Orientation Program for Host Families Welcome Thanks for watching!

You’re Expecting a New Arrival Orientation Program for Host Families Congratulations! You’re Expecting a New Arrival

Orientation Agenda What is Rotary? RYE Program? Purpose of the RYE Program Who are Rotary exchange students? Expectations – host family, students, clubs Arrival and settling in Activities and calendar Conflict management and support system Host family transitions Rotary rules Sexual Abuse & Harassment Policy and procedure Other topics End of the year

What is Rotary? World’s oldest international service organization 1.2 million Rotarians in 170+ countries 34,000 clubs around the world The Four Way Test Is it the TRUTH? Is it FAIR to all concerned? Will it build GOOD WILL and better friendships? Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned? Rotary’s Five Avenues of Service Vocational ● Community Club ● International New Generations – the home of Youth Exchange!

What is Rotary? (cont.) Rotary Motto: Service Above Self District 5520 includes New Mexico & West Texas 72 Rotary Clubs Approximately 20 of these clubs participate and host or sponsor about 15 inbound and 15 outbound students each year.

What is the RYE Program? Country-to-country exchanges Approximately 8,000 students exchange worldwide each year Open to all high school students Operated completely by volunteer Rotarians as part of Rotary’s commitment to youth One year program in District 5520

Purpose of the RYE Program Provides students an opportunity to study in another country and to develop maturity, leadership skills and serve as young ambassadors Brings world friendship into our local communities and increases cultural tolerance and understanding Promotes Public Diplomacy and Rotary’s goal of world peace and understanding, one person, one exchange at a time

Who are Rotary Exchange Students? Between ages 15-18½ upon arrival in host country Outstanding young people Carefully selected and oriented Most can carry on a conversation in English Anxious and excited to: Learn our language Discover U.S. culture Represent their countries as ambassadors Become part of your family

Expectations of Host Family Treat student like your own teen Help with challenges Language School Culture shock Homesickness Provide an ear to listen, a shoulder to cry on, a hand to depend on Communicate with the club committee who supports you

Expectations Host Family (cont.) Assist student in making good choices Encourage activities and outings with teens who are known as trustworthy and safe Delegate daily responsibilities for the home Be prepared to say NO when appropriate Set limits while understanding the challenges which may affect students

Expectations Host Family (cont.) Provide room and board Provide extra support for family travel and other activities, if you can Assist student with communication about extraordinary expenses with their natural family and Rotary Club (i.e. for travel with host family) Communicate about travel sleeping arrangements with student and natural family so appropriate accommodations can be agreed upon in advance. Student should not share sleeping area with host parents unless it has been discussed.

Sample Family Rules Be on time Obey curfew Do school work No telephone after a certain hour Help with chores Limit computer time Participate in family activities No electronics use at meal time

Communication Set rules and explain costs of phone and computer Phone cards E-mail Facebook Cell phone (Club/student expense) SKYPE Support contact with parents and expect that home country communication will not interfere with exchange

Computers/Internet Limit time and downloads May be necessary for schoolwork Social networking is important for student but it should not interfere with family interaction Encourage use in public spaces of home and share in the interaction where appropriate If possible, provide access to a family computer (as needed)

Expectations of Student Adapt to host family Learn our language and culture Perform well in school Communicate Represent your country and Rotary Participate with Rotary, school, and community Return home within two weeks after school ends or one week after Rotary trip Presentations to Rotary (required) and other organizations as often as possible

Student Role as Ambassador Rotary’s most emphasized element: Students portray their whole country and can make a difference in the world’s viewpoint of their country. By their attitude By their decisions By their appearance By their willingness to do for others

Host Club Involvement Select and screen host families Support host families 24/7 - contacts sheet provided with this orientation Required contact with student and host family at least once/month Club meetings at least once/month (student receives allowance) Involve student in club activities Involve student with members’ lives

Host Club Involvement (cont.) Rotary volunteers obtain school consent for placement and assist with student registration Help with school problems and questions throughout year Arrange transition to new host family Provide transportation to mandatory district meetings

Arrival and Settling In Welcoming your student Notify District Inbound Placement Officer and club committee of any flight changes Coordinate with the club to meet student at airport Assist with lost baggage reports First Night Questions Review school registration and dress code and first week activities

School Obligations and Logistics Clarify if student will be receiving credit for school work at home Students usually will not be given a high school diploma (most schools allow “walking” participation for the experience) Regular class attendance and attention to work is required, even if student has vacation/Rotary orientation obligations Communicate with school to assist student in completing missed assignments or for extra language tutoring, when needed Homework must be completed

School Obligations and Logistics (cont.) Student visa requires high school attendance Visit school registrar and/or counselor to register student right away No Driver Education permitted Encourage participation Sports Music, Drama, etc. Interact School lunches can be brown bag and/or purchased. Host family supports as may be possible and asks for Rotary help with expense if student’s stipend is not sufficient for purchase of lunch.

School Sports Rotary Club should assist with school-based athletic fees State athletic regulations will determine if student can participate and at what level Participation in varsity sports is not allowed in New Mexico Generally students that have graduated at home cannot play on varsity teams Participation in varsity sports requires paperwork

Activities and Calendar Four MANDATORY district orientation weekends: Locations vary around district Arrive Thursday dinner time and depart Sunday after breakfast (Transportation by host Rotary Club/district committee member) Students must attend, sports activities are NOT a substitute – they should not commit to sports with end of the year tournaments or state competitions if the date will conflict. Orientation – 2nd or 3rd weekend of Sept. Inbound/Outbound – 1st weekend of Dec. Ski Weekend – February or March District Convention – April or May Student talent show during Saturday breakfast

Activities and Calendar (cont.) Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta – Oct. Optional weekend – host family or club assistance to attend Rotary Approved Tours Optional trip in June 2 – 2 ½ weeks long All Rotary Exchange students Must apply and pay for early – Sept is best, December may be too late.

Making Close Friends A major challenge to RYE students Active participation is best cure for homesickness Help find activities for students Sports Theatre Band Clubs

Travel RYE is not a travel program Travel is restricted by Rotary policies Student travel outside the District cannot happen without permission in advance from District RYE chair, club, and natural parents Student may not travel long distances un-chaperoned or with other teens. Advise club committee when a student leaves town but remains in the district Opportunities for travel may exist with Rotary club members and host families

Conflict Management Day to day life of the student is managed by the family, using flexibility, while treating the student equal with other family members. Respect between student and host parents is essential Communication when things break down is also essential

Conflict Management (cont.) Language barriers can pose problems for student transition in host home, use translation tools as needed to get points across clearly Social customs may be a barrier to easy communication Some customs may be more or less expressive than US and therefore create tension and unexpected behaviors

Conflict Management Support System When things are difficult, use resources: Assistance from Rotary: Club Level – Counselor, YEO, President; District Level – Country Contact/Counselor, Youth Protection Officer, Chair Local translator Professional/school counselor for complex issues

Transitions: Host Families First Host Family Excitement – everything is new Culture shock – major adaptations Language struggles School arrangements Often the closest bonds

Transitions: Host Family (cont.) Second (or Third) Host Family Transition issues – wanting to spend time with friends competes with getting to know new family New rules and family practices Language and culture begin to click Last Host Family Comfortable with language and culture Big events: prom, graduation, departure Preparing for separation Tearful goodbyes

Rotary Rules: Drinking Rotary International and District 5520 do not allow students to drink alcoholic beverages. If host family customarily has wine or beer with dinner, student may have a glass of wine or beer in the host family home.

Rotary Rules: Drugs Rotary International and District 5520 have a zero tolerance to drug use. Students involved with illegal drugs will be sent home.

Rotary Rules: Driving Rotary International and District 5520 do not permit driving motorized vehicles. Motorized vehicles includes cars, boats, skidoos, and jet skiis. YE students may not get a driver’s license during their exchange year.

Rotary Rules: Dating Rotary discourages steady romantic relationships with only one person. Students are encouraged to meet as many people as possible and to date different people, if they choose to date. If there is a relationship issue, the club committee should be advised.

Rotary Rules: Changes and Smoking No permanent changes in appearance with tattoos or piercing No changes in religious affiliation Return to home country the way you arrived in the USA No Smoking cigarettes or other tobacco products

Sexual Abuse and Harassment Rotary International and Rotary Youth Exchange have a zero tolerance policy for sexual abuse and harassment

Sexual Abuse and Harassment (cont.) Engaging in implicit or explicit sexual acts with a young person or forcing or encouraging a young person to engage in implicit or explicit sexual acts alone or with another person of any age, of the same or opposite sex. This includes non touching offenses, such as indecent exposure or showing a young person sexual or pornographic material. Sexual harassment Sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. In some cases, sexual harassment precedes sexual abuse and is used by sexual predators to desensitize or groom their victims.

Sexual Abuse and Harassment: Procedure Receive the report. Listen attentively and stay calm. Assure privacy but not confidentiality. Get the facts, but don’t interrogate or suggest facts which you have not heard from student. Be nonjudgmental and reassure. Protect the young person. Ensure the safety and well-being of the youth exchange student by removing him or her from the situation immediately and preventing all contact with the alleged abuser or harasser.

Sexual Abuse and Harassment: Reporting Report the allegations to appropriate authorities — child protective services or law enforcement. Immediately report all cases of sexual abuse and harassment to District Youth Protection Officer, Youth Exchange Chair and/or Rotary District Governor for assistance with assessment and reporting to appropriate authorities. Assist with delivery of student to appropriate authorities for reporting as instructed.

Sexual Abuse and Harassment: Reporting 4. Avoid gossip and blame. Be careful to protect the rights of both the victim and the accused during the investigation and do not repeat what you have learned to anyone except Rotary District 5520 designated leadership or designated law enforcement. District 5520 will maintain the privacy (as distinct from confidentiality) of any accused person by limiting discussions only to those people who need to know. The audience will be limited to the club counselor, club youth exchange officer, district youth exchange officer, district Youth Protection Officer, the District Governor, and appropriate government or law enforcement individuals.

Sexual Abuse and Harassment: Reporting Do not challenge the alleged offender. Don’t contact the alleged offender. In cases of sexual abuse, interrogation must be left entirely to law enforcement authorities. In cases of non-criminal harassment, the district governor or youth protection officer is responsible for follow-through and will contact the alleged offender after the young person has been moved to a safe environment.

Sexual Abuse and Harassment: Follow up by Rotary Rotary will confirm that the student has been removed from the situation immediately and has no contact with the alleged sexual abuser. Rotary will offer the student an independent, non-Rotarian counselor to represent his or her interests. Social services or law enforcement may recommend someone who is not a Rotarian or in any way involved with the youth program and assistance with that follow up is appreciated. Rotary will contact the student’s parents or legal guardian after the facts have been assessed, contact with parents at home should only be through that pre-established relationship.

Money Students are encouraged to open a bank account (savings is preferred) when they arrive in the District. Often banks will provide ATM cards even if the student is a minor. A separate bank account will be established by the Rotary Club with $400 emergency fund. This is used for urgent needs and will be sent home with the student if unused.

Passports Adults may not take the passport and travel papers from the student but are encouraged to help the student find a safe place to store them. Students must have their passport with them whenever they leave their host town/city. Students should make a copy of the picture page of their passport, the DS 2019 form, and visa and give a copy to the host family and the club committee. Special arrangements must be made for students to travel outside the USA and is discouraged

Employment Students are on a J-1 visa which prohibits working. Students may do odd jobs for cash, but never as an employee or a regular at a commercial business.

Religion Rotary does not promote any particular religion. Students are encouraged to go to church with host families, if they are comfortable with attending services. Students should not change their religion while in District 5520. If students request to attend services of their own religion, host family and club should try to facilitate attendance, if at all possible.

Insurance Students are required to obtain emergency accident/health insurance prior to arrival. Host families and clubs are not responsible for student’s insurance or for medical expenses. Host family and club committee should have a copy of student’s insurance card. Student can go to doctor or dentist of host family or other established relationship, such as a Rotarian service provider. Student will pay for services as required. Student’s natural family is responsible for filing insurance reimbursement claims, host family can assist by sending necessary papers to them.

High Risk Activities Bungee jumping, hot air balloon rides, high risk sports, non-commercial plane travel and travel into Mexico are forbidden. These activities may not be covered on accident insurance policy Any exceptions would require full waiver and release by natural parent. District 5520 reserves the right to refuse the activity. Requests are not encouraged.

Visits by Family Family visits are allowed but strongly recommended to occur at the end of the exchange year. Visits at beginning of the exchange year increase homesickness Family visits should be coordinated with host family and club committee Visits by young, un-chaperoned friends from home are not encouraged

The End of the Year Leaving for home will be harder than leaving home was a year earlier Reverse culture shock “The more successful the exchange, the harder the re-entry” You WILL see them again, and you will have travel opportunities related to your new family member. You will be encouraged to fill out an evaluation after you host to help us improve the program.

Rotary has a great year planned! Summary Thank You! Rotary has a great year planned! Rotary Youth exchange program cannot succeed without dedicated host families who show care, concern, and a loving attitude to our students. We are eager to help because good communication leads to an easy year for all participants! You are important!