What is the short-term program?

Interested in a taste of the world, and willing to share yours with others?  Then the short-term program may be for you.  Rotary’s short-term exchange program usually takes place during the summer and brings together paired families from different countries.  Typically, you would spend 3-4 weeks overseas with a family that has a son or daughter of approximately the same age.  If your exchange is to a country in the southern hemisphere, you may have the opportunity for your visit to be up to 6-8 weeks.  And then, you and your new host sibling would come back to the US for a similar period of time with your family.  For exchanges to the southern hemisphere, our students typically host during the summer months of those countries, i.e., January - February.  The order can be reversed, with the foreign student coming here first.  This will depend upon the country involved and what works best for the families.

The short-term program does not generally include school attendance, and instead provides its educational experiences through exposure to a new language and culture.  Sometimes your exchange will provide an opportunity to spend a few days in school while you are abroad either at its start or end.  Such an opportunity serves to expand your exchange experience.  Naturally, the friendships that develop often last a long time, with repeat visits a very common occurrence.

For younger students, or perhaps those wanting to sample the experience before committing to the long-term program, Rotary’s short-term exchange program can be ideal.

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