Image from pressofatlanticcity.com
The Press of Atlantic City has featured a article on a worthy project that the local Rotary and Interact Clubs have been supporting for many years.
Former student of Absegami High School and member of the Interact Club at the school will be blogging about her experience during their latest trip to the orphanage in Santo Domingo.
Would you like to experience another culture without leaving home? Then why not host an exchange student for several months? The Rotary clubs of District 7640 are looking for families to host a foreign exchange student next year. Students will be arriving in August from Brazil (Williamstown HS), France (Ocean City HS), Dominican Republic (Egg Harbour Twp. HS), Romania (Oakcrest HS), and Japan (Cherry Hill West). We are still looking for 2nd and 3rd families for these students.
We still also need homes and high schools for students from Hungary (Daniel, Age 17), Thailand (Nan - Age 17), and Peru.
Rotary Youth Exchange students are usually hosted by 1 to 3 families during their year here, which means a committment of 3 months, 5 months or 10 months.
Families do not need to be Rotarians. Any family is eligible as long as they will provide a warm, caring environment for the exchange student. Successful exchanges have been hosted by these categories of families: couples with children, couples with no children, couples with very young children, retired couples, “empty nesters”, and single parent families.
Families will receive a complete orientation and support from the local Rotary club. The responsibilities are simple - treat the student as you would your own child. They are expected to live by the family rules and guidelines.
All students come with health insurance and spending money in addition to a modest allowance from the local Rotary Club.
For information on hosting an exchange student and the Rotary Youth Exchange Program, contact Bob and Carol Saghirian at 856-228-1717 or email us at RYE7640@aol.com
Test page and see what happens.
On March 4, 2008 a group of ten Rotarians and several family members will travel to the Orphanage in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic for four days and three nights. This Orphanage is adopted and supported by our Rotary District. Two Rotarians who have prior experience at the orphanage will lead the trip. The remaining group members are first time visitors.
Three Interactors each with a parent will be selected to participate in this trip. The Interactors will be asked to keep a daily journal including pictures to send back to the Interact Webmaster who will post their adventure on line for everyone to follow.
They will:
· Organize a collection drive, at their school or in their community, for donated items to be delivered to the orphanage.
· Assist in a clean up and rebuilding task at the orphanage.
· Visit with Dominican teens in a classroom setting – where the Dominicans will practice their English skills.
· Interact and play with the orphaned young children – on the playground, at lunch and after school.
· Document the trip and their experiences by keeping a written journal and photo journal which will be posted daily to the District Interact website.
The first day in Santo Domingo we will spend ½ day at the orphanage. The second and third days we will spend the entire day at the orphanage. On the fourth day we will sightsee for a short period before we depart for home.
The estimated cost of this trip is $1,300 for one Interactor and their parent. This is international travel which requires certain documents such as a valid passport. The group will leave by Spirit Airlines from Atlantic City International Airport on Tuesday, March 4 at 7:00 AM, and after changing planes in Ft.Lauderdale, we arrive in Santo Domingo. The same will occur on the trip home. We will stay at the Clarion Hotel Santo Domingo.
This selection process is open to all Interactors in Rotary District 7640. However, only three will be selected to participate. For more information, please contact Interact District Chair, Joel Kopke at Interact@Rotary7640.org or call (609) 226-9046.
Please read the related articles attached below about this trip.
Download orphanage_trip_flyer.pdf
Download article_on_orphanage_project.doc
