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ROTARY YOUTH EXCHANGE PROGRAM PDF Print E-mail
Written by Susanne M. Karch   
Wednesday, 10 August 2011 16:19

2011 Youth Exchange
For over 75 years, students and host families have broadened their horizons through Rotary Youth Exchange. More than 80 countries and over 8,000 students participate in the program each year, which is administered at the regional level by Rotary districts and at the local level by Rotary clubs.

For the first time in over 20 years, RC of Mission San Rafael is participating in the Youth Exchange (YE) Program with not one but TWO exchange students. This year we will be the home host club for Aaron Chiarolla, student at Marin Catholic, who will be living with two different host families in Vicenza, Italy during his Junior year of high school. Aaron will be hosted by the RC of Vicenza, Italy and is thrilled to have this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to live abroad which is provided by Rotary International, District 5150 and RC of Mission San Rafael. Our club is very, very lucky to have such a stellar young man representing us half-way around the world!


Equally as exciting is that our club will be the U.S. host club for Arianna Sica from Naples, Italy. Arianna will be attending San Rafael High School for her Senior year and will be living with two host families, the first of which is none other than Aaron's family, the Chiarollas of San Rafael. During the second half of her school year Arianna will be staying with the Kennison family, also of San Rafael.

All told, there are 9 Inbound/Outbound exchange students within District 5150. After many months of applications, interviews, State Department paperwork, meetings, trainings and hundreds of e-mails, everyone is in high gear now that the time for airport arrivals and departures is almost here.

Stay tuned for more details after Arianna arrives and she is introduced to the club in early September!

Pictured from right to left: Marijane Guy (YE counselor), Aaron Chiarolla(Outbound YE student), Liz Chiarolla (Outbound student's mother as well as Inbound Student's first host mother), Jess Perez (club President) and Susanne Karch (YE Counselor). Missing: Victor Chiarolla (Aaron's father) and Gena Chiarolla (Aaron's sister)