The Experience of a Lifetime

Long Term Exchange Program:

The Long Term Exchange Program, or LTEP, is the signature Rotary Youth Exchange program that allows high school and gap-year students to live abroad and study for an academic year. Students should be prepared to commit 10 to 12 months as part of the Rotary Youth Exchange Long Term Exchange Program.

As administered by RMRYE, LTEP is open to applicants in District 5450 between the ages of 15 years and six months, and 18 years at the time of departure from the United States. Please note, however, that some of our exchange partners may impose age guidelines and regulations that are different from District 5450. This means that even when a student is compliant with RMRYE age requirements, he/she may not be accepted in a district with which we exchange.

“Outbounders”

Students sent by RMRYE to live abroad are known as “outbounders.”  With the exception of students assigned to Southern Hemisphere countries, they are required to arrive in their host countries shortly before the start of the host-country school year. While the arrivals happen most often in late July and early August, outbounders to the Philippines will arrive as early as May, and outbounders to Spain or Turkey will arrive as late as September.

The school year in South America normally begins in February and ends in December, and many schools typically function on the trimester system. The first trimester begins in February and ends in June. The second begins in June and ends in September. The third begins in September and ends in December. Summer vacation happens during part of the December-through-February period.

RMRYE’s South American exchange partners run their programs to accommodate the large number of exchange students arriving from the Northern Hemisphere and wishing to sync their exchanges with their home school year. Those students will typically arrive in July, close to the start of the second trimester. RMRYE outbounders with flexible school schedules have the option to sync their South American exchanges with the South American school year.

Outbounders are sponsored by Rotary clubs.  The sponsoring clubs establish a friendly relationship with the exchange student and his or her family before, during, and after the assignment.  The cost to a club to sponsoring is minimal, but the rewards can be great as the club follows the progress of the student through what is often a life-transforming experience.  Clubs that sponsor need not host inbound exchange students.

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Program Details

Rules & Conditions

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 travel insurance that provides medical and dental 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 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.
13. 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.
14. You must return home directly by a route mutually agreeable to your host district and your parents or legal guardians.
15. 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.
16. 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.
17. Serious romantic activity is to be avoided. Sexual activity is forbidden.
18. Talk with your host club counselor, host parents, or other trusted adult if you encounter any form of abuse or harassment.

Financial Obligations

What are the Estimated Costs to our Outbound Applicant and Candidate?

The student receives free room and board from their host families, which act in loco parentis. The student pays no tuition costs even if the host club enrolls the student in a private school. The student receives a monthly stipend of about US$100 from his or her hosting Rotary club. Here is a detailed list of estimated financial obligations:

PRELIMINARY APPLICATION FEE
* $200 submitted with preliminary application to the sponsoring club
* Fee will be applied to the total application fee
* Due by November 1 to the outbound chair
* Payable to RMRYE
* Application fee pays for cost at interview weekend. (Meals)

FINAL COMPLETE APPLICATION FEE
* $1,800 submitted with the remainder of the full application
* In combination with the preliminary fee, this completes the total application fee of $2,000
* Due by January 15 to the respective country contact
* Payable to RMRYE
* Application fee covers, blazer, sweatshirt, t-shirt, meals (lunch and snacks) at orientations, pins, business cards, mail costs for committee, and travel agency registration

REFUND POLICY
* $200 – if additional information is gathered with the final application that makes the committee revoke the placement of the student
* $125- if student is not placed in a Foreign District
* No refund if student is placed in Foreign District and withdraws

REQUIRED INSURANCE
The insurance provider for students leaving Colorado for their exchange is determined by the host country. The requirement for specific countries is discussed at the Interview Weekend in December and can be obtained from the relevant Country Contact.
* If the host country requires the student to purchase their local insurance (in the exchange country) the cost will range from approximately $519 to $1,600

Families can choose to purchase additional coverage:
– Plan A and Personal Liability $567 if the host country requires their insurance and the family would like additional optional insurance
– Plan C = limited additional coverage $315 the host country requires their insurance and the family would like additional optional insurance
* If the host country requires the student to purchase insurance through the sponsor district (RMRYE), the family must purchase CISI-Bolduc insurance Plan B+. Plan B+ is a combination of Medical and Personal Liability, the cost is $839. Amounts are 2017-18 fees. For more information or to purchase the insurance go to www.cisi-bolduc.com

EMERGENCY FUND
* This amount varies by host country. It is typically $500. If you do not use it, it is returned to you before you travel back home at the end of the exchange.

EXPENSES
* Open end round trip airline ticket good for one year- Miles MAY NOT be used to purchase this type of ticket
* Extra spending funds
* Some districts offer end-of-year bus trips with associated fees. Some Rotary clubs may help with these extra expenses.
* Certain countries offer and require a language camp at the beginning of the exchange. There is likely an extra fee for these

– For estimated costs by country, please download this PDF

Our Current Exchange Partners

Gap-Year Information

Considerations for a Gap-Year Exchange

A gap-year exchange student is one who spends an extra year in high school compared to the typical duration. In the U.S., where the typical duration is four years, a gap-year student will spend five years in high school, including the year spent abroad.

Gap-year exchange students participating in the program between their senior year of high school and the freshman year of college often apply for college in their senior year and then request college deferral.

CHSAA (Colorado High School Activities Association) limits athletic eligibility to eight (8) continuous semesters. Gap-year students returning to U.S. high school are not eligible to play sports their senior (5th) year. CHSAA is firm on this issue and does not consider participation in the exchange program as a mitigating circumstance warranting special consideration.

Many high schools in Colorado will grant enough academic credits to a Rotary exchange student during his or her year abroad to allow the student to graduate in four years, including the year spent abroad. Prospective exchange students anticipating this outcome should obtain agreements in writing from appropriate school officials.

Travel & Transportation

Travel for LTEP Participants

Inbounders to District 5450:

For inbound students traveling within the state of Colorado, the host family needs to inform only the Youth Exchange Officer and Country Contact of where the family will be traveling and how they may be reached. For travel outside of Colorado, a Travel Permission Form MUST be completed. The planned trip must be described in detail, including contact information. The student may fax or email the permission form to his/her natural parents for their signatures. The natural parents may return the signed form to indicate approval of the trip.

Outbounders from District 5450:

It’s important for all outbound students to remember you’re on an academic exchange, not a travel exchange. All travel plans must be approved by your hosting district and be in accordance with their rules and regulations. This includes any travel with natural parents from District 5450 who choose to visit their son or daughter.

Applying to LTEP

LTEP Application Requirements

* Between the age of 15 years, 6 months and 18 years, inclusive, at the time the exchange begins (typically in July or August, but earlier and later departures are also not uncommon)
* RMRYE applicants must be citizens or legal residents of the U.S. and must have a valid passport in time to apply for a year-long student visa. They must reside in Rotary District 5450.
* Applicants may be children of Rotarians or non-Rotarians; applicants related to Rotarians receive no special privileges given to relatives or friends of Rotarians
* A local Rotary Club must sponsor the student and verify the student’s qualifications
* Must be able to be a good ambassador for Rotary and home country
* Socially ready to handle living abroad for an extended period
* Exchange students attend high school and have student immigration status; the host district will choose the school, and there will be no tuition charged to the student
* Must be able to attend mandatory departure orientations with parents or guardians