YOUTH EXCHANGE PROGRAM
The most powerful force in the promotion of international understanding and
peace is exposure to different cultures. The world becomes a smaller, friendlier
place when we learn that all people — 
regardless
of nationality — desire the same basic things: a safe, comfortable environment
that allows for a rich and satisfying life for ourselves and our children. Youth
Exchange provides thousands of young people with the opportunity to meet people
from other lands and to experience their cultures, thus planting the seeds for a
lifetime of international understanding.
Since 1927, students and host families all over the world have had their horizons broadened and their lives enriched by the generosity of Rotary's Youth Exchange program. Administered by Rotary clubs, districts and multidistrict groups, the program today involves more than 82 countries and over 8,000 students each year.
The first documented exchanges date back to 1927, when the Rotary Club of Nice, France, initiated exchanges with European students. Exchanges between clubs in California, USA, and Latin American countries began in 1939, and exchange activities spread to the eastern United States in 1958. In 1972, the Rotary International Board of Directors agreed to recommend Youth Exchange to clubs worldwide as a worthwhile international activity promoting global peace and understanding.
Become a part of the ever-growing number of Rotarians who send thousands of
young people each year to new and unusual places for the experience of a
lifetime. Exposure to new cultures 
and
ways of life can foster a better understanding between people from different
lands. That understanding can be the foundation on which lasting peace and
harmony can someday rest.
If you are new to the Rotary Youth Exchange program, the best way to learn how the program functions in your district is to contact your Youth Exchange district chairperson, as Rotary International strongly advises that clubs and districts work closely together when arranging exchanges. If you are already a Youth Exchange Officer (YEO) at the club or district level, you know firsthand how fulfilling this program can be. You will find this site contains timely information about Youth Exchange as well as free publication downloads.
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