MD19 Youth Exchange Program

Is the YCE Program Right for Me?

Are you ready to embark on a life changing adventure that will open your mind and heart?  Are you curious about other cultures and ways of life?  Do you want to develop your skills in a second language? Would you like to cultivate new friendships with individuals that have different backgrounds, beliefs, and customs than you?  The Youth Camp and Exchange Program (YCE) may be the opportunity you are seeking.

Youth Exchange Handbook

Benefits of Participation

As a YCE participant, you will:

• Live with a family in another country
• Meet people your age from around the world
• Learn about your Lions hosts’ humanitarian work
• Deepen your understanding of yourself and the world around you
• Learn about the bonds we all share – and the differences we respect in each other no matter where we live

What to Expect

As a YCE participant you can expect to be immersed in a unique cultural experience with Lions clubs members supporting your learning.  Your host family will treat you as a member of the family, expecting your engagement in typical daily routines and family meals.  You will participate in social activities and visit cultural places of interest as arranged by the host Lions club. You are expected to have familiarized yourself with the customs, expectations, and basic language of the host country prior to your visit and have a desire to learn more. Please note, extended or outside travel beyond what is planned through the host Lions is prohibited. Even so, you can expect to have an unforgettable experience that will open your mind and expand your world view.

Participant Eligibility

YCE participants must:

• Be between the ages of 15 and 21
• Be sponsored by a Lions club
• Be ready to represent your community, country and the sponsoring Lions club
• Welcome the opportunity to explore the customs of another culture
• Provide proof of insurance (health, medical, travel) and a liability release agreement
• Take initiative to learn the language of the host country (i.e. basic greetings and phrases)

What are the Costs?

Local program costs vary from country to country. Financial arrangements for transportation (including trip insurance, airport fees, customs duties, and layover or overnight fees) may be paid by the sponsoring Lions club, by the participant, the participant's family, or a combination of these sources.  Host Lions clubs cover the costs of room and board with a host family. Participants are typically responsible for:

• Round-trip airfare
• Camp Fees
• Health, travel, and accident insurance
• Travel documents (such as passports and visas)
• Spending money

How to Apply?

1. Review the Youth Camp and Exchange Directory to see current camp listings and locations where youth exchanges are offered.  Note the camp application deadlines for locations of interest.
2. Develop a wish list of a few host countries to inquire about.
3. Contact your local Lions club to see if they participate in the program and may be willing to be your sponsoring Lions club.  The participation of a sponsoring Lions club is required.
4. Contact the corresponding YCE Chairpersons in your wish list countries for additional eligibility and application requirements. YCE Chairperson contact information is listed in the Youth Camp and Exchange Directory.
5. Write a personal letter of introduction to your prospective host family that contains information on the following: interests, studies, hobbies, family, home community, previous travel experience, expectations for the program, and any dietary, health or religious requirements.
6. Complete a Youth Camp and Exchange Application well in advance of any disclosed deadlines (including the endorsement and signature of your sponsoring Lions club) and submit it with your personal letter of introduction to the YCE Chairperson for the the location you are interested in.
   • Lions Youth Exchange Rules & Code of Conduct.pdf
   • Lions Youth Exchange Application 2024 .xlsx

Apply to become a Youth Exchange Student today by submitting your application listed directly above to Tammy Allan at MD19YEP@gmail.com.

Applicants selected to attend a Lions Youth Camp and/or Lions Youth Exchange will receive a confirmation letter and information packet. You should also attend an orientation meeting provided by the sponsoring Lions club. This orientation will help you prepare for one of the most exciting experience of your life, and answer any questions you may have about the program.

Topics may include:

• Cultural adaptation and tolerance (including host family relations)
• Rules and logistics, along with other pertinent information about Lions clubs
• Role of sponsoring Lions club, host Lions club, host family and districts
• Travel
• Visas and passports
• Immunizations
• Insurance
• Local currency and out-of-pocket expenses
  
  

Scholarship Application is due by: January 1 of the year intended for travel 

Scholarship Application YEP.pdf

Applicant must:

1.    Meet all the age requirements for an exchange. Youth who will be at least 15 but not over 21 by July 1, 2024. 

2.    Live in MD19.  (Washington, Idaho, & British Columbia{BC Canada})

3.    Be sponsored by a Lions Club within MD19. (Your local Lions Club, example: Selah Valley Lions Club, in Selah WA)

4.    A scholarship will not pay the full cost. Cost is usually limited to transportation and insurance for the trip, plus money for incidentals and souvenirs. A committee of the MD19 Youth Exchange Foundation will set the exact amount of a scholarship based on need and other criteria. Remaining program costs may be paid by the sponsoring Lions club, by the participant, the participant's family, or a combination of these sources.

5.    Complete an MD19 Youth Exchange Travel Application Form, together with a photo of yourself and a photo of your family. Include two letters of reference from persons other than family members and a letter of introduction to a potential host family, written by yourself. 

6.    Submit the MD19 Youth Exchange Foundation scholarship application. Applications are due on January 1 of the year intended for travel. Awards are valid for travel in the year awarded.

7.    The family of a youth who receives a scholarship will be urged to host a youth at a future date, preferably within 2 years. A host family need not have membership in a Lions Club.

8.    A scholarship recipient must make an oral presentation upon return, at the sponsoring Lions Club and possibly at a Zone or District meeting.

9.    A Scholarship Committee, appointed by the MD19 Youth Exchange Committee, shall review all applications, select recipients and set the amount of each award. Committee review may need supplemental financial information or need to meet with the applicant and family. 

10.   Scholarship recipients and amounts shall be announced by January 31st of the travel year. Decisions are final.

Is Hosting Right for Me?

Are you interested in learning about other cultures and ways of life while sharing your own customs and experiences? Are open-mindedness, tolerance and cultural competence of high importance to you? Do you have a desire to contribute towards peace, international understanding, and the creation of young global citizens? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may enjoy being a host family for the Youth Camp and Exchange Program (YCE)!

Host Family Handbook

Benefits of Hosting

Hosting a young person from another country is a fulfilling experience and has many benefits:

• You experience the joy of sharing your culture and daily customs
• You learn about your visitor's customs and culture
• You open a new world of possibilities and thinking to a young person
• You make a new friend - maybe a friend for life

What to Expect

Youth participants are usually between the ages of 15 and 22, and come from any of the more than 200 countries and geographic locations where there are Lions clubs. He/she will have completed an admissions process before being accepted to participate in the program. He/she may or may not know the language of your country but will have a desire to learn. Host families should include the participant in their daily routine, including family meals, as YCE is intended to be an immersive learning experience. Local excursions are not required of host families, but the host Lions club often arranges for participants to visit local points of interest and engage in social activities, like picnics and get-togethers.

Host Family Eligibility

The host Lions club must approve all host families. To be eligible to become a host family you must:

• Have regular contact with youth of the approximate age of the participant
• Be familiar with Lions clubs and the goals of YCE
• Be able to provide a bed and meals for your guest
• Follow all local laws related to youth protection

How to Apply

Apply to become a host family today by submitting your LCI_YCE_Application_Host_01a_en.pdfto Tammy Allan at MD19YEP@gmail.com.
Or continue down to the next slide and submit electronically.

Once an exchange is confirmed, you and your guest will correspond via e-mail, mail or telephone. You should also attend an orientation provided by the host Lions club. This orientation will help prepare you for one of the most exciting experiences of your life, and answer any questions you may have about the exchange program.

Topics may include:

• Cultural tolerance
• Cultural adaptation (including host family relations)
• Host family role
• Rules and logistics, along with other pertinent information about Lions clubs
• Role of sponsor Lions club and host Lions club and districts
• Travel
• Visas and passports
• Immunizations
• Insurance
• Local currency and suggested out-of-pocket expenses