After more than 30 years the Rotary Club’s youth exchange program in Revelstoke is still strong and vibrant.
Current exchange student Olivia Gerber from Switzerland says the experience thus far has been wonderful.
“It’s been great and I recommend it,” says Gerber over fish and chips at a Rotary Club meeting earlier this week.
When Gerber went to a Rotary Club Country Fair back in Switzerland, she had no idea where she wanted to go. She says all she wanted was to learn English.
“The guy at the Canada booth was so enthusiastic. So I chose Canada.”
Gerber is enrolled in Grade 11 at the Revelstoke Secondary School for the entire academic year.
Her second and third choices were the United States and Philippines.
The Rotary Club youth exchange program involves students between 15 to 19 years old with opportunities in more than 100 countries.
Both long term (full academic year) and short term (several days to three month) exchanges are offered.
The Rotary club covers the costs of room and board, as well as school fees.
The Revelstoke Rotary Club supply Gerber with an $80 a month allowance, covers cell phone bills and provides a ski pass.
Thousands of students take part in the exchange every year around the world. The Rotary Club fundraises throughout the year to help pay for the program, such as through Oktober Fest.
“I’m really excited to ski here. I love snow,” says Gerber.
So far, Gerber says one of her favourite things about Canada is the school system.
“There are a lot of choices, more than in Switzerland.”
For example, Gerber has signed up for the work experience program.
Gerber works in the low incidence program at Revelstoke Secondary School and works with students with various disabilities.
The program provides the students with learning experiences within the career fields they have expressed interest in pursuing. Students receive credits that go towards graduation.
Gerber is taking full advantage of living in a new place and learning new things.
“I play with a woman’s hockey team. I’ve never played hockey. It’s a great place to meet people,” says Gerber.
She has also joined the high school band and choir.
“Olivia is the epitome of trying everything,” says Glenn McTaggart, from the Revelstoke Rotary Club.
During the year, Gerber is staying with three different host families. They’ve taken Gerber to hot springs, Glacier National Park, kayaking, canoeing and even caravan farm theatre.
“For some of the host families, it’s like a stay-cation. As you get to do a lot of things in the local community that you wouldn’t normally get to do,” says McTaggart.
Gerber says exchanges like this are important to learn and grow.
“When people stay in the same country and see the same thing, they forget that there are other places and people living differently. It’s not the same. When you see that we all live differently, you learn that we can all live together.”
All though Gerber is thousands of kilometres from her family, there are threads in Revelstoke that connect her to home.
Back in Switzerland she lives on an organic diary farm. And one of the cheeses sold at Le Marché Gourmet is made from her family’s milk.
If anyone is interested in participating in future Rotary Club exchanges, Glenn McTaggart says to contact him at 250-683-9058 or gmrfr29@gmail.com. There will also be an information session at the high school in the library Oct. 4 at 7 p.m.
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