TRAVEL THE WORLD BEFORE YOU START ADULTING
TRAVEL THE WORLD BEFORE YOU START ADULTING
STUDENTS
Imagine living in a different country, learning, and speaking a foreign language, eating exotic food, making international friends, and getting inside info on schooling in another country.
The Rotary Youth Exchange Programme makes it easy for young adventurers like you to pack your bags and go on an epic trip abroad.
You can choose to stay either for six weeks over the December holidays, or you can stay for a year – from January to December .
Either way, you will return to Southern Africa a more mature, more independent, and wiser soul.
A Rotary Youth Exchange student has the following characteristics:
- High moral standards.
- Aspirations to become an ambassador for your country.
- A wish to broaden your horizons.
- An open mind.
- Adventurous spirit.
How does the process work?
- Complete and submit your online application.
- You will receive an email with further instructions and documents to download.
- Complete the relevant documents and keep them for your interview.
- A Rotary Club member will contact you to arrange an interview with you and your family.
- If you are successful at this stage, your application will be advanced to the District Selection Interviews.
- At this stage you will also be asked to select 5 countries you would like to exchange with.
- Together with your parents, you attend a District Selection Interview to determine if you are a suitable candidate.
- You will receive an e-mail confirming the time and venue for the selection sessions.
- At this selection process meeting, you will receive more details about the programme, as well as all the costs involved.
- Once all the district selections are completed, you will receive an e-mail confirming whether your application was successful or not.
- Once you are accepted into the programme, you and your family’s experience begins and you will attend several orientations throughout the year.
- These orientations prepare you and your family for the adventure ahead.
Why use Rotary Youth Exchange to broaden your horizons?
- The Rotary International Youth Exchange programme is the most inexpensive of its kind in the country.
- Rotary Youth Exchange is a non-profit organisation.
- We offer multi-tiered support to students, parents, and host families.
- We arrange everything – from flights, to transits, to accommodation.
Are you ready to set sail to a far-off land?
Which countries can you explore?
Argentina
Argentina
Capital: Buenos Aires
Language: Spanish
Main attractions: Andes mountains, glacial lakes and Pampas grassland.
Famous resident: The football player Lionel Messi
Austria
Austria
Capital: Vienna
Language: German
Main attractions: baroque architecture and Alpine terrain.
Famous residents: Wolfgang Mozart
Belgium
Belgium
Capital: Brussels
Language: Dutch, French, German
Main attractions: La Grand Place and the Blue Forest
Famous resident: Audrey Hepburn
Brazil
Brazil
Capital: Brasilia
Language: Portuguese
Main attractions: The Amazon basin, massive waterfalls, and beautiful beaches.
Famous resident: The author Paulo Coelho
Chile
Chile
Capital: Santiago
Language: Spanish
Main attractions: The Atacama Desert, volcanoes, and the world’s largest swimming pool.
Famous resident: Poet and politician Pablo Neruda
Czech Republic
Czech Republic
Capital: Prague
Language: Czech
Main attractions: Ornate castles, and Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque buildings.
Famous resident: The tennis player Martina Navratilova
Denmark
Denmark
Capital: Copenhagen
Language: Danish
Main attractions: Royal palaces, Nyhavn harbour, and the Little Mermaid statue.
Famous resident: The author Hans Christian Andersen
Germany
Germany
Capital: Bern
Language: German
Main attractions: Forests, rivers, mountain ranges, and beaches.
Famous resident: The scientist Albert Einstein
Finland/Estonia
Finland/Estonia
Capital: HelsinkiLanguage: Finnish, Swedish
Main attractions: Museums and the
Northern Lights
Famous resident: The race car driver Mika Hakkinen
France
France
Capital: Paris
Language: French
Main attractions: Classical art museums and the Palace of Versailles
Famous resident: The fashion designer Coco Chanel
Hungary
Hungary
Capital: Budapest
Language: Hungarian
Main attractions: Medieval and neoclassical buildings, and mineral spas.
Famous resident: The magician Harry Houdini
India
India
Capital: New Delhi
Language: Hindi and English
Main attractions: The Taj Mahal mausoleum and massive mosques
Famous resident: Mother Teresa
Italy
Italy
Capital: Rome
Language: Italian
Main attractions: The Vatican, landmark art and ancient ruins
Famous resident: The artist Leonardo da Vinci
Netherlands
Netherlands
Capital: Amsterdam
Language: Dutch and English
Main attractions: Canals, tulip fields, windmills, and cycling routes.
Famous resident: The painter Vincent van Gogh
Mexico
Mexico
Capital: Mexico City
Language: Spanish
Main attractions: Mountains, deserts, jungles, and ancient ruins.
Famous resident: The artist Frida Kahlo
Norway
Norway
Capital: Oslo
Language: Norwegian
Main attractions: Fjords, Viking ships museum, architecture
Famous resident: Pop group A-Ha, Footballer Ole Gunner Solskjaer
Spain
Spain
Capital: Madrid
Language: Spanish
Main attractions: Unique architecture and medieval castles
Famous resident: The architect Antoni Gaudi
Sweden
Sweden
Capital: Stockholm
Language: Swedish and Finnish
Main attractions: Inland lakes, vast forests and glaciated mountains.
Famous residents: Pop group ABBA
Thailand
Thailand
Capital: Bangkok
Language: Thai
Main attractions: Tropical beaches, opulent royal palaces, ancient ruins and ornate temples.
Famous resident: The film director and producer Anand Tucker
Taiwan
Taiwan
Capital: Taipei
Language: Mandarin
Main attractions: Modern cities, traditional Chinese temples, and hot spring resorts.
Famous resident: The actor Takeshi Kaneshiro
USA
USA
Capital: Washington DC
Language: English
Main attractions: Modern cities, breath-taking nature, Hollywood.
Famous resident: Morgan Freeman