Rotary Youth Exchange Switzerland

What Rotary Youth Exchange Switzerland does

Rotary Youth Exchange Switzerland (legal entity: Verein Rotary Jugendaustausch Schweiz/Liechtenstein) is a nonprofit association founded in 1950 that operates international youth exchange programs for Swiss and Liechtenstein teenagers aged 15-18 (and up to 24 for camps). It is part of the Rotary International network, which spans 46,000 clubs across 200 countries with 1.4 million members, and sits under the umbrella association Intermundo (founded 1987) for quality certification. The organization runs three core programs: the Jahresaustausch (Year Exchange, CHF 4,900) — a full school-year immersion with 2-4 host families and attendance at a local public school; the Ferienaustausch (Vacation Exchange, CHF 400) — a 3-4 week family-based stay; and Rotary Camps (CHF 250 administration fee plus CHF 0-1,000 participation) — short international camps of 10-14 days. The model is reciprocal: Swiss students going abroad are matched with foreign students coming to Switzerland, with host families providing accommodation and meals at no charge.

Distribution and delivery are decentralized through 220+ Rotary Clubs across Switzerland and Liechtenstein, each staffed with designated Youth Exchange Officers who recruit students, vet host families, and provide on-the-ground support. A small central office of 9 employees in Lenzburg coordinates operations, registration via the multi-language website (German/French/Italian), 24/7 emergency hotline, and ancillary services including pre-departure language preparation (Rosetta Stone and Flying Teachers) and an optional end-of-year Europe tour via Belo-Europe Travel. Go-to-market relies on community-led and event-driven motions: information sessions at schools and Rotary Clubs, welcome/debriefing weekends, and alumni (Rotex) word-of-mouth referrals.

The business model is fee-based nonprofit: families pay program fees covering consultation, matching, school placement, counselor assignment, orientation, debriefing, and a Rotary blazer, while insurance (CHF 800-1,500), travel, visa, and personal expenses are excluded. Students receive monthly pocket money (CHF 100-150) during year exchanges. The organization monetizes each matched pair only once (outbound) per program cycle, with inbound flows largely subsidized by sending-country Rotary Clubs. There is no disclosed revenue figure, no venture or philanthropic funding rounds in the input, and no evidence of growth-stage capital deployment.

Name

Rotary Youth Exchange Switzerland

Legal name

Verein Rotary Jugendaustausch Schweiz/Liechtenstein

Website

https://rotaryswissyep.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1950

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Rotary Youth Exchange Switzerland is a nonprofit association founded in 1950 that runs year-long, vacation, and camp exchange programs for Swiss and Liechtenstein teenagers aged 15-24, leveraging a network of 220+ local Rotary Clubs and the global Rotary International infrastructure across 200 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Lenzburg

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Jahresaustausch (Year Exchange) Program Fees: Swiss families pay a comprehensive program fee of CHF 4,900 that covers accommodation, meals, school expenses, counseling, orientation weekends, debriefing, and a Rotary Blazer. The fee does not include travel, school uniform, or personal expenses.
2. Camp Administration and Participation Fees: Administration fee of CHF 250 plus variable camp participation fees (CHF 0-1000) depending on the camp. Camps are organized by Rotary Districts worldwide.
3. Ferienaustausch (Vacation Exchange) Fees: Program fee of CHF 400 covering consultation, organization, and support. Accommodation and meals with host family included. Additional costs for insurance (CHF 800-1000), visa, and travel not included.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Verein Rotary Jugendaustausch Schweiz/Liechtenstein organizes international youth exchange programs for Swiss and Liechtenstein teenagers, offering year-long (Jahresaustausch), short holiday (Ferienaustausch), and themed Rotary Camp exchanges. The association places participants with volunteer host families abroad and welcomes inbound exchange students into Swiss/Liechtenstein households under the auspices of Rotary International.

Product overview

Rotary Youth Exchange Switzerland offers three core youth exchange programs: (1) the Jahresaustausch (Year Exchange) - a full school year program where students live with 2-4 host families abroad; (2) the Ferienaustausch (Holiday Exchange) - a 3-4 week family-based exchange; and (3) Rotary Camps - international youth camps lasting 10-14 days. All programs serve youth aged 15-24 and operate on a reciprocal basis where Swiss students going abroad are matched with foreign students coming to Switzerland.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Jahresaustausch (Year Exchange) Long-term international exchange program placing Swiss and Liechtenstein teenagers (typically aged 15-18) with volunteer host families abroad for an academic year. Includes Rotary-vetted host family placement, in-country supervision by partner Rotary Clubs, and reciprocal hosting arrangements.
• Ferienaustausch (Holiday Exchange) Short-term international exchange program during school holidays that places participants with host families abroad for a multi-week cultural and language immersion experience, organized through partner Rotary Clubs.
• Rotary Camps Themed group exchange camps (typically lasting several weeks) organized by Rotary Clubs abroad in collaboration with Rotary Youth Exchange Switzerland, focusing on specific topics such as language, culture, or adventure activities for international teen participants.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 8,000 youth participate in Rotary Youth Exchange programs worldwide each year
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• IntermundocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1987Swiss umbrella association for youth exchange organizations, founded in 1987, advocating for youth exchange in politics, business, and society. Intermundo provides quality certification and standards for Swiss youth exchange organizations.
• Rotary InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent global organization founded in 1905 with 1.4 million members in 46,000 clubs across 200 countries. Provides the governance framework, global network, and brand for the youth exchange program. RYE Switzerland operates under the authority of Rotary International and its district structure.
• Rotary Clubs in Switzerland/LiechtensteincoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor220+ local Rotary Clubs across Switzerland and Liechtenstein serve as the primary operational partners, recruiting participants, finding host families, organizing local activities, and providing ongoing support to exchange students.
• Host Country Rotary Clubs (Worldwide)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRotary Clubs in destination countries provide local support, school placement, host family matching, and ongoing supervision for outbound students. Essential for program delivery in 200+ countries.
• Belo-Europe Travel AgencyminorOthersTravel agency that organizes the optional 17-day Europe tour for inbound students at the end of their exchange year. Students pay for this trip independently.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• STS Foundation: STS Foundation runs high school exchange programs in multiple European countries with volunteer host families. Directly comparable to RYE Switzerland on product, geography overlap, and host-family model.
• Experiment in International Living (World Learning): Experiment is a long-running nonprofit exchange program offering homestay and language immersion for high school students worldwide. Comparable product, demographic, and nonprofit host-family approach.
• Greenheart Travel: Greenheart Travel is a nonprofit-affiliated organization offering high school exchange and short-term homestay programs for teens. Comparable on year-exchange product and target demographic.
• AFS Intercultural Programs: AFS is one of the largest global nonprofit student exchange organizations, offering year, semester, and short-term programs hosted by volunteer families in dozens of countries. Closely comparable to RYE Switzerland in mission, reciprocal host-family model, and target age group.
• InterExchange: InterExchange is a nonprofit cultural exchange organization offering high school and au pair programs in multiple countries. Comparable on year-long student exchange and target age 15-18 cohort.
• Youth For Understanding (YFU): YFU is a long-standing nonprofit international student exchange organization operating year, semester, and short-term programs with volunteer host families worldwide. Directly comparable product set and target demographic to Rotary Youth Exchange Switzerland.
• Nacel Educational Foundation: Nacel is a nonprofit-focused international student exchange organization offering year, semester, and summer programs with host families. Directly comparable product set, target age, and host-family model to RYE Switzerland.

Broad incumbents

• EF Education First: EF is a large global education company offering high school exchange, language travel, and degree programs. Comparable on the exchange/language-immersion product, but as a broad incumbent with far larger scale and commercial model.
• CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange): CIEE is a large, established international education organization running high school abroad, study abroad, and exchange programs with broader portfolio and scale. Comparable on year-long high school exchange, but operates a wider commercial portfolio.

Others

• World Youth Student and Educational Travel Confederation (WYSE Travel Confederation): WYSE is an industry body representing youth and student travel organizations including exchange and language-travel providers. Relevant as ecosystem/industry context rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/rotaryswissyep
• Instagraminstagram.com/rotaryswissyep
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rotary-youth-exchange-switzerland

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rotary Youth Exchange Switzerland