that you do not smoke, you will be held to that position throughout your exchange. Your acceptance and host family placement is based on your signed statement. Under no circumstances are you to smoke in your host family’s bedrooms.

7) Body piercing or obtaining a tattoo while on your exchange, without the express written permission of your natural parents, host parents, host club, and host district, is prohibited, for health reasons.

8) You must make every effort to learn the language of the host country, and may be responsible for any costs for tutoring, language camps, or other instruction.

9) Limit your use of the Internet and mobile phones, as directed by your host district, host club, and host family. Excessive or inappropriate use is not acceptable. Accessing or downloading pornographic material is expressly forbidden.

10) You must attend school regularly and make an honest attempt to succeed.

11) You must have health and accident or travel insurance that provides coverage for accidental injury and illness, death benefits (including repatriation of remains), disability/dismemberment benefits, emergency medical evacuation, emergency visitation expenses, 24- hour emergency assistance services, and legal services, in amounts satisfactory to the host Rotary club or district in consultation with the sponsor Rotary club or district, with coverage from the time of your departure from your home country until your return.

12) You must show proof of proper immunizations, as indicated on the Immunization Form that is to be completed as part of your RYE application, including a current COVID-19 vaccination and/or booster within the application year. Some vaccinations may be required by your school after arrival in the U.S.

13) You must also have liability coverage through a travel insurance or other applicable policy, in amounts satisfactory to the host Rotary club or district in consultation with the sponsor Rotary club or district

14) You must have sufficient financial support to assure your well-being during your exchange. Your host district may require a contingency fund for emergency situations. Unused funds will be returned to you or to your parents or legal guardians at the end of your exchange.

15) You must follow the travel rules of your host district. Travel is permitted with host parents or for Rotary club or district functions authorized by the host Rotary club or district with proper adult chaperones. The host district and club, host family, and your parents or legal guardians must approve any other travel in writing, thus exempting Rotary of responsibility and liability.

16) You must return home directly by a route mutually agreeable to your host district and your parents or legal guardians.

17) Any costs related to an early return home or any other unusual costs (language tutoring, tours, etc.) are the responsibility of you and your parents or legal guardians.

18) Visits by your parents or legal guardians, siblings, or friends while you are on exchange may only take place with the host club’s and district’s consent and within their guidelines. Typically, visits may be arranged only in the last quarter of the exchange or during school breaks and are not allowed during major holidays.

19) Serious romantic activity is to be avoided. Sexual activity is forbidden.

20) Talk with your host club counselor, host parents, or other trusted adult if you encounter any form of abuse or harassment.

1) You should communicate with your first host family prior to leaving your home country. The family’s information will be provided to you by your host club or district prior to your departure.

2) Respect your host’s wishes. Become an integral part of the host family, assuming duties and responsibilities normal for a student of your age or for children in the family.

3) Learn ahead of time as much of the language of your host country as possible, and use the language regularly. Teachers, host parents, Rotary club members, and others you meet in the community will appreciate the effort. It will go a long way in your gaining acceptance in the community and with those who will become lifelong friends.

4) Attend Rotary-sponsored events and host family events, and show an interest in these activities. Volunteer to be involved; do not wait to be asked. Lack of interest on your part is detrimental to your exchange and can have a negative impact on future exchanges.

5) Get involved in your school and community activities. Plan your recreation and spare-time activities around your school and community friends. Don’t spend all your time with other exchange students. If there is a local Interact club, you are encouraged to join it.

6) Choose friends in the community carefully. Ask for and heed the advice of host families, counselors, and school personnel in choosing friends.

7) Do not borrow money. Pay any bills promptly. Ask permission to use the family phone or computer, keep track of all calls and time on the Internet, and reimburse your host family each month for the costs you incur.

8) If you are offered an opportunity to go on a trip or attend an event, make sure you understand any costs you must pay and your responsibilities before you go.

IN CONSIDERATION of the acceptance and participation of the applicant in this program, the undersigned APPLICANT and his/her PARENTS or LEGAL GUARDIANS, to the full extent permitted by law, hereby release and agree to defend, hold harmless, and indemnify all host parents and members of their families, and all members, officers, directors, committee members, and employees of the host and sponsor Rotary clubs and districts, and of Rotary International, from any or all liability for any loss, property damage, personal injury, or death, including any such liability that may arise out of any negligent act or omission, excepting gross negligence or intentional conduct, of any such persons or entities, which may be suffered or claimed by such applicant, parent, or guardian during, or as a result of, the participation by the applicant in such Youth Exchange program, including travel to and from the host country.

As the undersigned applicant and undersigned parents or legal guardians of the applicant, we hereby state that we have read and understood the Program Rules and Conditions of Exchange. Should I, as a student, be selected for an exchange, I agree to abide by these rules and others imposed on me with due notice during my time as an exchange student in the host country.

We attest that we have read and understand the Statement of Conduct for Working with Youth. We understand that all Rotarians and host families are expected to have read and understand this statement as well. I understand that, if selected for an exchange, I will be provided with training and written material on abuse and harassment and that this information will include the contact information of the person I should contact if I encounter any form of abuse or harassment.

The undersigned applicant attests that I am of good health and character, understand the importance of the role of a youth ambassador as a Rotary Youth Exchange student, and will, to the best of my ability, maintain the high standards required of a Rotary Youth Exchange student should I be chosen to represent my sponsor Rotary club and district, school, community, state/province, and country. I further state that all the material contained in this application and the attached documents are true and accurate to the best of my knowledge.

PERMISSION FOR MEDICAL CARE AND RELEASE OF MEDICAL RECORDS AND LIABILITY

We, the parents/legal guardians of the applicant, and I, the applicant, HEREBY AUTHORIZE the release of medical information on application pages ‘Section C: Medical History and Examination,’ acquired in the course of the examinations by the physician and the dentist.

We, the parents/legal guardians of the applicant, and the applicant, if of legal age, who have the sole and legal right to make the decisions on the health and care of the applicant, do release from liability and grant permission as noted of the following while our son/daughter/ward is overseas as a Rotary Youth Exchange student:

1) In the event of accident or sickness, we/I authorize any Rotarian, authorized chaperones of Rotary activities, and/or host parent(s) of student to select the appropriate medical facility and physician(s)/dentist(s) to provide treatment.

2) We/I give permission for any operation, administration of anesthetic, or blood transfusion that a medical practitioner may deem necessary or advisable for the treatment of our son/daughter/ward.

3) We/I further consent to any medical or surgical treatment by a licensed physician, surgeon, or dentist that might be required by our son/daughter/ward for any emergency situation. We do request that we be notified as soon as possible, but emergency treatment need not be delayed to provide such notice.

4) Permission is granted for immunizations required for school registration.

5) In the case of elective surgery, we/I request that we/I be notified and our permission obtained before such arrangements are made.

We agree to hold harmless Rotary International, any Rotary district, Rotary club, Rotarian, Rotary chaperone, or host family for any intervention in an emergency situation regardless of final outcome.

We agree to assume all financial obligations beyond those covered by insurance for any medical treatment rendered.