Because Rotary Youth Exchange is an "exchange," by agreement, O-E has established a set number of students who will be traded with a given country. Some countries agree to exchange only one student while others may agree to exchange as many as 15. Any country to which O-E agrees to exchange, must equal in exchange the number agreed upon between countries or multi-districts. The officers who make up the selection committee review each application in detail making the appointments with deliberation and caution. Should a student be appointed as an Ambassador Rotary Youth Exchange Student to a country to which he/she does not wish to go, the student has the right of refusal. The exercise of the right of refusal terminates the exchange.    

 

All of the volunteers who have worked with Rotary Youth Exchange have heard many stories about students who did not get their "first choice." Almost always, when the youth exchange returns, he/she believes that the country to which they were sent could not have been better. Rotarians want their Youth Ambassadors to not only gain language and cultural experiences, but Rotarians also want them to become ambassadors of peace and understanding. A great Youth Exchange experience begins with an openness to experience that which has not been experienced before. Something in your application has led Rotary to believe that the exchange student will be an ambassador of peace and understanding.   

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