The Rotary Youth Exchange program began in the late 1920s with early exchanges likely taking place in Denmark and France. In the following decades, youth exchanges expanded across Europe and other regions. Key developments included the first Youth Exchange convention in 1929, growth of summer camps in Europe in the 1930s, and the first long-term exchanges with countries like Australia, Japan, Brazil, and the United States in the 1950s-1960s. Over time, Rotary International took on a larger role in administering and supporting the youth exchange program through actions like establishing it as an official RI activity in 1974 and introducing certification in 2007. The history shows how youth exchange has helped build global understanding and peace by facilitating relationships between young people and countries

1. The History of Rotary Youth Exchange
Andrew Page
Rotary District 1060
Great Britain and Ireland

2. The History of Rotary Youth Exchange
Acknowledgements
Susan Hanf – RI History and Archives Department
Rotarians: Bo Hennby, Ana Maria Pimenta and Stu McDonald

3. History of Rotary Youth Exchange
The Beginning

4. History of Rotary Youth Exchange
The Early Years
1927 or possibly earlier – First Exchanges probably took place in Denmark and France

5. History of Rotary Youth Exchange
The Early Years
Sven Knudsen, Danish school supervisor, sponsored
this youth exchange back in 1929.....above are
underprivileged children enjoying good times made
possible by Rotarians at Vichy, France
Was this the first Youth Exchange?

6. History of Rotary Youth Exchange
The Early Years
1927 or possibly earlier – First Exchanges probably took place in Denmark and France
1928
January - French Rotarian proposes to RI Board an international youth exchange
between Rotarians with children. Board took no action on the suggestion.
June - RI Board considers youth exchange not a proper activity for Rotary
March - Switzerland proposes vocational exchanges with Italy, Denmark and Belgium
July - Board amends decision and gives support to the idea of vocational exchanges
September - American school and college age boys go to Denmark
Group of Mexican boys visit America
1929
January - 160 Australian boys go on 5 month exchange trip to the United States
April - First Youth Exchange Convention in Copenhagen
November - Board decide RI should not establish a central organization to arrange
international exchange of youth through national committees

7. History of Rotary Youth Exchange
The Early Years
1930s Growth in European Summer Camps involve many European countries
Austria
Belgium
Czechoslovakia
Denmark
England
Finland
France
Germany
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Luxembourg
Netherlands
Portugal
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Yugoslavia

8. History of Rotary Youth Exchange
The Early Years
Unofficial ambassadors of goodwill were
these young sons of Rotarians selected
for Great Britain - United States youth
exchange visits initiated by the 69th
Rotary District (Georgia U.S.A.)
From Great Britain (top): Denis O. Davis,
Thomas D. Green, Richard A. Miles and
John A. F. Ennals;
From the United States (bottom): Robert
P. McCuen, Louis A. Falligant III, E. Guy
Cole, Jr. and W. Lee Wood, Jr.
June 1935

9. History of Rotary Youth Exchange
The Early Years

10. History of Rotary Youth Exchange
Australia

11. History of Rotary Youth Exchange
Australia
1962
First LT Youth
Exchange with
Japan
Yoko Miyazaki
2008
Yoko and Sally
1959
First Inbound LT
Youth Exchange
John Rogers
From Nebraska

12. History of Rotary Youth Exchange
Brasil

13. History of Rotary Youth Exchange
Brasil
1967
Rtn. Ruy Pimenta
arranged
first Rotary Youth Exchange
with
Pennsylvania USA

14. History of Rotary Youth Exchange
Brasil
APPLICATION FORM
of
ANA MARIA RONDAS PIMENTA
OUTBOUND JAN/1967
D. 458
SPONSOR CLUB:
RC BELO HORIZONTE-LESTE
HOST CLUB:
ALLENTOWN ROTARY CLUB
D.743

15. History of Rotary Youth Exchange
Brasil
First Group of American Students

16. History of Rotary Youth Exchange

17. History of Rotary Youth Exchange
1971 – Youth Exchange Pre-Convention meeting started
1974 – Council on Legislation established Youth Exchange as an activity of RI
1991 – RI takes on the administration of the Pre-Convention meeting
2007 – Introduction of Certification

18. History of Rotary Youth Exchange

19. Youth Exchange students learn how people who seem so different are
really the same. They begin to appreciate what unites people
everywhere. They have a broader understanding of the world. They
come back as different people.
Youth Exchange plays an essential part in Rotary’s global mission of
building peace by helping to build, one exchange at a time, good
relationships between nations.
Sakuji Tanaka – March 2013
History of Rotary Youth Exchange