Multidistrict 112 Information Session 11 November 2018 Lions

Multidistrict 112 Information Session 11 November 2018

Lions Commissie Youth Camp and Exchange MD 112 2

WHY v If you are eager to discover the world v If you are ready to make friends for the rest of your life v If you want to learn about other people around the globe, their daily way of life, how they eat, and drink , what music they love, the way they dance, the sports they play, what their religion consists off and how they practice it, basically : learn how to experience first hand their culture and their lifestyle. Lions Commissie Youth Camp and Exchange MD 112 3

WHAT v You will be away from home, depending on your destination, for a period of time varying between 3 to 5 weeks v You will usually spend 1 week in the home of a local hostfamily (they might be Lions but also non-Lion so there might be a difference in lifestyle from your own home) v This week in a hostfamily will be followed (or proceded by) a stay in a youth camp Lions Commissie Youth Camp and Exchange MD 112 4

v This does not mean you will be sleeping in tents, cook your food yourselves etc : so not your average camp experience like in a youth movement (ex. Chiro, Scouts, KSA etc) nor Expeditie Robinson v Usually the stay is organised in a (boarding)school, or centres such as where we are now, with rooms which sleep 2 or more (sometimes up to 6 or 8), showers and (normally) modern comfort, with often bad Wifi…. Lions Commissie Youth Camp and Exchange MD 112 5

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v Your stay in the camp will be filled with a wide variety of activities, depending which type of camp you choose because the content can vary a lot ! v It can consist of sporting, for example mountain climbing, rafting, sailing, cycling etc, or cultural excursions to cities and museums, or practising music (ex : Camp Sound of Music in Austria), dancing… Lions Commissie Youth Camp and Exchange MD 112 7

v When you analyse the wide variety of types of camps, choose wisely your type of camp, and don’t just go for a specific destination. v See which one fits your personal interests and habilities ! Lions Commissie Youth Camp and Exchange MD 112 8

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Special Camps ! Seen as Youth Exchange strives to be a program open to everybody, several countries organise specialised camps : 1. There are camps for DISABLED YOUTH in Norway and Italy based on the essential principle that they should have the opportunity to live their disability in a different way, no different then youths with no disability Lions Commissie Youth Camp and Exchange MD 112 13

• FOLDER VAN DEZE KAMPEN VOORBLAD BV INSCANNEN EN INVOEGEN ! Lions Commissie Youth Camp and Exchange MD 112 14

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WHOM • Your age ranges from 17 to 21. Depending on certain destinations, your date of birth might be relevant. If you choose f. ex, to go to Hungary, you need to be 18 at the date of arrival, due to local laws about minors. • You want to promote international understanding and tolerance, you are proud of your country and speak fluent English • You want to be working on a world of peace and understanding • You really want to encourage respect for the opinions, religion and culture of others Lions Commissie Youth Camp and Exchange MD 112 16

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HOW The system as such is simple : • The obligation of reciprocity in terms of free hosting = the cornerstone of our organisation : This implies that when your youth goes abroad, the year afterwards (or even the next one depending on our organisation’s need for a host family), you will have a duty of reciprocity. • The supporting Lionsclub is partly responsable for this obligation of reciprocity Lions Commissie Youth Camp and Exchange MD 112 18

The duration of hosting, and the period, is determined by the destination chosen by your youth : v 1. if your youngster went to a European destination this year, you will be hosting for 1 week, normally during the month of July v 2. if you went to Canada or the US, you will be asked to host for a period of 2 weeks, usually in July 19

3. Subsequent to a visit to Malaysia, Japan or Australia, your reciprocity will also be for a duration of 2 weeks but most likely at a different time. v Seen that Japanese youth have their school holidays in August, this implies that they will not be able to participate in our Belgian camp, which is organised from 13 to 27 July 2019. It means that reciprocating for Japan means hosting in August. v In the case of Maleysia or Australia : you will possibly be hosting during your X-mas holidays. Lions Commissie Youth Camp and Exchange MD 112 20

v This is not always simple, because it means including your host-youth in your family celebrations during X-mas and New Year. So make sure you realise which this entails before enrolling your youth for this destination. However, we usually get fewer demands for the winter but it always remains a possibility… If winter hosting is not required, you will host in july/august, depending on the necessities of our organisation. Lions Commissie Youth Camp and Exchange MD 112 21

What exactly is expected of a host family? v 1 GOLDEN RULE : Host the youngster as if it were your own child ! So include him/her in your daily life, offer them hospitality, if you take them out with your family, pay for their expenses (i. e. restaurants and other activities) and consider him/her as a real part of your family. Lions Commissie Youth Camp and Exchange MD 112 22

v Pick-up them up and return them from and to the camp/airport or the previous/next host family, f. ex. , meet eachother halfway in case of large distances (1 week in district D, and the next week in district A can be quite a travel). v WHAT IS NOT EXPECTED FROM YOU : constantly acting as a professional tour guide and driving them around Belgium. Lions Commissie Youth Camp and Exchange MD 112 23

v So basically let your own children take them around, by car/train/bike, visiting cities, shopping, doing things what your kids normally do. Just integrate them in your daily life. They will visit all of the major cities during the official camp anyhow, so let them discover your little corner of the world, at their own pace. Or just simply let them hang around your home (with WIFI and Fifi – or whatever your pet is called) Lions Commissie Youth Camp and Exchange MD 112 24

• Do not forget : they sometimes come from the other side of the world so give them the time and space to adjust. • And if you would like to visit specific places with them : museums, cities or attractions, exhibitions or whatever, ask us about the Camp program and we will mail it to you so they don’t visit the same thing 4 times… Lions Commissie Youth Camp and Exchange MD 112 25

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• With the possible exception of…. . Lions Commissie Youth Camp and Exchange MD 112 27

Where v Europe v USA & Canada v Far Destinations like Australia, VS, Canada, South-America (Mexico, Argentina, …), South. Africa, Japan, Maleysia, …. (all info and links will follow hereafter) Lions Commissie Youth Camp and Exchange MD 112 28

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Practical organisation : Our whole commission, as well as our fellow colleagues around the world, all endeavour, to the best of our abilities, to organise your exchange. We are not, however, a professional travel organisation…. v We take care of all administration concerned v We do our utmost best to get your first choice destination/camp, but seen that the whole world applies at the same time, you might not get it which is why you have to choose three destinations. . Lions Commissie Youth Camp and Exchange MD 112 30

v Our global organisation arranges your host families and reception on arrival/departure v Our secretaries will organise your flights and domestic connections. v As far as your plane tickets are concerned : we usually book them through a travel agency. If you should decide, however, to purchase your own tickets, this might complicate things in case of problems. v Ex. : if there is a problem with connecting flights and you booked it all yourself, this will be at your own peril. Lions Commissie Youth Camp and Exchange MD 112 31

£ $ € What will this cost you (or your parents ; ) v Your transport : planes and trains v Stay in a host family : free v Campfee: depending on the destination (from 0 – 1. 000$) v Pocket money v Travel Insurance (eg Europ Assistance) v E. H. I. C-card – World Cross (European Health Insurance Card) Lions Commissie Youth Camp and Exchange MD 112 32

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How to apply ? 1. The Application Form !! Ask for the exact version for 2019, or through your District Responsable, or download it from our site : https: //www. yce 112. be The form needs to be completed in English, in Excel ( This is essential so do not print and fill in manually!) 35 Lions Commissie Youth Camp and Exchange MD 112

2. The famous “p. 3” The last page of your application form needs to be filled in in excell, and then printed in order to be signed by all concerned. After all concerned on your side (you, your parents and club president) have signed, you scan it in and mail it to your district responsable. Lions Commissie Youth Camp and Exchange MD 112 36

3. You download the Reciprocity Contract from the website (Word document), fill it in and get it signed by all specifically mentioned on the bottom of the contract, scan it, and mail it with the rest of your application file 4. You draft a “Letter to host family” (in English) in Word. There is no example for this, you just have to write one yourself explaining who you are, your family, studies, background, hobbies, pets. Half a page is enough, but may be more if you can not stop writing about yourself Lions Commissie Youth Camp and Exchange MD 112 37

5. A passport photo in jpeg ! 6. Proof of your payment of the administrative fee of 125 € on BE 62 3100 7424 1361 (Lions Youth Exchange BELGIUM) 7. Written proof of a valid travel insurance (Europ Assistance, …) from the insurance company with mention of the policy number as well as the period of validity during the period of travel. If you travel in Europe, ALSO request your “Blue card” (health insurance). Lions Commissie Youth Camp and Exchange MD 112 38

v Last but not least…. Make the necessary and timely arrangements to get a passport if your specific destination requires it. v Make sure you transmit a copy of your passport and details to the secretary responsable for your exchange, at the latest in february ! In your application form just mention “requested”, in the space where your passport number should be filled in. v As far as you will only need an ID-card for your travels, check it’s validity and date of expiration ! Lions Commissie Youth Camp and Exchange MD 112 39

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All information and destinations can be found on following websites: v We have our own YEC website in Belgium, please click the link on the private (members only) part of our MD website, https: //www. yce 112. be/ www. yce-europe. eu v The info mentioned on the national Lions website is inaccurate and outdated so please only use these two sites ! Lions Commissie Youth Camp and Exchange MD 112 41

Youth Camp and Exchange PRACTICAL TIPS v PROGRAMS ARE NOW PREPARED WORLDWIDE v REGISTRATIONS START FROM DECEMBER 1, 2018 On the basis of “first come, first served” v LIMITED NUMBER OF PLACES PER DESTINATION/CAMP v BASIC LANGUAGE IS ENGLISH (with possible exceptions in France, Spain and some Latin American countries) Lions Commissie Youth Camp and Exchange MD 112 42

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IN A NUTSHELL : v Registration from 01. 12018 v Admin : Mail to: v District A : patrick. seynaeve@gmail. com v District B : clerensmg@gmail. com v District C : pmeyssonnier@gmail. com v District D : loixgeorges@hotmail. com They will assemble your file and help you where necessary for all admin matters Lions Commissie Youth Camp and Exchange MD 112 46

Your file needs to consist of : 1. Application Form 2019 in Excell ! (ONLY p. 3 from this A. F. print, sign and scan) 2. Reciprocity Contract: fill in, sign and scan 3. Letter to Host Family in English (Word) 4. Passport photo in Jpeg 5. Scan-copy of your VALID ID-card or Passport 6. Proof of payment of your admin fee 7. Asap provide us with proof of Travel Insurance (type Europe Assistance); expiry date until after your return 8. E. H. I. C. card expiry date 31/12/2019 Lions Commissie Youth Camp and Exchange MD 112 47

Any questions ? Lions Commissie Youth Camp and Exchange MD 112 48

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