Experience different cultures and build international friendships through – Rotary Friendship Exchange

How does it work?

Rotary International has documents that explain the program, although each district does it a little different, District 5020 follows the below pattern.

  • A RFE District Chair communicates with potential Districts to travel to in communications with the District RFE Committee.
  • Once a district is chosen to partner with, the word is distributed.
  • Each participant funds their way. Couples or singles are welcome. All Rotarians are invited and their partners. (I.e., partners do not have to be Rotarians friends of
  • Rotary may also apply through their local Club).
  • Youth can also be a part of RFE and will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please ask.
  • Generally, an RFE lasts about two weeks. Some Districts ask for shorter periods.
  • Around 8 – 12 form the team, which includes a team leader.
  • The team lands at the pre-determined date in the host country. From there, the team is hosted by local Rotarians.
  • The RFE team is home stayed, usually changing host homes every few days. Several communities are visited.
  • The host Rotarians show their guests local sights of interest, parks, museums, things they are proud of. There are often Rotary-hosted parties. Rotary projects may be toured.
  • The hosts generally cover lodging and home meals. Transportation within the district is provided by the hosts, but admissions or extraordinary costs such as restaurant meals are covered by the guests.
  • The visit is then reversed with the foreign district visiting our district.
  • RFE participants are expected to host for a few nights and participate when they visit here. (I.e. volunteer to host them for some or all of their days in the 5020 community you reside. A typical tour might be three days in Nanaimo, three days in Sooke, three days in Poulsbo, three days in Olympia.
  • The pace is usually brisk. Get up in the morning, maybe tour a Rotary project, and then perhaps see a point of interest or two. There may be a Rotary meeting or party in the teams’ honor to attend in the evening.
  • The visiting team is asked to provide a short presentation at the Hosts’ Rotary meetings.
    You will travel with a group, and the hosts will map out your tour. We often give input to preferences but generally, what they plan is what we do.

Benefits

  • Make lifelong friends.
  • Live “with the locals.”
  • Certainly cost-efficient.
  • Expand your Rotary knowledge.
  • See parts of the world you may otherwise never see.
  • Develop future partnerships.

Obligations

  • If you go on an exchange, you will be expected to host when their team visits us. This usually means three nights in your town of 8 – 12 people. So it would help if you had your club to support you and help with the hosting.
  • You can help in other ways – transportation, coordinating the return visit, etc. You will participate in their three days in your community.
  • You will need the support of your club. Ask them. This should be done BEFORE you apply. We would ask you to be active in your club and community, seeking host families from your club or towns’ clubs and being involved in planning their days in your town when they visit. Be an RFE ambassador.
  • While on an outbound RFE, the experience is unlike a “holiday,” whereas you are hosted, and you usually are not “asked” if you wish to attend events, you are told.
  • You will be expected to participate fully, as you would when guests visit YOUR town and you map out events for them.
  • Each team member books their own flights, but please note there will be specific deadlines for booking, so we know everyone is committed. You will be asked to provide a copy of your flight to the Chair or team lead. Those not booking flights by the prescribed date may be asked to step aside so others can commit and participate in the experience.