Presentation by Jean Gilles Francoeur Oct 27 2003

Presentation by Jean. Gilles Francoeur, Oct. 27, 2003 Exchanges Canada

Exchanges Canada Participants from a SEVEC exchange

Youth Exchanges Canada q Two-way q For reciprocal home-stay exchanges youth 11 - 18 Years of Age q Groups of 10 -30 participants twinned with youth from another province/territory q Exchange lasts a minimum of 5 days q Government of Canada funds transportation, special measures

Why home-stay exchanges? Exchanges Canada q An opportunity to live in someone else’s world q Experience first–hand the diversity and shared elements of life in different parts of Canada q Strengthen connections between Canadians q Opportunity to speak the other official language

Cycle of the Exchanges Canada q Before the exchange u Develop joint learning projects and plan activities u Community research u Participate in fundraising activities u Communicate with twin. q During the exchange u Host twins at home; u Learn about each other’s community q After the exchange u Evaluation Process u Communication activities to reinforce experience.

Youth Exchanges Canada Participants 2002 -2003 Exchanges Canada Exchange participants mirror the geographic distribution of young Canadians in each province and territory.

Measures to Encourage Diversity Exchanges Canada u About 40% of exchanges target underrepresented groups; aboriginals, rural & isolated areas, low-income, visible minorities, disabled u Over 50% are Official Language exchanges u Special measures are in place to accommodate the needs of all youth; u No individual fees for reciprocal exchanges, only group fee

Youth Exchanges Canada

Exchanges Canada Outreach Exchanges Canada Target Group Youth Participants Total = 9020 Youth Participants 2002 -2003 Statistics Canada Youth Population (11 -18 years old) Youth from low income families 21 % 19 % Aboriginal youth 7% 5% Youth with a disability 5. 5 % 6% Youth from Rural or Isolated Areas 42 % 23% Visible Minority youth 5% 15 %

A Participant’s Testimony Exchanges Canada “I now feel like I can do anything. ” Youth participant, SEVEC exchange

Youth Exchanges Canada DELIVERY ORGANIZATIONS: ® SEVEC- The Exchange Network; ® YMCA; ® Canadian 4 -H Council; ® Canada Sports Friendship Exchange Program; and ® Folklore Canada International ® Summer Work/Student Exchange 11, 300 participants in 2002 -2003

Questions Exchanges Canada ? ? ?