Rotary International Youth Exchange
In this program students spend a year living as a full time student in another country.During this time they will normally have three or four host families who have been vetted for suitability .They are volunteers who welcome the student into their home, provide supervision and introduce the student to their culture and lifestyle.
Australian outgoing students depart in January each year and return a year later. Incoming overseas students usually arrive in July and spend twelve months in Australia.
Our club has a strong commitment to RIYE. In July 2013 we said goodbye to Michelle Gadekaer from Saeby,Denmark . Michelle lived in the area for twelve months and attended Kiama High. In 2014 we have been actively seeking a student from the Gerringong area to go overseas. Ruby Burgess a student at Kiama High School has been chosen to go to Switzerland in January 2015. She was hosted by the St. Gallen Rotary Club. In February Ruby gave the club a presentation on her year away. She said " I got to spend the year trying delicious foods, and got a sense of achievement that comes from learning a new language. I visited places in Europe that I had only ever dreamed of and it opened my mind to new cultures.'
In 2019 we welcome an overseas student from Thailand to the Gerringong community.