The global COVID-19 pandemic is a rapidly evolving situation. Rotary Youth Exchange students are currently posted throughout the world. The Rotary Club of St. Marys would like to update you on the status of our exchange students. For privacy reasons, we have chosen not to personally identify these students.
Our outbound student in Bolivia has decided to stay put in Bolivia. She reached this decision in collaboration with her parents here in St. Marys as well as with Rotary Youth Exchange officials here in Canada and in Bolivia. Her decision is supported by her current host family in Bolivia who are willing to host her for as long as necessary.
Our inbound student from France has decided to stay put here in St. Marys. She reached this decision in collaboration with her parents in France as well as with Rotary Youth Exchange officials here in Canada and in France. Her decision is supported by her host families here in St. Marys who are willing to host her for as long as necessary.
We have one local student preparing to leave for Sweden sometime this summer. She will continue to prepare for her exchange while monitoring this evolving situation. Our club has been assigned a future inbound student from Sweden who is scheduled to arrive in late-August. Until we hear otherwise we will continue to prepare for his arrival. We are currently working to find a first host family and secure school placement.
The well-being of all exchange students, their families and their host families at this time is our top concern. Countries around the world are making independent decisions about how best to contain the spread of this virus. For our exchange students caught up in this emergency, there is no “one-size-fits-all” solution. We will deal with this on a case-by-case basis and continue to monitor events as they unfold. Rest assured, they are safe, supported and not forgotten.
The Rotary Club of St. Marys is grateful to everyone who has reached out to us expressing concern about the well-being of our students. The Rotary Club of St. Marys is especially grateful to the host families here and in Bolivia who are looking after our students. Their generosity is applauded and appreciated at this difficult time.