Sonoma Valley students invited to study abroad

Sonoma Valley Rotary clubs will lead an informational meeting this week for interested students and their parents about a study abroad opportunity during the 2025-26 school year.

Scheduled for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 19, at Sonoma Community Center, the meeting is mandatory for students interested in applying for the Rotary International Exchange program. For more information and an invitation to the meeting, sign up here.

All students from Sonoma Valley — including graduating seniors — who will be 15 to 19 years old when they would depart, if chosen, are eligible to participate. One student will be selected to spend the 2025-26 school year in Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Ecuador, Finland, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Nepal, Taiwan, Thailand, Sweden or Spain.

“It’s an incredible opportunity for kids from Sonoma to experience a different culture and to become global ambassadors,” said Michelle Dale, who, along with JJ Abodeely, is striving to reestablish the Rotary International Exchange program in Sonoma Valley. “A program like this can also be a “feather in the cap” of the district and high school as it’s the sort of incredible programs and opportunities that are available for those who choose to pursue them.”

Abodeely is the youth exchange coordinator for Rotary Club of Sonoma Sunrise, which is taking the lead in offering the program. and Dale is serving on its Youth Exchange Committee. The club is part of Rotary District 5130, which includes Sonoma, Mendocino, Lake and Humboldt counties.

“We will be collaborating with the other clubs, including the Rotary Club of Sonoma Valley’s Beth Fox, who is also the liaison with Sonoma Valley High School’s Interact Club, to form the Youth Exchange Committee,” Dale said.

At the meeting on Nov. 19, the Youth Exchange Committee — led by the Rotary Club of Sonoma Sunrise with participation and support from members of other Sonoma Valley Rotary clubs — will share more information about the international exchange experience and the commitment needed to apply .

A short preliminary application will be due on Friday, Nov. 29.

“The committee will interview applicants and select one to go through the formal application process with the district,” Dale said.

The Sonoma Valley student selected to participate in the program will be announced in early December.

She said the student will be chosen based on demonstrated leadership in the school and community, flexibility and willingness to try new things, openness to cultural differences and ability to serve as ambassador for their country. The student also will need to have a family that is supportive of the decision and experience.

“The exchange program is managed by each district — in our case, District 5120 — which will look to match each student to a country by asking them to select their top five choices and then try to select the best fit,” Dale said.

She said that participants in the Rotary International Exchange program make lifelong friends, not only within the host country, but also with other exchange students from around the world. Dale said they also learn about the accomplishments of people in other countries.

“They return home with a greater sense of the world and a deeper understanding of themselves and their culture as well as confidence to navigate the next chapter of their education and life,” she said.

Financial support for the student who is chosen will be provided by local Sonoma Rotary clubs, the host country and district clubs. The funding will cover room, board, tuition and a monthly stipend — adding up to more than $24,000.

Students interested in applying and their families need to pay a $400 application fee, $200 of which is used for an outbound language program. They also need to provide insurance, travel documents such as passports and visas as well as any money spent for additional travel, tour fees and personal items.

Dale said that the Rotary Club of Sonoma Sunrise is also seeking Sonoma Valley families to host an exchange student from overseas for three or four months between August 2025 and June 2026.

Just as with the outbound Sonoma Valley student, the student coming from abroad will receive financial support from Sonoma Rotary Clubs, the host country and district clubs.

“The exchange student would live in your home, as a member of your family, for three or four months,” Dale said. “The students are here for about 11 months and live with two or three families to give them a broader understanding of our culture.”

They are involved with the families, their school and new friends as well as Rotary events such as conferences and meetings.

“All Rotary exchange students are thoroughly screened prior to acceptance,” Dale said. “They are wonderful young people who are smart, engaged and excited to share their country’s unique cultures, traditions and language.”

Families interested in hosting an inbound student can contact Dale at [email protected] for more information.

Reach the reporter, Dan Johnson, at [email protected].