Neshaminy High School junior Casey Young of Langhorne left for Brazil July 15 as part of a year-long foreign exchange program through Rotary International. He will be providing occasional updates of his adventures in reality.

<<< Casey (second from left) enjoys what he calls a typical Brazilian party.

Participating students are between the ages of 15 and 19 years old, must have above average academic grades, and be socially ready to handle living abroad. They can go for an entire school year (generally from August through June), the long term program, or 1 month, the short term program.

For the long term program, students select 5 countries to which they want to go. Rotary does its best to match the destination to their requeset, based on the availability of host families.

Students on the long term program stay with up to 3 different host families while the short term program students stay with the family of the student who will be visiting them in a "true" exchange.

Chad started the scholarship because the students and their families incur significant expense for the program, often up to $10,000.

Whether participating in the short or long term program the participating students often have their lives and attitudes changed. One Brazilian student whose first choice destination was Canada, spent his year in the US. He had a wonderful time and truly learned to appreciate the US. When he was asked why he requested Canada, he said he had not thought Americans were very nice or friendly, but had learned they<<< 2011-12 schedule >>

Rotary Youth Exchange is a once in a lifetime opportunity for students to broaden their education and world understanding by letting them live with a Host Family and attend High School in a foreign country.

As a Rotary Youth Exchange Student, you will spend an academic year (long term program), or just four weeks (short term program) with a Host Family in a country other than your own. You may learn a new language; you will learn a new way of living and a great deal about yourself. While you are learning, the people you meet will be learning about your country, your culture and your ideas. 
YOU will be helping to bring the world closer together and making friends that last a lifetime. 

Rotary Youth Exchange is open to all high school students who are 15- 1/2 to 18 - 1/2 as of August 1st of the year of their departure. 
The program is open to all children of Rotarians and Non-Rotarians. 

The ESSEX program is approved by the U.S. Information Agency, (USIA) and the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel (CSIET) certifies that the ESSEX program complies with the standards set forth in CSIET's "Standards for International Educational Programs".