COUNTRIES
Southern Africa’s Rotary Youth Exchange has excellent and long-standing relations with the following countries:
Long-term stay (one year)
Austria
Belgium
Brazil
Chile
Denmark
Finland/Estonia
France
Germany
Hungary
India
Italy
Netherlands
Mexico
Czech Republic
Spain
Sweden
Thailand
Taiwan
USA
Short-term stay (6 weeks)
Argentina
Austria
Brazil
Denmark
Finland/Estonia
France
Germany
Hungary
India
Italy
Netherlands
Spain
Czech Republic
When you apply to become a Rotary Exchange Student, you will have the option to choose and rank three countries that you would like to visit. Rotary Youth Exchange will in consultation with you decide in which one country you will stay. This will depend on a student in that country wanting to exchange with South Africa.
Argentina
Capital: Buenos Aires
Language: Spanish
Main attractions: Andes mountains, glacial lakes and Pampas grassland.
Famous resident: The football player Lionel Messi
Austria
Capital: Vienna
Language: German
Main attractions: Mountain villages, baroque architecture, rugged Alpine terrain.
Famous residents: Wolfgang Mozart, Johann Strauss and Sigmund Freud
Belgium
Capital: Brussels
Language:
Main attractions:
Famous resident:
Brazil
Capital: Brasilia
Language: Portuguese
Main attractions: The Amazon basin, massive waterfalls, and beautiful beaches.
Famous resident: The author Paulo Coelho
Chile
Capital: Santiago
Language: Spanish
Main attractions: The Atacama Desert, volcanoes, and the world’s largest swimming pool.
Famous resident: Poet and politician Pablo Neruda
Czech Republic
Capital: Prague
Language: Czech
Main attractions: Ornate castles, and Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque buildings.
Famous resident: The tennis player Martina Navratilova
Denmark
Capital: Copenhagen
Language: Danish
Main attractions: Royal palaces, Nyhavn harbour, and the Little Mermaid statue.
Famous resident: The author Hans Christian Andersen
Germany
Capital: Bern
Language: German
Main attractions: Forests, rivers, mountain ranges, and beaches.
Famous resident: The scientist Albert Einstein
Finland/Estonia
Capital: Helsinki
Language: Finnish, Swedish
Main attractions: Museums and the Northern Lights
Famous resident: The race car driver Mika Hakkinen
France
Capital: Paris
Language: French
Main attractions: Classical art museums and the Palace of Versailles
Famous resident: The fashion designer Coco Chanel
Hungary
Capital: Budapest
Language: Hungarian
Main attractions: Medieval and neoclassical buildings, and mineral spas.
Famous resident: The magician Harry Houdini
India
Capital: New Delhi
Language: Hindi and English
Main attractions: The Taj Mahal mausoleum and massive mosques
Famous resident: Mother Teresa
Italy
Capital: Rome
Language: Italian
Main attractions: The Vatican, landmark art and ancient ruins
Famous resident: The artist Leonardo da Vinci
Netherlands
Capital: Amsterdam
Language: Dutch and English
Main attractions: Canals, tulip fields, windmills, and cycling routes.
Famous resident: The painter Vincent van Gogh
Mexico
Capital: Mexico City
Language: Spanish
Main attractions: Mountains, deserts, jungles, and ancient ruins.
Famous resident: The artist Frida Kahlo
Poland
Capital: Warsaw
Language: Polish
Main attractions: Medieval architecture and Jewish heritage.
Famous resident: The composer Frédéric Chopin
Spain
Capital: Madrid
Language: Spanish
Main attractions: Unique architecture and medieval castles
Famous resident: The architect Antoni Gaudi
Sweden
Capital: Stockholm
Language: Swedish and Finnish
Main attractions: Inland lakes, vast forests and glaciated mountains.
Famous residents: Pop group ABBA
Thailand
Capital: Bangkok
Language: Thai
Main attractions: Tropical beaches, opulent royal palaces, ancient ruins and ornate temples.
Famous resident: The film director and producer Anand Tucker
Taiwan
Capital: Taipei
Language: Mandarin
Main attractions: Modern cities, traditional Chinese temples, and hot spring resorts.
Famous resident: The actor Takeshi Kaneshiro
USA
Capital: Washington DC
Language: English
Main attractions: Modern cities, breath-taking nature, Hollywood.
Famous resident: President Donald Trump