Twelve students aged between 13 and a half and sixteen years of age will enjoy Ruruku (Welcoming) Weekend early next year.
Announcing the successful applicants on December 1st, District Chair Max Patmoy was thrilled at the success rate.
Max said, "This is the best district result in any district in Australia or New Zealand".
RANZSE differs from the International Youth Exchange in that the emphasis is on the family/student experience with the support and facilitation of Rotary, it is for a shorter time away from home, the student participants are younger, and they reciprocate the hosting experience with their match.
Expression of Interest forms are sent by email and post to all clubs and schools in our district in April. They are posted directly back to the RANZSE Chair by 30 June. Students may also apply online at www.ranzse.org.
When EOI forms are received, the District RANZSE Chair sends out the full application forms. If students follow through with this, clubs are notified. If clubs are participating in the exchange, they are responsible for conducting a home interview (in August) of the student and their family and providing the invaluable Rotarian mentor for each successful match, as well as a sponsorship fee of $550. Normally both student and match will speak at their sponsoring and hosting clubs about their experiences.
The cost to parents/students is approximately $4500 to cover airfares, insurance, week-long Safari in the opposite country, bonding weekend in both countries, and spending money for their son/daughter. The sponsoring club’s contribution goes towards the cost of their student’s RANZSE gear (polo and rugby shirts, jacket, backpack and duffle bag, passport holder and nametag). Any excess goes to defray the cost of the exchange for the students.