Rotary clubs host exchanges for students ages 15-19 in more than 100 countries.
https://www.rotary.org/en/our-programs/youth-exchanges/details
Jeanette 41 years ago applied to be a Rotary Exchange participant and after an application and interview process was selected by the Rotary Club of Grimsby as their first Rotary Exchange participant. (OUTGOING).
Jeanette was matched and selected to go to Australia.
After a 23 hr. flight she arrived in Australia in a resort town to spend a year in this very different country. She explains it was an experience of a lifetime and she really did not want to return home. Upon returning home she felt that everyone at home had changed but soon came to the realization that she was the one that had changed. With the experience she personally grew and had a better understanding of the world.
Fast Forward 30 years, while participating in a curling spiel where she competed against a Rotary team she renewed a relationship with Rotary and was asked if she would become a member of the Rotary Club that had sponsored her those many years ago.
Jeanette became a member and became an advocate of Youth Exchange and participated as a volunteer, councillor and host for many youth exchange students over the years. She has formed life long friendships with some of the students that participated from other countries.
Currently Jeanette is the District 7090 Vice-chair for Central Europe for the Rotary International Youth Exchange program.
Jeanette has made Youth Exchange a passion in her life and is hoping that our clubs might consider hosting exchange students once again. Working together with other local clubs hopefully we can make this happen.