Host an Exchange Student and See the World in a New Way
Aurora, IL (PRWEB) October 02, 2013 -- The Aurora Sunrise Rotary Club, a local club affiliated with Rotary International, is seeking host families for international exchange students. Valerie Schmit of Aurora has hosted a student from Italy and sent her own three children overseas to Taiwan, Belgium, and the Netherlands through the club’s Youth Exchange Program. Valerie says it’s a life-changing, terrific program. Now, she wants to encourage others to become host families.
“Our experience with a foreign exchange student was truly eye-opening. We saw the world through his eyes and learned a lot about his culture and language,” said Valerie. “It was a good experience for our family and the Rotary goes out of their way to make it effortless for host families.” The Youth Exchange Program helps the students raise funds, plans activities, offers training to host families, and provides ongoing support. “Most people think it will be a lot of work and money, but that’s not the case.”
The Aurora Sunrise Rotary Club has sent more than one hundred students overseas over the past fifteen years. The local club recently received the District Award for “Best Exchange” for having the biggest youth exchange impact in the Chicago area. Last year, ten local students traveled to Russia, Germany, Poland, Slovakia and Belgium, returning with wonderful stories and new perspectives on the world. Valerie says her own children benefited greatly from the international exchange experience. “They came home with a level of maturity and confidence that gave them a big boost going into their college years.”
If you are interested in being a host family in the Aurora area, please contact the local coordinators, Peter Dominguez at 630-897-4114 or toppropeter(at)gmail(dot)com or Joel Huffman at 217-840-0834 or huffmanrotary(at)yahoo(dot)com. For more information about the Aurora Sunrise Rotary Club, visit http://www.rotaryaurora.org or for club information, call Tom Clark at 630-584-3447.
ABOUT AURORA SUNRISE ROTARY CLUB
The Aurora Sunrise Rotary Club serves the Fox Valley area and is affiliated with Rotary International -- an organization of business and professional leaders who provide humanitarian service and help to build goodwill and peace in the world. There are 1.2 million Rotary members in 33,000 Rotary clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas. Rotary clubs have been serving communities worldwide for more than a century.
Jacqueline Camacho, JJR Marketing, http://www.jjrmarketing.com, 630-441-6057, [email protected]
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