Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE) is a Rotary International student exchange program for students in secondary school. Since 1929, Rotary International has sent young people around the globe to experience new cultures. Currently, about 9,000 students are sponsored by Rotary clubs every year.

The Rotarians that participate in the program are volunteers. Many Rotarians are involved in various aspects of the youth exchange program including student selection, compliance with immigration and Rotary regulations, hosting, and supporting students. Each student is sponsored by a Rotary Club and Rotary District in their home country and is hosted by a Rotary Club and Rotary District in their host country. Most districts have a chair for the Rotary Youth Exchange program and some also have committees. Each Rotary Club that hosts a student provides a Rotarian counselor for the student who is the student’s contact person within the club and provides support to the student when needed. Some districts are very active and host and send many students, other districts are less active and host fewer students.

The Winchester Rotary Club understands the importance of International exposure for young people. We actively participate in Rotary Youth Exchange. Typically, we have at least one young person visiting from another country and staying with a member of our Club. We also typically have a local young person spend time in a foreign country.

If you’re interested in Rotary Youth Exchange, please contact us. As a Rotary Youth Exchange student, you’ll spend up to a year living with a few host families and attending school in a different country.

Whether you participate in Rotary’s long-term or short-term Youth Exchange programs, you’ll learn a new way of living, a great deal about yourself, and maybe even a new language. You’ll also be an ambassador, teaching people you meet about your country, culture, and ideas. You can help bring the world closer – and make some good friends in the process.

More than 8,000 young people each year have experiences like these through Rotary Youth Exchange. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime. Are you ready for it?

For more information, click here or on the links below:

Information on Rotary Youth Exchange (PDF)

Information on being a Host Family (PDF)