Open Your Home. Open Your World.

You don't have to travel the world to experience another culture — sometimes the world comes to you.

Hosting a Rotary Youth Exchange student is an opportunity to welcome a young person from another country into your home, share everyday Canadian life and discover another culture along the way.

For a few months, your student becomes part of your family — sharing meals, celebrations, conversations and everyday experiences. You may find yourself seeing St. Catharines, Niagara and even Canada through completely new eyes.

And very often, the relationship doesn't end when the student goes home. Host families and students can form friendships that last for years.

Who Can Be a Host Family?

There is no one type of Rotary host family.

You do not have to be a Rotarian, and you do not need to have teenagers — or even children — living at home.

Host families can include:

• Families with young children or teenagers
• Couples whose children have grown
• Couples or individuals without children
• Rotarians and non-Rotarians

What matters is providing a safe, welcoming and supportive home and being willing to include your student in your everyday family life.

What Is It Really Like to Host?

You don't need to entertain your student every day or plan special activities constantly.

Youth Exchange is about experiencing real family life.

That might mean eating dinner together, going grocery shopping, attending a hockey game, visiting family, walking the dog, celebrating a birthday or simply sitting around the kitchen table talking.

Those ordinary moments are often what make the exchange extraordinary.

What's In It for Your Family?

Hosting is about giving — but families often tell us they receive just as much in return.

You'll have the opportunity to:

• Learn about another country and culture firsthand.
• Share Canadian traditions and your family's way of life.
• See your own community through someone else's eyes.
• Help a young person become comfortable in a new country.
• Learn a few words — or perhaps much more — of another language.
• Build an international friendship that may last a lifetime.

You may begin by welcoming an exchange student. You could finish by saying goodbye to another member of your family.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long will the student live with us?

Rotary Youth Exchange students generally live with more than one host family during their exchange year, giving them the opportunity to experience different families and ways of life.

Your family hosts for only a portion of the student's exchange usually two to six months something we agree upon with you

Do we have to be Rotarians?

No. Host families do not need to belong to Rotary.

Rotary welcomes families from throughout the community who are interested in sharing their home and Canadian culture with a young person from another country.

Is hosting expensive?

Host families provide the student's normal meals and a place to live, just as they would for another member of the family.

Students have their own spending money and appropriate insurance. Before you agree to host, Rotary will explain what is — and isn't — expected of your family.

Does the student need their own bedroom?

Your Rotary Youth Exchange team will explain the current accommodation and hosting requirements when you inquire about becoming a host family.

What if English isn't the student's first language?

That's part of the adventure!

Exchange students generally have some ability to communicate in English, and their skills usually improve considerably as they become immersed in school, family and community life.

Don't be surprised if your student teaches your family a few words from their language too.

What happens if we have questions or need help?

You are not doing this alone.

Host families and students receive support from Rotary throughout the exchange. Local Rotary volunteers and the District Youth Exchange team are available to answer questions, provide guidance and help make the experience successful for everyone.

Could Your Family Be a Host Family?

You don't need a perfect home, an elaborate lifestyle or a packed sightseeing schedule.

You simply need room in your home — and your life — for one more person.

If you're curious about hosting a Rotary Youth Exchange student, we'd love to talk with you. Asking for more information doesn't commit you to anything.

Contact the Rotary Club of St. Catharines Lakeshore to learn more about becoming a host family.

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