Rotary Youth Exchange
The New Paltz Rotary Club is a strong supporter of the Rotary Youth Exchange Program. We have hosted students from Italy, France, Spain, and, this year, Austria. The students have provided us with a greater understanding and appreciation for their countries, and they have gone home with a greater understanding of us. More than 600 students visiting the United States this year as part of the Rotary International's Exchange Program It is just one small part of the Rotary's effort to promote peace in this troubled world.
We are always in need of host families for the visiting students. The students usually live for a three month period in a home that is situated in the New Paltz school district. While it may first appear to be a bit inconvenient to have a visitor in your home for this extended period of time, you will soon discover that the time goes by far too quickly. The students quickly become part of the family, and it is difficult to see them move on to their next assigned host family, or to return to their home.
If you are interested in learning more about hosting an Rotary Exchange Student, please contact the New Paltz Rotary at the P.O. Box above, or contact a local Rotarian. Hosting an Exchange Student is a wonderful experience for all.
New Paltz Rotary also sponsors students from New Paltz to be "outbound" students to other countries. In the past we have sponsored students to go to Brazil, Germany, and South Africa. If you know of a student who would be interested in such an experience, please contact us. It is a way of changing this world, one student at a time!