FAQs

What are Short Term Exchanges?
Short-term exchanges involve spending a minimum of 3 weeks staying with an exchange partner and exploring a different country, another culture and possibly another language and then, in return, hosting the same exchange partner in your home for a similar period.

Exchanges usually take place during the long summer break from school but one leg could be at Easter or Christmas if so wished. Remember that mid summer is in December in the southern hemisphere so students from that area of the world might want to travel in their long summer break from school and experience Christmas with a difference......for them, that is.

Am I eligible?

• You are 15-19 years old.
• You agree to host your exchange partner in your home for 3-4 weeks.
• Your school will give you a good character reference

I am younger than 15, what about me?
No problem. Register your interest here and this will allow Rotary a year or more to make sure you get your first choice of countries.

Where can I go?
The world is your oyster .... well, almost; exchange opportunities are available throughout the world. A list of countries which Rotary have certified to take part in the programmes can be viewed here. Not all countries participate every year but we will do our best to arrange an exchange with your chosen country.

What is Rotary Certification?
Rotary International have established standards to ensure the health, welfare and general protection of our students wherever they are. Every country is split into Rotary Districts and those Districts taking part in the Youth Exchange programmes must submit their procedures for approval by Rotary International. If it is agreed that these procedures meet, or are of a higher standard than the requirement, the District is granted certification to take part in the Youth exchange programmes. Rotary International carries out regular audits to ensure Districts continued compliance.

Is it necessary to be able to speak a foreign language?
No! The program is cultural in nature but is also for a short period of time. Many countries throughout the world teach English as a second language and exchange students from non English speaking countries are usually proficient in speaking our language but you can always choose to exchange with the USA or another English speaking country.

However, if you are studying a foreign language in high school and you exchange to a country that speaks that language, you will be able to greatly improve your conversational ability and possibly your examination grades. 

What does it cost?
You are responsible for the cost of your travel. You must also take out an insurance policy which is acceptable to Rotary in the host country.

You must obtain a passport, a visa (if required) and provide your own spending money for the duration of the exchange.

Your parents need to take into account the cost of having your exchange partner as a guest in your home for 3-4 weeks and the additional expenditure of excursions you might make with them or events to which you might take them.

What's the next step?
Check out the list of requests for exchange or go direct to the Preliminary Application, submit it, and someone from Rotary will soon contact you to discuss your exchange options.

Even if there are no exchange requests for your country of choice or you don't think that those making the request would be a good match with you don't let this stop you making a Preliminary Application.

If you have any further queries please email enquiries@youthribi.org