Annually, 8,000 students from more than 80 countries take part in the Rotary Youth Exchange Program worldwide.  This program offers 3 distinct opportunities.  They are Long Term Exchange, Short Term Exchange, and being a youth exchange host family. Extensive information about all aspects of the Rotary Youth Exchange Program can also be found here.
The long-term exchange program provides an opportunity to spend an academic year abroad. This is a phenomenal cultural immersion program that Rotary offers.  Students who participate in the program describe it not as a year in their lifetime but a lifetime in a year.  The Meredith Rotary Club typically sponsors up to 2 students to participate in this program each academic year. To qualify, a student should be between the ages of 15 and 18 1/2, in the upper-third of his or her academic classes, of good character, emotionally stable, and in good physical condition. Most importantly, he or she must be able and willing to be a good ambassador. We typically send students during their Junior year or during their “gap” year between high school graduation and their first year of college.  Gap year students must be 18 ½ or less by August 1 of their exchange year.  About 9 countries accept post graduates compared to about 40 countries for juniors. Students interested in applying for an exchange during their Junior year or gap year, should indicate their interest by no later than April 30th of their Freshman year or Junior year, respectively.  They have a full year of orientation prior to going out on exchange and a tremendous support system provided by Rotary.  The student, or the student's family, is expected to pay travel and insurance costs, as well as provide some spending and emergency money. The total cost is typically $3,800 to $5,400, but could range up to $8,000, depending on airfare and the cost of Rotary sponsored events in a particular country. Scholarships are available, on a financial need basis, for students who are highly qualified for the program.  The host Rotary club and family provide room, board, and schooling.
The Rotary Youth Exchange program also brings young people to the Meredith area from all over the world to learn about the United States, promote understanding of different cultures, and study in a new environment. The Meredith Rotary Club hosts up to 2 students each academic year. Students typically live with two different host families during their 10-month stay and attend Inter-Lakes High School or Moultonborough Academy. While the foreign students are enriched by this experience, hosting a Rotary Youth Exchange Student will enrich the lives of you and everyone else in your family, in ways that you cannot even imagine.  It is no surprise that we have had a number of repeat host families. For every student we send on long term exchange, we must host a student.  Therefore, we hope that families of students selected for the long-term program are willing to host a student for ½ of a year, if at all possible, either during the time the student is on exchange, or the year before or after the student goes on exchange.
The short-term exchange program, is a cultural exposure program that is conducted during the summer.  Over twenty countries participate in this exchange program.    Applicants for this program are matched with another student in the country of their choice, and then the families work out visitation details and dates.  The typical amount of time each student spends visiting the other one is 3 weeks.  The typical exchange costs are under $300 application costs plus the cost of round-trip airfare from your home to the foreign country and passport fee and visa fee (if necessary).   Students interested in participating in this program should indicate their interest by January 1st of the year they wish to participate.
For more information about being a long term or short term Rotary Youth Exchange student or host family or to express interest in the program, please contact Dean Gulezian at H: 603-677-7172 C: 631-235-8654 or dean.gulezian@gmail.com. 

The Meredith Rotary Club sponsors the Interact Club of Inter-lakes High School. An Interact Club is a Rotary Club-sponsored organization of young people, ages 12 to 18, whose purpose is to provide opportunity for them to work together in a world fellowship dedicated to service and international understanding and leadership development skills. The Interact Club of Inter-lakes High School was established in February 2015 with 27 members from grades 9 through 12. Club meetings are held twice a month at Inter-lakes High School where the members discuss and plan their service activities such as sponsoring an annual school clubs fair, battle of the grades canned food drive, funding wheel -chairs for those who cannot afford to buy one, Cancer Walk-A-Thon, "Soxtober" battle of the grades (collecting socks for charity), visits to a local Veterans Homes, maintaining the Center Harbor Congregational Church's garden, and supporting The Meredith Rotary Club's Great Ice Fishing Derby in February. In 2017, a bob house was donated for the Interact Club to raffle during the Ice Fishing Derby. The students sold 1,000 raffle tickets along with custom coffee mugs and maple syrup from a local farm. ​