High School Abroad is an international student exchange program coordinated by Rotary International. The study abroad program means that all foreign exchange students in Rotary International’s long term exchange program (LTEP) are required to attend high school while on exchange. A gap year is the academic school year immediately after graduation from high school and before enrolling in college or university studies. The program also allows students who are graduating the next spring to participate in the gap year program, provided they will not exceed 19 years of age by the time of their departure after graduation.In response to a query about their services, the spokesperson of Rotary International commented, “Our High School Abroad program is Rotary International’s flagship exchange program. The long-term exchange program usually lasts one academic year and students will live with 2-3 host families during their stay to gain greater understanding of their culture. To ensure the safety of students, Rotary Club carefully screens and selects all host families. In addition, the local host Rotary club pays students’ a monthly stipend and assigns a dedicated counselor to help each student get the most of their exchange program.”.
The High School Abroad program is one of the foreign exchange programs coordinated by Rotary International which has over 1.2 million members in over 33, 000 clubs around the world. The program enables students to reap many rewards from an exchange experience, such as serving as an ambassador for their country and community, benefiting from immersion in another culture while adapting to a new way of life.
The spokesperson of Rotary International further commented, “We keep the cost of the Gap year program low through our volunteer Rotary club members. Parents and guardians are only expected to cover the following expenses: round trip-airfare, travel insurance, travel documents, spending money, language camp and emergency funds for unforeseen expenses. Each applicant must be sponsored by a local Rotary club district and each local Rotary club has its application and selection process. We believe studying abroad as a high school foreign exchange student will immerse students into the culture of another country, thereby making them become global citizens.”
The Rotary youth exchange also has a short-term summer exchange program which is ideal for students who have the spirit of adventure, but not ready to spend a whole school year abroad. It is open to students ages 15-19 and ranges from several weeks to a few months, it usually takes place in the summer when school is not in session and does not include an academic program.
About Rotary International:
The High School Abroad program is an international student exchange program managed by Rotary International and coordinated by trained Rotarian volunteers who believe that world peace can be achieved through understanding people of different cultures. Their Gap Year Abroad Programs are a lot less stressful for students because no academic credits are needed for graduation from their high school back home. Thus, students who would like to opt-in for Rotary International’s student exchange programs can visit their website for more information.