Youth Exchange  - Further Questions and Answers

Q1.       How much does it cost to participate in Lions Youth Exchange?

Answer:            The amount varies depending upon which country or countries (Programme) are selected. Generally, the costs range from approximately A$1,500 to A$5,600. This fluctuates from year to year and is dependent upon air-fares, internal travel costs, airport charges and other costs outside of Lions control.

Q2.       Can I go during mid-year holidays?

Answer:            No, not on our usual programmes which are held during our summer vacation time. However, there are Lions Clubs International Youth Camps in various parts of the world which are held in the Northern summer period, or in Australia mi-year.

Q3.       How do I apply for Lions Youth Exchange?

Answer:            Generally contact the Programme Chairman for the country which you wish to visit and he/she will arrange for a Lions Club in your area to contact you.

Q4.       What are the age limits?

Answer:            You should be no younger than 16 or older than 22 at the time of departure from Australia. Age restrictions do apply in some European countries, so please refer to the particular country programme in the “destinations” section of this web-site.

Q5.       Do I need to speak a foreign language?

Answer:             If you wish to travel to Japan and France, you will be required to understand and speak some of their language. As a general guide, two years of secondary school study of the language would be sufficient.

Q6.       How I am selected to participate?

Answer:            When contact has been made by your local Lions Club, a general interview will then be conducted asking a range of questions from “How did you hear about the Lions Youth Exchange?” to “What do you know of the Lions organization” to more social conscience issues. A decision will then be made as to your readiness to participate. If agreed, an application form should then be completed in quadruplicate and signed by you, your parents/guardians (if under 18) and the Lions Club President.

Q7.       After that, what happens?

Answer:            The completed form, in quadruplicate, is forwarded to the Programme Chairman in Australia, who then checks for completeness of the forms and for availability on your preferred programmes. Passport size photographs are required to be attached to the form. If everything is in order, then 2 copies are sent to the overseas country for acceptance and for allocation of host families. This may take a couple of months or more.

Q8.       If spaces are limited, when do I need to have my application approved?

Answer:            All applications are required to be lodged with the Programme Chairman by 30^th June of each year with a non-refundable deposit of A$500. No applications will be accepted later than 31^st July and then only on the basis of no guarantee of a position.

Q9.       When do I need to pay the full cost of the Exchange?

Answer:            All monies are due by 15^th August.  Applications after 30^th June require full payment with application. Costs may vary to the time of receipt of full payment.

Q10.       Do I pay for accommodation and meals whilst overseas?

Answer:            No, while you are being hosted, your host families will provide the accommodation and meals and generally show you about their area. If an extended stopover is included in your preferred programme, all accommodation, breakfasts and ‘tourist’ entrance fees are included.

Q11.     Are there any other costs whilst overseas?

Answer:            Yes, you are expected to pay for admission to attractions etc wherever your hosts may take you.

Q12.     Why does it cost so much?

Answer:            The Programme Cost includes International Air-fares, Insurance, Travel Agent and Lions Administration fee, Pre-departure Accommodation and seminar (if applicable), Overseas Domestic travel, Overseas stopover accommodation, some meals and sightseeing according to programme, Travel bag, name badge and Lions pins.

Q13.     Are there any other costs?

Answer:            The only other cost is the traveling uniform which consists of 2 polo shirts and 1 POLAR Fleece pullover for cold climates, which are compulsory. The total cost of these is approximately $150.

Q14.     How are my host families selected?

Answer:            The Overseas Chairman approaches Lions Clubs to find host families. In the majority of cases, you will stay with a member of Lions.

Q15.     If my friend also wishes to go, can we stay with the same host family?

Answer:            This is entirely dependent upon the Overseas Chairman. We very much discourage this from happening as this is a cultural exchange and you are there to experience living in another country, with another family.

Q16.     What if I have problems whilst overseas?

Answer:            A contact name will be given to you prior to your departure from Australia. If absolutely necessary, contact will be made by that person back to your Australian Programme Chairman.

Q17.     What clothes should I take?

Answer:            This depends upon the country being visited. Remember that most programmes incorporate travel to the Northern Hemisphere, and of course, at that time, it is mid-winter. Temperatures can range from minus 40 to +5 for Scandinavia. For the U.K, Europe, Japan, Canada and northern USA, temperatures will be in the range of -10 to +10 whilst Brazil and Patagonia will experience temperatures similar to Southern Queensland, and of course New Zealand is in a temperate area, so in the North Island similar to Sydney without some of the extremes and the South Island, similar to Northern Tasmania. Remember that houses and shopping centres in the cold climates are all centrally heated.