SC Lions Youth Exchange Program

South Carolina Lions Youth Exchange Program

Mission and History

The mission for the Lions Club Opportunities for Youth is to provide the young people of the world with opportunities for achievement, learning, contribution and service, individually and collectively, through sponsorship of activities identified as best practices in the field of youth development. The South Carolina Lions Youth Exchange Program specifically provides young people of the world an opportunity to experience life in South Carolina, specifically highlighting the state's unique culture, landmarks, and natural resources. It also offers the youth of South Carolina the ability to visit many parts of the world through a safe and organized program of placement and selection.

The first MD-32 Youth Exchange Committee became operational in the summer of 1989. SCLSCA (now SC Lions Charitable Services) approved a budget to support twelve youth visitors, two Lion directors and two youth counselors. The location of the first camp was the Columbia YMCA Camp in Lexington County and the date was from June 30 - July 14, 1990. Even though twelve youth were invited, only nine foreign youth arrived representing seven countries. The camp lasted for two weeks with one week in-home hosting following the camp from July 14 to July 21.

Objectives and Overview

To bring young people of different countries into meaningful contact with each other
To permit the sharing of ideas and cultural viewpoints
To promote international understanding and goodwill and to work toward the goals of world peace and human understanding
To develop leadership potential in outstanding youth
To encourage respect in young people for the thinking of others

Lions clubs around the world host youth camps (youth exchange). The setting for camps varies widely, from rural to urban, including such locations as college dormitories, sailboats, outdoors, etc. Participants must be sponsored by a Lions Club. Travel arrangements and the costs of international travel are the responsibility of the sponsoring Lions Club. Participants must provide their own spending money during their visits. Host camps provide lodging, meals and transportaion during the visit.

Requirements for Eligibility and Costs

Must be between the ages of 15 and 21
Must be sponsored by a Lions club
Have a basic knowledge of the language of the host country
Must be suitable to represent their community, Lions club and their country
Must be willing to accept the customs of another country

Potential youth exchangees can request local Lions Club sponsorship. When multiple requests are received or in the absence of requests, Lions Clubs often conduct speech contests, essay writing contests or persoal interviews to select youth exchangees.

Exchanges can occur in any of the more than 190 countries in which Lions Club exist. Most exchanges last between four to six weeks. Often, exchangees also participate in the Lions International Youth Camp Program.

Travel arrangements for exchangees are made between the Lions Youth Exchange chairpersons in the sponsoring and hosting regions. The cost of transportation (including actual fares, insurance, airport fees, customs duties and layover or overnight fees) are the responsibility of the sponsoring Lions club. These costs may be paid by the club from district funds (if available), by the youth, his or her family, or by some combination of these sources. Food and lodging expenses are the responsibility of the hosting Lions Club. Exchangees are responsible for personal expenses (approximately US $75 per week) such as phone calls home, souvenirs, etc.

Interested in learning more?

Creation Date: November 15, 2005

For more information contact Russell Cann

University of South Carolina
School of Library & Information Science