Rotary Youth Exchange student Ko'u Hopkins visited us on April 4th, 2024 to share some great stories about her year abroad in Germany.
While she admitted that Germany was not exactly first on her list of destinations for a year abroad, Pleasant Plains native Ko'u Hopkins came back feeling very satisfied with her experience in the Rotary Youth Exchange program. Ko'u's year in Germany included learning German with other exchange students from around the world, experiencing the differences in every day life between Germany and the United States, and even learning how to ski (including a trip to the Alps in Italy with one of her host families!). She clearly made the most out of her year abroad, and the Rotary Club of Springfield South is proud to sponsor exchange students like Ko'u who truly want to be global citizens.
Rotary Youth Exchange gives students ages 15 to 19 the opportunity to learn a new language and become fully immersed in another culture. Students participating in Exchanges develop lifelong leadership skills and build lasting friendships with youth from around the world. Long-term exchanges last one full academic year, and students are hosted by a local Rotary Club which supervises the 1 to 3 host families they will be living with during their stay. You can learn more about Rotary Youth Exchange here.