By Mike Hazlip—
High school students in Citrus Heights have an opportunity to study abroad through participation in an exchange student program coordinated by the Rotary Club.
Students between the ages of 15 and 18½ are eligible for the Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE) program, according to counselor Lea Park-Kim who says the program is under the umbrella of the 1.4 million-member humanitarian service organization Rotary International. The program is currently seeking participants for the 2023-24 school year.
Park-Kim said the program is a two-way exchange, with five students from the greater Sacramento area going to Germany, Belgium, Italy, and Taiwan for the 2022-23 school year. Local families have welcomed seven students from Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Taiwan, and Italy.
“RYE sends over 9,000 high school students on Rotary’s long-term and short-term exchange programs each year and has unmatched support for students, families, and host families,” Park-Kim said. “There are well established procedures for approving host families so that the students can have a safe and authentic experience in their assigned country.”
There are more than $24,000 in scholarships for room, board, tuition, and a monthly stipend, she said. Families interested in hosting or sending students abroad can contact Lea Park-Kim at lpark-kim@chwd.org or (916) 891-7876.