Frequently asked questions – Summer exchange

No, the RU office matches you with a suitable family. You cannot choose the location within the country or set requirements for various activities during your summer exchange.

No, the exchange is family to family on a one-to-one basis.

It is difficult to find suitable placements in the UK or Ireland, which is why we have chosen not to offer these countries.

You probably can, but not in our program. The summer exchange is an exchange between two families on a one-to-one basis. There must be host districts, host clubs and host families on both sides.

You can contact the RU office and ask whether they can accept your application anyway. However, you will have limited choices. Spain and Italy can usually accept late applicants, but there is no guarantee.

The school year in the southern hemisphere is reversed, with the summer holiday from November to January. This makes it problematic to send and receive summer exchanges in both Australia and Sweden.

It is not possible to go outside the rules if you want to take part in our program. You must apply in the way set out in "Key Facts" and in the application form. The RU office handles all contacts abroad before you've received your placement.

No, Rotary in Albania is not certified under Rotary International's rules.

Individual Rotary clubs in England (or in other countries) may not enter into agreements or arrangements for their own exchanges. All contacts must go via the host district or national Rotary organisation. It is not possible to do things on your own.

There is no guarantee you'll get to go to Germany. It depends on whether someone in Germany wants to come to Sweden. It's important that you name several country choices, otherwise you risk not getting to go anywhere.

No, probably not. Our experience is that our foreign partners want the exchange to be continuous and for their student to have a stay of at least three weeks in Sweden. If the exchange period is three plus three weeks and continuous, it's hard to fit in a summer job.

All of Rotary's exchange programs have a greater or smaller element of social and cultural exchange. Being vegan should not cause problems, but the people around you in France may react. If you are vegan, be clear about it in your application, so that Rotary and any host family can take a view on it.

Rotary International has special requirements for travel insurance for young people taking part in the organisation's programs. We do not accept any insurance other than the one we take out for you with Europeiska ERV – just as your foreign friend must have insurance approved by their host district.

Yes, no problem.

No, that's just an offer. Think through how you want to travel and choose a way of travelling where you can be flexible. You book your own trip to the exchange.

Yes and no. There are certainly those who speak English, but perhaps not as well as Swedes. Be prepared that many have little or no knowledge of English.