Apply for Rotary Youth Exchange programme

Learners who want to explore the world are invited to apply for the Rotary Youth Exchange programme.

Rotary Club of Benoni Aurora’s head of New Generation Sonja Shear said the aim of the programme is to expose young people to new cultures.

The organisation believes experiences like this will provide insight and understanding of different cultures and foster positive international relations.

Shear explained that the programme is not limited only to the Benoni schools but all the schools around Ekurhuleni can be part of the programme.

“If anyone is interested they can contact any of the rotary clubs however the Benoni Aurora Rotary Club has a strong student exchange programme,” said Shear.

“Interviews are conducted to find out why the learners want to be part of the programme and to also explain exactly what it entails.”

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Shear said learners have two options.

They can either choose the six weeks exchange to another country or a year exchange.

She said once the rotary club has conducted the interviews the Rotary District does further interviews afterwards before they can be selected and placed in another country.

“Learners don’t always go to the country of their choice.

They have to give us an option of three countries which they would like to go to and we try and accommodate them where we can,” she said.

Shear said the club has an extensive programme to help the students readapt to their way of life in South Africa.

“The host parents are usually the parents whose children are also on the exchange programme but sometimes its teachers or parents within a certain school who don’t mind hosting the learners and we also ask people to volunteer.

“We have programmes to determine if the parents are suitable people to host the learners.”

Two young women spoke to the City Times about their experiences living in South Africa on the exchange programme.

The recent travellers are Luise Teske (16) from Germany and Aekpawi Phakdichon (18) from Thailand.

Luise and Aekpawi came to South Africa in August and will return to their countries in June.

Long-term exchange students live with about four families during their year abroad, but Rotary also offers short-term programmes.

Luise, who is a learner at Hoërskool Hans Moore, said she has always wanted to be an exchange student and when she got the opportunity from Rotary she chose to come to South Africa.

“I chose South Africa because of its diversity and I wanted to improve my English,” said Luise.

“My experience has been amazing so far. I’ve made friends at school and I really love my school.”

Luise said on her first day of school she was so shocked. It was so hard for me to adapt but now I’m used to it and I will miss it so much.

“What I love about this whole experience is that I get to live with different families and learn about their way of living,” she said.

When asked what she found different about South Africa, she said the people are friendly, the weather is amazing and the school is better.

She said what she found difficult is that her host parents don’t allow her to travel anywhere with public transport and in Germany she used to travel by bus or train.

“And also with the language. I had to adapt very fast because the school is an Afrikaans school but now I’m better in the language and I didn’t have any problems with English.”

Luise said she would love to return to South Africa for another visit or to live here.

Aekpawi, a Benoni High School learner, said South Africa is completely different from Thailand.

“The culture is different as back home we don’t have Christmas or Halloween, but we have different celebrations as we are Buddhism,” said Aekpawi.

“I’ve always wanted to be an exchange student so I can learn about other people’s cultures and travel the world.”

Aekpawi said it is not easy to be away from her family but being on the exchange programmes has made her independent.

“Before I didn’t like to speak in front of people. It made me more confident and more open-minded,” she said.

She said in Thailand they don’t hug and kiss each other but with her friends here they hug each other when they greet.

Aekpawi said it only took her about a month to be comfortable with her family and to make friends as she was very shy.

She added that her host family is very nice and she likes them so much.

If you want this experience, be sure to apply to get a possible opportunity.

Application forms can be downloaded from the Rotary Youth Exchange District 9400 website: https://youthexchange.co.za/ and can be submitted on the website during this festive season.

If you are between 15 and 17 years old you could apply to become an exchange student.

Applicants will then be contacted to attend an interview early in 2019.

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