What is Rotary Youth Exchange?
Rotary Youth Exchange is a life-changing opportunity for students aged 15 to 19 to immerse themselves in a new culture, develop global understanding, and grow as leaders. Sponsored by Rotary clubs in more than 100 countries, thousands of students each year form international friendships, learn new languages, and gain skills that last a lifetime.
Whether it’s a summer abroad or a full academic year, you’ll become part of a global network that connects people across cultures through service, learning, and goodwill.
Students can apply for two different types of exchanges:
- 🌞 Short-Term: Summer exchange (few weeks to 3 months)
- 📚 Long-Term: Full academic year abroad
Both programs emphasize cultural exchange, personal development, and mutual understanding.
Rotary believes global peace and understanding begin with the next generation. Through Youth Exchange, students gain:
- 🌎 A deeper understanding of the world
- 🗣️ Language skills and cultural awareness
- 💡 Confidence, independence, and adaptability
- 👫 Lifelong friendships with people from around the world
- 🌟 Leadership and personal growth
Each student is supported by their home Rotary Club, their host club abroad, and trained local volunteers who guide them every step of the way.
Exchange with Purpose. Travel with Support.
Rotary Youth Exchange is not just an exchange — it’s a movement powered by passion, purpose, and people.
Why choose Rotary?
- Experience: Rotary has decades of success organizing safe, impactful exchanges around the world.
- Support Network: Students are supported by both their home and host Rotary clubs, along with trained volunteers throughout the journey.
- Preparation: Long-term students attend two weekend orientation conferences; short-term students attend one, helping ensure they’re ready and informed.
- Affordable: Rotary is volunteer-run and not-for-profit, keeping costs low and prioritizing meaningful experiences over profit margins.
When you travel with Rotary, you’re not just a visitor — you’re a part of something bigger.
Kate's Short-Term Exchange in France
"To me, exchange means more than travel and exploration. It is a sharing of language, culture, and identity. I didn't just experience a place; I learned about a people."
Simon's Long-Term Exchange in Brazil
"My name is Simon and I just completed my year of exchange in a city in Brazil called Natal.
Natal is a medium sized city on the northeastern coast of Brazil with a population of around 1.5 million and a yearly average temperature of around 30 degrees. It is located in the state of Rio Grande Do Norte (RN). My first weeks in Brazil were great, the weather was nice, I went to the street market to try some new fruits and drinks and meats (all were great.) I had a nice view from the balcony of my fist house that was above a furniture store. My school was really interesting because it was a super fancy private school however it was super cool and I met some really cool guys in school.
My first family consisted of my host mom and dad (ires and marcos) and my host brother (Miguel) and his girlfriend (Laura). My host sister was in Belgium at the same time so I didn’t get to meet her in Brazil. Thankfully, I was in Belgium while she was still there meeting some other friends at a music festival, so we decided to meet up there in person! There were many rotary meetings throughout the year but the best rotary experiences I had were the nation fair, where we showed off our countries to Brazilian students at a university, and the training weekends where all the exchange students from the district got to meet each other and learn new things, practice our Portuguese and do a bit of volunteer work as well.
For sports and activities, I mostly did two main things, I played soccer (futebol) and did surfing (surfe) I loved futebol before going to Brazil but it was my first time surfing in Brazil so it was really cool to learn there. Occasionally I did standup paddle board at sunrise with my host dad, as Natal is right on the coast of the most beautiful beaches in the world, you can see why I spent a lot of time there.
I volunteered quite a bit in Brazil. Cleaning up beaches, or teaching English or things about Canada to students, planting trees, or helping send donations and clothes and water to the people in south of Brazil lost there homes in a massive flooding at the beginning of this year.
My next host family was a bit bigger. My host mom and dad (Manu and Xuxu) were super funny and my host dad Alexandre goes by Xuxu because he is so sweet; xuxu means a cute little thing or a sweet little thing. My host sister (Sabrina) and her fiancé, (Fredinho) who I am returning in 2026 to attend their wedding, and my two host brothers Charlie (charlinhos) and Ignacio (iguinho). Charlie was from Illinois and Ignacio was from cordoba Argentina. It’s great because I really connected with these guys and we talk all the time even to this day. I definitely got lucky with both my host families in my year experience.
The beautiful thing about Brazil is not just the amazing food, and scenery, it’s the people too. They were so open and receptive and I met some of the best people I will ever know while I was there.
Finally I would like to share some of the most important things that are; WHAT DID I LEARN DURING MY EXCHANGE? For one, I learned how to speak fluent Brazilian Portuguese. My first host family spoke not a word of English so I really had to learn and push myself to become fluent so I could talk to them. Secondly, I learned how to be patient, and how to adjust to things that I didn’t thing were normal. Last but not least, I learned to be independent. Living on sometimes on my own, doing things for myself, learning how to cook meals and buy things for myself. I really grew up."
Information for Parents: Partnering With You to Support Your Teen’s Journey
Sending your child on an exchange is a big decision. With Rotary, you're not alone. We offer guidance, structure, and a strong support system throughout the experience.
What You Should Know
- Rotary carefully screens all host families and exchange participants.
- Students are matched with a host Rotary Club in their destination country.
- Local Rotary counselors provide ongoing support both abroad and at home.
Rotary has been organizing Youth Exchange programs since 1929 — nearly 100 years! The very first exchanges were between Rotary Clubs in Europe, and the program has since grown into a global initiative.
Today, Rotary Youth Exchange operates in over 100 countries, with thousands of students participating each year in both short-term and long-term exchanges. The program is backed by decades of experience, a strong international network, and a deep commitment to peacebuilding through cultural understanding.
An Incredible Opportunity for Growth
Participating in a Rotary Youth Exchange is one of the most transformative experiences a young person can have. Students return more independent, confident, and globally aware. They gain real-world language skills, lifelong friendships, and a deeper appreciation for cultural diversity. Many alumni describe their exchange as a turning point in their personal and academic growth — opening doors to new opportunities for years to come.
Information for Parents: Your Role as a Host
Parents of outgoing students are required to help host an incoming exchange student. This is a vital part of how Rotary Youth Exchange works — it’s a true cultural exchange, and hosting is part of the commitment when your child is accepted into the program.
Hosting responsibilities include:
- Providing room and board for the incoming student
- Welcoming the student as part of your family
- Encouraging community and school involvement
Families must also complete criminal record and vulnerable sector checks, and there is no financial compensation for hosting. Rotary Youth Exchange is a volunteer-run program, and the commitment of host families is what makes it possible.
While hosting is a responsibility, it's also an incredibly rewarding experience that brings a new perspective and lifelong connections into your home.
