The Rotary Youth Exchange program offers transformative benefits for everyone involved—students, host families, and Rotary clubs alike. For inbound students, the program opens a world of cultural understanding, language acquisition, and personal growth.
Outbound students gain global perspectives and the maturity that comes from living in a new and sometimes challenging environment. Host families and sponsoring clubs, in turn, are enriched by the cultural exchange, forming lasting international friendships and helping shape young global citizens. A recent presentation by inbound cultural youth exchange student Sho Fujimoto from Yamaguchi City, Japan, perfectly illustrated these benefits. Sho introduced his host club to his family—including his beloved dog Elmer—and gave an engaging overview of his beautiful home region, known for its natural beauty and historical significance. He shared his love of tennis, his fascination with Canadian culture, and the humorous confusion he first experienced when locals asked, “How do you find Canada?”—to which he initially replied, “On a map.” Now, Sho speaks with enthusiasm about everything he’s learned here and the friendships he's built. As he continues to pursue his dream of becoming a diplomat working toward global peace, Sho embodies Rotary’s mission of fostering understanding and goodwill across cultures and borders.