FRANCO-IRISHEXCHANGE PROGRAMME

Les Echanges Franco-IrlandaisBP n° 4029575228 Paris Cedex 05, FranceOur Tel. N° in Ireland : (01) 254 2515

www.newexchange.ie.

Franco-Irish Exchange Programme

How is my exchange partner chosen?

1. DATES: According to your choice of dates.

2. AGE: In the majority of cases, the difference inage will not be more than one calendar year.

3. SEX: Girl with girl or boy with boy.

4. SPORTS/ACTIVITIES: We try to match partnerswith the same interests, but this cannot be gua-ranteed

5. SOCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND:Franco-Irish Exchange Programme will take intoconsideration social and professional background when co-ordinating exchanges but wedo not guarantee that the participants will findthemselves in families with an identical back-ground to their own.

6. GEOGRAPHICAL PREFERENCES: Because thisexchange programme is open to candidatesfrom all regions of France, we cannot take intoaccount geographical preferences.

INSURANCE: Travel Insurance is not included. You may alreadyhave adequate family travel insurance. If not, takeout travel insurance before travelling. You canobtain travel insurance through travel agents orthrough airlines (linked to ticket purchase) orthrough credit card payments for travel. Check withyour insurance brokers. Look into the possibility oftaking out an annual family travel insurance policy.The Franco-Irish Exchange Programme will be gladto advise on insurance.

Meeting at the airport? The families, French andIrish, must meet their guest at the airport and

accompany him/her to the place where the exchan-ge is to take place and vice versa on the departuredate. All expenses are the responsibility of the hostfamily.

Am I sure to get an exchange ? We do our best tosatisfy all requests. Due to factors beyond ourcontrol (imbalance between the number of appli-cants, etc.) we may be unable to find suitableexchange partners.

And if an exchange goes wrong? There may besome (a very few) of what we call "breakdowns".Unfortunately, this is unavoidable. It is in the verynature of an exchange programme and is usuallydue to personality incompatibilities and/or cultureshock. If an Irish family decides unilaterally to inter-rupt the exchange by asking the French family tobring home the French participant before the sche-duled date, the Irish family must agree prior arran-gements with the French family concerning traveland costs and also make sure that the French fami-ly have made arrangements to meet theirson/daughter on arrival in France. If an Irish familydecides unilaterally to interrupt the exchange byrepatriating their son/daughter, all expenses aretheir responsibility. Please note that our represen-tatives can be contacted at any time during theexchange to help families who have problems withtheir exchange.

Fáilte/Bienvenue ? The host family is expected towelcome the exchange partner as a member ofthe family according to the customs and traditionsof the host country and is fully responsible for thewell-being of their guest from the moment of arri-val until the moment of departure.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND BOOKING FORMS APPLY TO :

FRANCO-IRISHEXCHANGE PROGRAMME

Les Echanges Franco-Irlandais

BP n° 40295, 75228 Paris Cedex 05, FRANCE

Our Tel. N° in Ireland : (01) 254 2515 e-mail: franco-irish@newchange.ie

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE APPLYINGThe

AN EDUCATIONAL HOLIDAYFOR STUDENTS 13 TO 18 YEARS

02 8812 8

Exchanges2012

Subsidy€ 200

Exchanges have long been recognised as one of the best ways for young people toimprove their knowledge of languages, to broaden their horizons and to make lastingfriendships with people of other cultures. And what better country for a student

exchange than France? France is not only food and fashion: it is a large and powerful country(population 63 million) with a dynamic industrial and agricultural economy. A country steeped in history with a great literary and philosophical tradition and a beautiful language.The geographical situation of France, at the crossroads of Europe and the Mediterranean,together with its diplomatic and political influence, give it a key role in the EuropeanUnion. Speaking French is a career advantage.

HOW THIS EXCHANGE OPERATESThe Irish participant travels to France by air and spends approximately two to three weeksin his/her exchange partner's home. In turn, the French participants spend a similar periodin the Irish homes. The exchange is open to Irish and French secondary school students from13 to 18. It is understood that at least one parent in the host family will be free to take careof their guest during his/her stay in Ireland. The Irish family is expected to meet the Frenchparticipant at the airport on arrival. The Irish participant will be met in turn on arrival inFrance by the French host family.

General remarksThe normal costs of hosting a student (including excursions, visits, sports, etc.) are borne bythe host families, French and Irish. Participants should be provided with adequate pocketmoney. REMEMBER THIS IS AN EXCHANGE, the success of which depends on the behaviourof the participants abroad and the enthusiasm of the parents and the host family duringtheir foreign guest's stay with them. We expect our Irish participants to have a positive atti-tude toward France and the French way of life - and not least the food! The vast majorityof Irish participants will have a great time, some will have an average holiday, some (a veryfew) may get a little homesick.But all will improve their French if they try. Representativeswill be available in both countries to advise and assist parents and participants during theperiod of the exchange. We are confident that French participants will get a traditional Irishwelcome and that they will feel at home in Ireland. Remember that French participants arehighly motivated and their main objective is to improve their spoken English. All French par-ticipants will have medical, accident and repatriation insurance.

This exchange programme is coordinated in France by the FRANCO-IRISH EXCHANGE PROGRAMME (Les Echanges Franco-Irlandais), a French based non-profit organisation(Association à but non lucratif). The founder of the FRANCO-IRISH EXCHANGE PROGRAMMEis Mr Michael Mac Bride who has been living in France for 35 years. He founded an exchangeprogramme in 1977 and has been involved with exchange and language holidays sincethen. The association, LES ECHANGES FRANCO-IRLANDAIS, finds candidates for the programme in France and in Ireland and coordinates the matching of candidates.

The Franco-IrishExchange Programme

1

2. Complete the application file carefully. The closingdate for applications is 20 May 2012 but we adviseyou to apply as early as possible. Please read careful-ly “what you need to know before applying” on backpage of this leaflet.

3. Send the Application File to “Franco-Irish ExchangeProgramme” (address front page of this leaflet). Weadvise you to use SWIFT POST.

4. If the Franco-Irish Exchange Programme is successfulin finding a suitable French exchange partner for theIrish applicant, both families will be contacted inorder to coordinate the dates requested by eachfamily.

5. When both families have confirmed the dates, theFrench exchange file will be sent to the Irish familyand vice versa.

6. Once the dates have been confirmed, the Irish familywill be expected to make travel arrangements for theIrish participant as soon as possible. (see TravelArrangements below)

7. The Franco-Irish Exchange Programme would hopethat all succesful applicants’ files will be completedon or by 31 May 20

8. On completion of his/her file the successful applicant will receive a subsidy of €200.

12.

TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTSa) Irish participants will be contacted when a suitable exchange partner has been found. They

will be asked to accept or reject the dates submitted by the French family or to suggest alternative dates as close as possible to those submitted by the French family.

b) On receipt of the Irish participant’s reply (acceptance/refusal/alternative dates) the Franco-Irish Exchange Programme will coordinate the dates with the French family.

c) When the dates have been confirmed, travel arrangements should be made as soon as possi-ble. The Franco-Irish Exchange Programme will advise on the best and most convenientmethod of travelling Ireland/France/Ireland (airlines/routings/ fares etc.) In case of difficulty,do not hesitate to call our Helpline

d) Details of travel arrangements must be communicated without delay to the Franco-IrishExchange Programme who will, in turn, inform the French family. The Irish participant will bemet by the French family at the airport on arrival in France.

Your individual exchange in France...All exchanges in the Franco-Irish Exchange Programme are treated individually. You will be askedto specify on the application file the period which you wish to spend in France and the period duringwhich you wish to host your French partner. We no longer organise exchanges on fixed dates. Thissystem, allowing you to fix your own dates, will give you a better chance of finding an exchangepartner and allows you to fit in a French exchange with other summer activities such as AnGaeltacht, sports camps or family holidays. If you need assistance or advice when you are preparingyour Individual Exchange Project, do not hesitate to call us on our Helpline : (01) 254 2515

APPLICATION & CONFIRMATION PROCEDURE

. Download the application form from our site www.newexchange.ie

Exchanges 2012€200 Subsidy !

A €200 subsidy will be granted to all Irish participants in this exchange programme in 2012.The purpose of this subsidy is to promote exchanges between France and Ireland. N.B. In certain cases this subsidy may be administered by the participant’s schoolThe only cost to Irish families will be travel arrangements Ireland – France –Ireland.

(01) 254 2515