EXCHANGE students hosted by local Rotary groups will be remaining with their host families for the foreseeable future.
Gawler & District College student Renee Chamberlain has made the decision, with her natural parents, to remain with her host family in Germany until the end of her 12-month exchange experience, in January, 2021.
German student Gesa, who is hosted locally by the Rotary Club of Gawler Light, will also be remaining where she is, at least until her exchange ends in July.
Rotary Club of Gawler Light District Youth Exchange Project chair Ian Howlett, said their decisions to remain in place were influenced by the difficulty in securing international flights and because of the risk to their health posed by waiting at various airports.
Last week, the Australian Government advised against all travel, and for those already overseas wishing to return to Australia, to do so as soon as possible.
All Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin international flights from Australia will be suspended from the end of March for at least two to three months.
“The decision on whether the children stay or remain, remains with their natural parents,” Mr Howlett said.
“We are obviously monitoring the situation and we are always in contact with the overseas partners.”
On Monday, Rotary Club of Gawler president Steve Barilla said their locally hosted exchange student, Sara Di Lauro, would also remain in Australia instead of returning home early to Italy.
Her family is currently in isolation at their home in Cremona, while their entire city is under official lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Mr Barilla said Sara has good support around her and has been reassured about her family’s health by staying in regular contact.
“Because there is communication as much as possible with a phone and computer it is like they are next door to her all the time,” he said.
“We are just as worried about what is happening as she is but we’ve just got to be responsible for the well-being of one another as much as those on the other side of the world and listen to the health authorities’ directions.
“At the moment her parents are happy for her to be here instead of returning back to Italy.”
