ROTARY INTERNATIONAL

YOUTH EXCHANGE BEGAN DURING THE 1920S AS AN EFFORT BETWEEN A HANDFUL OF CLUBS IN EUROPE. THESE EUROPEAN EXCHANGES CONTINUED UNTIL WORLD WAR II AND RESUMED IN 1946. THE RECIPROCAL LONG-TERM ACADEMIC EXCHANGE GREW IN POPULARITY DURING THE 1950S AND BECAME THE PRIMARY ROTARY YOUTH EXCHANGE. IN 1972, THE ROTARY INTERNATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS AGREED TO RECOMMEND YOUTH EXCHANGE TO ROTARY CLUBS WORLDWIDE AS A WORTHWHILE INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITY. EXPOSURE TO DIFFERENT CULTURES RANKS AS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL WAYS TO PROMOTE INTERNATIONAL UNDERSTANDING AND PEACE. THE ROTARY YOUTH EXCHANGE PROGRAM PROVIDES THOUSANDS OF YOUNG STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET PEOPLE FROM OTHER COUNTRIES AND TO EXPERIENCE NEW CULTURES, PLANTING THE SEEDS FOR A LIFETIME OF INTERNATIONAL UNDERSTANDING.