Who is Eligible?
Ideal candidates are young, open-minded individuals who demonstrate leadership qualities that will make them excellent cultural ambassadors for their country and the Rotary club and district that sponsor them. They should be adaptable and flexible, well- mannered and want to experience life in other countries and cultures. Applicants should be making sound progress at school and possess a good general knowledge of Canada or the USA. Children of Rotarians and non-Rotarians are eligible.
All Applicants must be sponsored by a local Rotary Club who is certified to participate in the YE Program. To locate the nearest Rotary club, use the Club Locator at www.rotary7040.com and inquire about their participation in the YE Program.
How & When Do I Apply?
Initial or preliminary applications are available in the forms and download section of this website and must be completed and submitted to your nearest participating Rotary club in late summer or early fall. Your application will be reviewed by the Youth Committee and you and your parents or legal guardians will be contacted for an interview. The program is highly selective and the application process can be very competitive. Selection wil be based on your initial application and the results of your personal interview.
After selection by a local Rotary Club, a Long-Form Application is completed in quadruple and submitted with the appropriate fee. Long form applications, also available in the forms and download section of this website, must be reviewed by the sponsoring Rotary club, prior to submission to the District Committee. Their local The District Committee then nominates successful applicants after assessment to an overseas district committee.
A non-refundable district application fee of $550 for the Long-term Exchange Program (LTEP) and, $150 for the Short-term Exchange Programs (STEP) must accompany the 4 copies of the completed long-form application. Cheques can be made payable to the Rotary D7040 Youth Exchange Committee.
| October | Preliminary applications close with participating Rotary clubs |
| November | Applicants are interviewed by the sponsoring Rotary club. |
| December | Long-form applications are completed by the candidates selected and forwarded to the sponsoring Rotary Clubs along with the appropriate application fee. The Rotary Clubs will in turn review them and forward them to the District Youth Exchange Committee. |
| January/February | Applicants and their parents/guardians are interviewed by the District Youth Exchange Committee |
| February | Applications of approved students are forwarded to host Rotary districts overseas. |
| March – May | Training programs for the selected students continue |
| July – August | Students depart for exchange, returning in July or August of the following year. |
Endorsement of the application by an overseas district can occur at any date during the period of February – May. Only then is the student considered to be a Rotary Exchange Student.
