As a result, youths coming to MD19 can enjoy two cultures by staying with families on each side of the border. The program is not a student exchange, but is a cultural exchange . The youth's travel must be sponsored by a Lions club from their home area. Pay the travel package. The youths who come to the US and Canada learn about our culture and we learn something of their language and customs.
Youths usually stay with several host families in the country they have chosen to visit.
Most youths return home with a heightened level of tolerance and respect for the ways and customs of others. The youths are usually met at airports by Lions members or by their host families, however, for travel to European and South American countries, youths sometimes have to find their own way to connecting flights. For this reason, we require they be at least 17 years of age. Our most frequent exchanges are with Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Finland, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Norway, Denmark, Italy and France . In July and August, our youths are traveling and we receive youths from European countries and Japan.