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 each year participate in the program, which is administered at the regional level by Rotary districts and at the local level by Rotary clubs.
This program was established in our club in 2003. Houlton Rotary sends two students each year from area schools on a six to eight week foreign exchange. It is the objective of this program to advance the knowledge and world understanding of these students, as well as to foster world peace and good will at a personal level. It is our hope that young people will be able to observe firsthand the problems and accomplishments of other countries by living with and meeting people of cultures and creeds other than their own. We are pleased to provide our local youth with this once in a lifetime opportunity that will further benefit their futures and lives.
Two area students have been chosen to represent our club and our community for the 2014 program. Sarah Abbotoni is a 2014 graduate of Houlton High School. She will be hosting a student from Biella, Italy, a community located in the northern mountains. Sarah flew to Italy on June 20th and will experience their culture for four weeks. She will return with her exchange student, Carola Perinotti, who will learn about our community and country for the same amount of time. Sarah is the daughter of Daryl and Heidi Abbotoni.
Emily Mooers is a senior at Houlton High School. She will be arriving in Sinabelkirchen, Austria in early July to experience their culture with her host sister and her family, Madlene ‘Mady’ Wunderl. After a three and a half week stay, they will return together to continue their exchange in our community and country. Emily is the daughter of David and Nancy Mooers.
