The Group Study Exchange (GSE) program of The Rotary Foundation is a unique cultural and vocational exchange opportunity for young business and professional men and women between the ages of 25 and 40 and in the early years of their professional lives. The program provides travel grants for teams to exchange visits between paired areas in different countries. For four to six weeks, team members experience the host country's institutions and ways of life, observe their own vocations as practiced abroad, develop personal and professional relationships, and exchange ideas.  The Rotary Foundation provides air travel between the home and host countries. Local Rotarians in the host area provide for meals, lodging, and group travel within their district.

 

Our Rotary Distinct 5150 (Marin, San Francisco, and San Mateo counties) shares these host responsibilities annually. 

 

Members of the GSE Team that visited our district from the area around Conception, Chile in 2006.

 

This year's exchange was with a Rotary District encompassing Conception, Chile, and its surroundings. We interviewed and selected a five-member team of young American professionals to go to Conception, and in return welcomed a similarly-sized team from their district.During their six-week stay in April, the team spent their vocational days investigating how their American peers pursued their professions of teaching Philosophy and Economics, Nursing, Nutrition, and Agricultural Engineering. Last year's exchange was with the Rotary District encompassing Oaxaca, Mexico, which sent a team of five doctors. The years prior were with Australia, Vietnam, Israel, and Brazil. The 2007 exchange is with the District encompassing Hamburg, Germany.