Team member responsibilities
A s a team member, you’re expected to act in a mature and responsible manner during your travels and to stay with your team at all times unless accompanied by a host Rotarian. You must enter and leave the host district at the same time as your team, and you are responsible for any private, post-tour travel. Maintain an open mind, be positive, and have fun.
Resources
Application process for team members
All applicants must first have their candidacy endorsed by a Rotary club near their home or workplace. From there, endorsed applications are considered at the district level. Club and district application deadlines vary, but they often fall six months before travel. Applications sent to The Rotary Foundation without club and district endorsement will be returned.
Eligibility criteria
Team members must be:
- Between the ages of 25 and 40
- Employed full time in a recognized profession
Team members cannot be
- A Rotarian, honorary Rotarian, or Rotary employee
- The lineal descendant of a Rotarian, honorary Rotarian, or Rotary employee, or the lineal descendant’s spouse
- The spouse of another team member
- An ex-Rotarian who resigned less than 36 months before the time of application
- The lineal descendant of an ex-Rotarian or ex-Rotary employee who resigned less than 36 months before the time of application, or the lineal descendant’s spouse
About the program
The Rotary Foundation’s Group Study Exchange (GSE) program is a unique cultural and vocational exchange opportunity for businesspeople and professionals between the ages of 25 and 40 who are in the early stages of their careers. The program provides travel grants for teams to exchange visits in paired areas of different countries. For four to six weeks, team members experience the host country's culture and institutions, observe how their vocations are practiced abroad, develop personal and professional relationships, and exchange ideas.
In a typical four-week tour, applicants participate in five full days of vocational visits, 15 to 20 club presentations, 10 to 15 formal visits and social events, two to three days at the district conference, three to four hours per day of cultural and site tours, and three to four hours per day of free time with host families.
For each team member, the Foundation provides the most economical round-trip airline ticket between the home and host countries. Rotarians in the host area provide for meals, lodging, and group travel within their district.