Group Study Exchange (GSE) - Annual awards are made to paired Rotary districts to cover travel expenses for a team of non-Rotarians from a variety of professions. District 5830 has paired with two districts this year; District 2980 in Southern India, and District 9210 in Africa. Click on links on the left panel for details.
District 5830 has two exchanges this year, one with District 9210 in Africa, April 23 through May 20, 2010, and another with to Rotary District 2980 in India January 4 through February 1, 2010, Travel, lodging and meals are paid for. The goal of each trip is to provide a professional and cultural exchange, between countries. Applicants cannot be a Rotarian or direct relative of a Rotarian (spouse, parent or child)
Rotarian hosts organize a four- to six-week itinerary of vocational, educational, and cultural points of interest. Since 1965, more than 57,000 individuals (almost 12,000 teams) from 100 countries have participated at a cost of more than $92 million
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.
