Is Exchange For My Child?
Our world is ever changing and getting smaller through the rapid development of communications technology and air travel. Increasingly employment is becoming a global activity rather than being a “job for life” in the country of birth. To succeed in such a world now and in the future, young people will need skills in being able to communicate with people different language and cultural backgrounds, be able to be flexible, have skills to cope with change, have ability to be tolerant of different cultural points of views, have skills to live and work in different cultures and the maturity to choose career paths and directions wisely.
Educators have long argued that the ability to speak more than your own language is important. The ability to speak another language other than your own has never been more important and will become more so in future years. As language teachers will tell you, the best way to learn and develop skills in a language is to immerse oneself in the language and its culture by living the country where the language is spoken for a period of time.
Exchange programs can give your child such skills and experience. It can help prepare them to either study or work and live overseas in the future. There will never be a time when your child can travel overseas, immerse themselves in the language and culture of their chosen destination, study while living with a carefully screened host family supported by trained and experienced support staff of an exchange organisation.
International student exchange is not for everyone. Successful student applicants need to have a level of maturity, confidence and good communication skills to be successful on exchange. Our website and materials provide you with information to help you and your child to decide if exchange is an option for your child. Our experienced staff are available to discuss options with you on our free call number 0800 833 624 .
FAQ's
questions frequently asked
- What is the procedure for a student to be accepted on the YFU program?
- How are the host families selected and screened?
- What happens if there is an accident or emergency involving my child or my child gets sick while on exchange?
- Where does the money go?
- Will YFU assist my child at the departure and arrival airports and with flight transfers (if needed) prior to arriving at final destination?
- What happens after my child lands in their new country? Is there an orientation on arrival?
- What does the YFU insurance cover?
- Can we visit our son/daughter while they are on exchange?
- Is there a recommended amount of money that my child should have - on departure and then monthly for pocket-money?
- What support will my child have from YFU while on exchange?
- What is involved in going to school while on exchange? What additional fees or costs are there?
- Can we choose a location or the host family in the hosting country?
- What is the process for payments of the program fees to YFU?
- What contact can we have with our child while they are on exchange?
- What are the language requirements? Are there language camps or classes available for my child?
- What are the visa requirements?
What is the procedure for a student to be accepted on the YFU program?
Following initial application, YFU will check eligibility with the partner organisation in the hosting country and then send you the acceptance application form which you and your child need to complete including medical and school records. At that time a student interview will be usually arranged at your home. Trained YFU coordinators will conduct the interview and forward the interview report to the YFU National Office. Your child’s acceptance application and interview report are then reviewed by national office staff who may contact you for further details. Your child will then receive an acceptance certificate, letter and further information from YFU National office.How are the host families selected and screened?
Every YFU organisation applies the same guaranteed standards in the selection and screening of host families. These involve in-home interviews by trained staff or volunteers with all members of the family and independent reference checks including police checks where available. This means your child will have a family selected and screened in the same way as we select and screen families in New ZealandWhat happens if there is an accident or emergency involving my child or my child gets sick while on exchange?
Every YFU organisation around the world maintains a 24 hours a day, seven day a week emergency mobile phone for students and host families to contact a senior YFU staff member in case of accidents, emergencies or serious illness.YFU organisations around the world provide host families, before students arrive, with handbooks and briefings on what to do in case of illness and accidents amongst other information. Prior to departure students are given an insurance claim form and a 24 hour insurance assistance card so that the host family or YFU can contact the insurance company if the illness or accident is serious and will involve lengthy hospitalisation or other procedures.
Just as with your family, the host family will take your child to a doctor or hospital emergency department for treatment. If the illness is serious they will contact YFU support people and get advice usually through emergency phone contact to YFU in New Zealand and to you as soon as possible
Where does the money go?
YFU New Zealand is a “not for profit” organisation. All program fees are used to cover the costs of providng programs in New Zealand and in our partner countries. While the breakdown of costs varies slightly on the length of the exchange program , the average breakdown of costs are as follows:- 37% of program costs for travel and insurance, including:
* Return international travel on reputable airlines with minimum stop over times
* Domestic travel to host family in host country
* Airport transfers and assistance with check-in
* Comprehensive travel, liability and medical insurance with an New Zealand company with a worldwide network to ensure ease of contact and smooth processing of claims - 40% of program costs for the placement and support of students in the hosting country including:
* Recruitment and screening of volunteer host families
* Recruitment and training of locall coordinators and support people
* Organisation of school enrolments, arrival and pre-departure orientations and other student local activities
* Provision of resource materials and handbooks for students and families
* Contribution to provision of full time professional staff and 24 hour emergency support - 23% of program costs for the recruitment selection of students in New Zealand for their exchange program including:
* Student and family interviews
* Provision of pre-departure orientations and student handbooks for students and their parents
* Processing of student applications and liaison with hosting partners over student placement and travel arrangements
* Maintenance of 24 hour emergency support for parents while student is overseas
* Contribution to general administration costs and the provision of full time professional staff to support students in the application process, and their parents while they are on exchange
Will YFU assist my child at the departure and arrival airports and with flight transfers (if needed) prior to arriving at final destination?
YFU staff and volunteers will assist your child with check in and other departure procedures at the airport in New Zealand. YFU staff and volunteers will meet your child at arrival airport and transfer them to either the arrival orientation venue or their host family. If an airline or flight transfer is required prior to final destination YFU will give the student instructions on how to manage the transfer.What happens after my child lands in their host country? Is there an orientation on arrival?
Your child will be met at the arrival airport by YFU staff who will transfer them to their host family. In some partner countries the students are transferred from the airport to an arrival orientation camp run by YFU staff and volunteers. In other countries students go to their host family first and an arrival orientation is held a few days after arrivalWhat does the YFU insurance cover?
YFU takes out a comprehensive, travel, medical and public liability policy for each student. The policy covers medical and hospital expenses, accident, repatriation if required including a visit by a close relative if the student is seriously ill in hospital. The policy also covers loss of baggage, missed airline connections and loss of personal items.Can we visit our son/daughter while they are on exchange?
YFU does not generally permit parents or friends to visit students during their exchange program. Experience has shown us that visits by parents and friends during the student’s exchange unsettles the student and can interrupt schooling. Such visits have often resulted in a student returning home early.YFU recommends visits towards the end of exchange or at the end of the exchange period. You need to seek approval from the YFU New Zealand National Office at least two months in advance of any visit. The visit will only be approved if YFU in the host country and the host family agree.
Is there a recommended amount of money that my child should have - on departure and then monthly for pocket-money?
YFU generally recommends to parents that their child will need $300 per month to cover on-going expenses for personal items, entertainment and others personal needs. On departure students should take sufficient cash for the first month of exchange (approx $500).Depending on the country of choice , parents can set up a debit card on an New Zealand bank for their child which can be accessed through ATMs or through EFTPOS or your child’s host family can assist them to set up a bank account into which parents can transfer funds from time to time.
What support will my child have from YFU while on exchange?
YFU organisations in every country use the same procedures and policies to provide on-going support to your child while overseas. Each YFU organisation provides each student with a local volunteer support person whose contact details the student will have in case of any difficulty or concern the student may have either in their host family or at school.It is YFU policy that this support person should visit or call the student every few weeks to ensure they are happy and to assist with any concern they may have. YFU organisations also organise orientations and other group activities from time to time. The YFU national office also contacts the student from time to time about activities travel bookings or any issue on which the local coordinator may have asked for their help
What is involved in going to school while on exchange? What additional fees or costs are there?
Your child will be enrolled in a public or private school and in most countries the school enrolment is completed before they leave New Zealand as the visa process requires evidence of school enrolment. School hours and structures vary from country to country. Depending on the country of choice and the school requirements your child may have to pay for school uniforms , school excursions and sometimes fees for equipment used in some classes.Can we choose a location or the host family in the hosting country?
YFU does not guarantee particular locations within the hosting country. Your child can indicate preferences for location and YFU tries hard to take those preferences into account. Once the host family is found you are not able to reject that family on the grounds of location. If your family knows a family in the hosting country (friends or acquaintances) placement with such a family is possible provided they meet YFU host family approval requirements and a local school is prepared to enrol your child.What is the process for payments of the program fees to YFU?
YFU requires an initial application fee and deposit when your child is accepted on the program. The remainder of the program fee can be paid in one lump sum or in instalments over the period before your child departs on exchange.What contact can we have with our child while they are on exchange?
YFU recommends that email and phone contact is kept to a minimum in the first 6 weeks of longer exchanges as too frequent contact unsettles the student and can be irritating to the host family. While everyone appreciates parents’ need to maintain contact with their child, YFU recommends that email contact should be about once a week and phone calls should be used for special occasions or on a basis of once or twice a month during longer exchanges. This allows your child to settle into and become part of the host family. On shorter programs contact can be a little more frequent but should not be every day.What are the language requirements? Are there language camps or classes available for my child?
In most countries there is not a language requirement with introductory language sessions conducted during the arrival orientations. France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland (French and German speaking) and Belgium (French speaking) all require 2 years of study of French/German to go on exchange for 5 to 10 months . The two month program to France requires a minimum of 6 months previous study of French. You child can still go to Germany, Austria or Switzerland if they have not studied German/French as there are 4 week intensive language camps at the beginning of your child’s exchange at an additional cost of $500 for those who do not have two years study of the language. For Italy and Japan it is recommended that your child should have studied Italian or Japanese at school or in an intensive short course before they go but it is not compulsoryWhat are the visa requirements?
Visa requirements vary from country to country for long term exchanges. Generally, your child will need to apply for a student visa which involves a number of documents being submitted including, quite often, police checks. In some countries visas or residency permits are granted once your child is in that country.For some countries, the visa application involves a personal interview with a consular officer. In some cases that will require the student to travel to another New Zealand city as there is only one or two consulates which can grant visa for a particular country. You should allow up to two months to complete the visa process. YFU staff will assist you and your child with the visa application process.
For short programs up to 3 months - there are no special visa requirements. On these programs your child will receive a tourist visa on entry to the country.