YOUR ADVENTURE STARTS HERE!
Student Eligibility:
 
  • open to students ages 15.5 - 17.9. You must be at least 15.5 years old by August 30 and cannot have turned 18 years old* before August 30 in the year in which you leave on exchange. 
  • Candidates must be Canadian Citizens or Landed Immigrants/Permanent Residents of Canada
  • applicants should be above-average students who have demonstrated leadership in their community.
  • Candidates should also possess qualities such as flexibility and a willingness to try new things that will enable them to fully experience life in another country and become excellent cultural ambassadors.
  • All applicants must be sponsored by a local Rotary club and complete both a written application and an in-person interview. 
  • must be willing to learn a language
  • All applicants must be sponsored by a local Rotary club and complete a written application and in-person interviews.

 Interested In Applying

Rotary Youth Exchanges are administered locally by volunteers, and all applicants must be sponsored by a local Rotary club and district.

 
The first step is to apply.  Don't worry if you don't know who your "sponsoring club" will be, put the name of the club that may have recruited you, or leave blank if you don't know.
 
If selected as a candidate by the sponsoring Rotary Club(s),  you will then move on to our district-level interviews. Your local club will help guide you through the application and interview process.
 
After the District Level interview, successful applicants will be notified of the country for which they have been selected.  
 
If you are not in Rotary District 5360 (Southern Alberta, SW Saskatchewan), you must apply with a Rotary club in your home country or district. 
 
To find a club near you click here
 
Applications for Long Term Exchange for the exchange year August 2024-June 2025, are now open and close on November 25, 2023
 
Clubs in the following locations are currently looking for candidates:  Canmore, Cochrane, Calgary, Innisfail, Lethbridge, Okotoks, Red Deer, and Stettler. 
 
Timeline
Applications accepted:                 Year 1     May 1 - November 25
First Interview:                               Year 1     Dec 1 - December 10
Candidates Chosen:                      Year 1     By December 15, 
Second Interview:                          Year 2     Late January/Early February 
Orientations/Paperwork:              Year 2     February - May 
Departure:                                       Year 2     August 
Return:                                             Year 3     June 
Debrief:                                            Year 3    August 
Second Debrief:                              Year 4    March
 
 
A window into what it’s like to participate in Rotary Youth Exchange — for the students as well as for their families, host families, and friends.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pod casts cover various topics including:
  • homesickness
  • learning the language
  • host families
  • building friendships

Here are some tips to help you get started:

Start planning early

The Rotary Youth Exchange program is highly selective, so start planning as soon as possible. For long-term exchanges (LTEP), apply in May- mid-November for exchanges beginning the following August.  All District 5360 exchanges begin during the summer; For example, if you wish to travel when you’re in 11th grade, you should apply in May - November  of your 9th - 10th-grade year. The reason for the early deadlines? Our sponsor Rotary clubs and district has an extensive selection and orientation process, which helps us identify the best candidates and prepare you well for your time as Youth Exchange students.

    Additional Information for Outbound Student Parent(s)

    Parent of an Outbound -- He/she/they is about to embark, now what?

    • Students have to make many decisions on their own during the year, decisions they may not have had to deal with before. The host family and host Rotary club will, to some degree, assume a parental role but your student will likely have more independence and choices to make than in the past. 
    Contact RYE Team

     

     
     
    Contact RYE Committee by email:  Click Here
     
    CLUB MEMBERS:  For Club Documents regarding Youth Exchange, login to District 5360 website - www.Rotary5360.ca,  Member area - Organization/District Committees/Standing Committees -  password required