Rotary Short Term Exchange Program (STEP)
The SUMMER 2021 Short-Term Exchange Program (STEP) was suspended due to the global Covid-19 pandemic. Rotary International has suspended exchanges through June 30, 2022.
The "short-term" program is for 3-5 weeks of living in another country, where you will be hosted by a Rotary District and Rotary Club and live with a family in the nation you are visiting. All short-term exchanges are reciprocal. Each student hosts the same student who hosted him/her. Learn more about hosting your reciprocal short term inbound Exchangee.
You will begin the Short-Term Application process online at: https://yehub.net/S11-stapp (Note: the application period has not opened yet.)
We will have a new coordinator for the Summer 2022 Short-Term Exchange Program. When we announce who the new coordinator is, we will post the contact information here. In the meantime, if you have questions, you can send them to info@6110studyabroad.com
Short Term Exchange Program FAQ's
Are there any grants available for Short-Term (STEP) exchanges?
D6110 Youth Exchange has a limited ability to provide matching grant monies to approved candidates. That program requires the District to provide 1/3 of the STEP flat fee cost, the sponsoring club may (or may not) agree to provide 1/3 of the STEP flat fee cost and the student or his/her parents to provide the remaining amount of the fSTEP flat fee. Applicants must be approved by the local club as being both "in need" and "well qualified" to be considered for a grant from the district Matching Grants Program. The matching grant does NOT cover additional expenses, such as airfare.
What counties can I go to?
Currently, Rotary District 6110 has contacts for exchange in these countries:
Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Korea, Bolivia, Argentina, Slovak Republic, Czech Republic, Finland, Sweden, Germany, France, Reunion Island Protectorate of France, Austria, Turkey, Japan, Poland, Malaysia, India, Taiwan, Thailand, the Philippines, Italy, Romania, Spain, Cambodia, Hungary, Switzerland (German-speaking), Switzerland (French-speaking)
and possibly
Russia/Ukraine Other non-English-speaking countries may be available.
What do host clubs provide Short-Term (STEP) students?
- Youth Exchange Program Administration at the student's destination. If the student has any problems which the host parents can't resolve, they can go to the host Rotary Club Youth Exchange Officer or President for help.
- Meals at Rotary Club meetings attended
- Interaction with Rotary Club members and their families
What do host parents provide for Short-Term (STEP) students?
- Family Atmosphere & Room
- Food
- Travel, if family vacation
- Transportation to and from activities
Note: You do not have to be a Rotarian family to be a host family. This program is open to Rotarian and non-Rotarian families alike.
What do overseas host clubs provide?
- Youth Exchange Program Administration at the student's destination. If the student has any problems which the host parents can't resolve, they can go to the host Rotary Club Youth Exchange Officer or President for help.
- Monthly Stipend (amount varies country to country)
- a Rotarian counselor
- Meals at Rotary Club meetings attended
- Interaction with Rotary Club members and their families
What does the Short-Term Exchange Program cost?
Summer 2022 cost is currently TO BE ANNOUNCED.
- There is an application/interview fee, which is non-refundable in the event of a student cancelling the exchange
- There is a fixed fee portion of the cost, which includes everything but airfare and passport fees (administrative costs, insurance, orientation, and business cards).
Students & their families are responsible for paying for and making arrangements for airfare. The average cost of airfare for 2020 exchanges was less than $2000.
You may pay on a 2-payment (March 16th and April 15th) plan or as a lump sum of on March 16th upon acceptance into the program). Mailing address to TO BE ANNOUNCED.
The student is responsible for acquiring his/her own passport (& visa, if required) and any related costs.
Proof of passport and travel documentation will be required by April 30th.
Where will I go on a Short-Term (STEP) exchange?
Rotary District 6110 has youth exchange contacts with France, India, Mexico, Brazil, Ecuador, Bolivia, Argentina, Philippines, Thailand, Japan, South Africa, Germany, France, Hungary, Peru, Belgium, Turkey, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland, Netherlands, and Spain. We are always exploring opportunities to exchange with other countries. Our new short-term program will be exploring reciprocal exchanges with these countries and others which are of interest to short term outbound summer exchange students who live within the boundaries of District 6110 (The four corners of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma).
