ROTARY FRIENDSHIP EXCHANGE
An interesting Rotary program of fellowship is the Rotary Friendship Exchange. This activity, originally recommended by the New Horizons Committee in 1981, is intended to encourage Rotarians and spouses to visit with Rotarian families in other parts of the world. It may be conducted on a club-to-club or district-to- district basis.

The idea is for several Rotarian couples to travel to another country on the Rotary Friendship Exchange. Later the hospitality is reversed when the visit is exchanged. After a successful pilot experiment, the Rotary Friendship Exchange has become a permanent program of Rotary.

The Rotary Friendship Exchange is frequently compared to the Group Study Exchange program of The Rotary Foundation, except that it involves Rotarian couples who personally pay for all expenses of their intercountry experience. Doors of friendship are opened in a way which could not be duplicated except in Rotary.

Rotarians seeking an unusual vacation and fellowship experience should learn more about the Rotary Friendship Exchange. Some unusual Rotary adventures are awaiting you!

SHORT TERM EXCHANGE PROGRAMME (STEP)
The Rotary International Short Term Exchange Program (S.T.E.P.) is an extraordinary adventure that allows students to discover new horizons. For a period of 6 to 8 weeks (or longer), they have the opportunity to act as young ambassadors, promoting friendship between Rotary Clubs and Rotarians and between schools, churches and families. The main benefit of this program is the cultural knowledge that the participants acquire. They learn lessons that equip them to become future leaders in their communities and beyond. This relates directly to Rotary's advancement of international understanding, goodwill and world peace.

1. Aims
To improve understanding between people of a different culture and to enable the student to experience life in another country. To give the student a basic knowledge of another language. It can be amazing how quickly students acquire an understanding of a second or third language. To offer the student the opportunity to take different courses than those they have been studying in their native country. To give the student the opportunity to be an ambassador of their country.

2. Basic Requirements of a Student
A candidate should be in year 10 or 11, and be 15 or 16 years of age. He/she should be a good all round student, in the top third of his/her class. A candidate should demonstrate good character, exemplary behaviour and politeness, have a pleasant personality and be able to communicate well with all age groups. The chosen student should also have the ability to adjust to different living conditions. A candidate will be judged and selected on his/her own merit. Students of Rotary families will have no advantage over those of non Rotary families. The student will be hosted by a family and will attend school at no expense to themselves. They will receive a monthly allowance of NZD100 or equivalent during the exchange. The student should be totally integrated with their host family, assuming the usual duties and responsibilities of a member of that family according to their age. They must respect the wishes of the host family and must follow the rules and regulations imposed by Rotary and by their host family. STEP students are normally "matched up" with a student of similar age in the host country and the "match" will be hosted by the student family.

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