Central States Rotary Youth Exchange Program

2026-2027 CSIET Certification Status: Full

Regions Served: All or parts of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Ontario, Canada. Includes Rotary Districts: 5580, 5610, 6220, 6250, 6270, 6290, 6310, 6330, 6360, 6400, 6420, 6440, 6450, 6460, 6490, 6510, 6540, 6560, and 6580

Countries Served: Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Nigeria, Philippines, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, and Thailand.

Number of 2025-2026 Participants: 91 F1

Not-for-Profit Organization: March 31, 1977

Academic Year Program – The Central States Rotary Youth Exchange Program is dedicated to the promotion of cultural understanding between people from around the world and offers a high school academic year program for inbound students. The Central States Rotary Youth Exchange Program operates through a network of local Rotary Clubs, which provides support, interviews and screens host families and supervises the program during the student’s stay.

International students, ages 15 years and 6 months to 18 years and 6 months, travel to the United States (U.S.) and Canada, attend high school for one academic year, and live with approved host families. Students must be sponsored by a Rotary Club in their home country, complete an application in English, provide evidence of ability and intention to function in English and submit transcripts indicating above-average grades. Students and parents are interviewed prior to acceptance. Students are encouraged to study English and geography classes at their high school prior to departure. Upon arrival, students are required to attend several orientations. The orientations address issues such as U.S. and Canadian culture, English language, program rules, and how to make the most of the high school experience. The program is conducted by Rotary Club volunteers in each community that hosts a Rotary Youth Exchange student. Students work with a Youth Exchange Officer and Counselor. Each student has one to three host families in the year they spend in the U.S. or Canada. Students wishing to go abroad should apply to a Rotary Club in their home country, which will arrange placement through the Central States Rotary Youth Exchange Program.