·
Experience English life & customs including a “Traditional Christmas
Dinner”
·
See the quaint English villages and countryside
·
Experience the sights and sounds of London
in a stopover
·
Ride in a London
Taxi
NOTE: Owing to recent British
Government rules for Host Families the Lions Youth Exchange program can only
accept applications for the UK Program from participants aged over 18 and
under 22 years of age at time of departure. It is, however, possible that Ireland will
accept Exchangees aged 17.
Your European adventure begins
when you travel to your Australian International Departure city where you
will meet your chaperone(s) and the other Lions Youth Exchange groups going
to the UK and Scandinavia. You will receive your last minute travel
documents, name badge, Youth Exchange pins and some last minute information
at a pre-departure seminar. Then it’s free time to allow you to begin bonding
with your travelling companions to prepare for the long flight to London.
Your chaperone(s) will assist you
to check your baggage and receive seat allocation and then off for some last
minute duty free shopping before you board your international flight to your
first port of call, London.
On arrival you say goodbye to your travelling companions and your chaperones
make your way through Customs and Immigration where you will find your first
host family or a Lions representative waiting to meet you.
Your host families will most
likely be based outside of London,
maybe in a quaint little village, or maybe in a large town.
The
exchange is for approximately 6 weeks during the Australian School Holidays
departing early December and returning late January. Six weeks of exciting
new experiences in a new country, living with a host family sharing their
everyday life and learning a new culture. You can expect to have two host
families for a period of three weeks each, or in some cases more host
families for a shorter time with each.
All
host families undergo rigorous security checks and you can be assured you
will be in safe hands. Many Host families are also Lions Club members.
You will experience everything
“English” and perhaps have the opportunity to take in many historical sites,
maybe Stonehenge, maybe Hadrian’s Wall, many
cathedrals and other points or interest.
It is possible to request a
hosting in Ireland, Wales or Scotland but this cannot be
guaranteed. If you indicate on your application form that you would like to
be hosted in those countries, we will do our best to satisfy you. We can only
send our Exchangees where host families are available.
Lions Youth Exchange is a CULTURAL
EXCHANGE not a TOURIST trip and you will not attend school on a regular
basis.
You will experience a traditional
English Christmas, cold but not necessarily snowy, with a traditional English
Christmas dinner – you can always go on a diet when you get back home!
After Christmas you change host
families again and experience New Year with a different family. Sometimes you
may have up to four host families during your six-week stay in the UK.
At the end of your visit you will
make your way back to London where you will
meet up with the other Exchangees with whom you flew from Australia,
and your return chaperones. The chaperones will take you to your London hotel
where you will settle in for a three day stopover taking in many of London’s
famous historical sites including Windsor Castle, Madame Tussaud’s Waxworks, and the Tower
of London with plenty of free time for shopping and maybe a West London
famous stage show.
You
need to nominate through your local Lions Club to apply for the Lions Youth
Exchange Program. If you are unable to make contact with the local Lions Club
you will need to contact the Lions Youth Exchange Program Chairman to
establish a contact.
Applications for
Youth Exchange must be made through your local Lions Club and be received by
the 30th June with a $500 non-refundable deposit. An earlier
application will ensure that your choice of country will gain preference.
The
Program Cost includes almost everything including Pre-departure accommodation
in Sydney and associated seminars, return International Air
Fares, Airport Taxes, Travel/Medical Insurance, all internal travel within the
host country, Administration costs, stopover in London on return trip including hotels,
transfers, fun parks, sightseeing. Lions Backpack, name badge, and Lions
Youth Exchange Trading Pins.
All Lions Youth
Exchangees are required to wear the Youth Exchange uniform which includes a
navy and green Lions Youth Exchange Polo Shirt and a Youth Exchange Polar
Fleece top, smart jeans or Navy slacks, Black shoes.
Excellent and
thorough supply of information is available through Lions Youth Exchange
Program Chairmen, Lions Youth Exchange District Chairman and the local Lions
Club. All applicants attend a daylong Information & Orientation Seminar
and a pre departure seminar.
Departs early
December. Returns Mid January. Approximate cost $4900.
For further information contact
MD 201 Lions Youth Exchange Program Chairman, Lion Andrew McDougall
mcdougall@people.net.au
