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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Spending a year studying in another country is a rare opportunity not everyone gets to take.

The Rotary Club of Yellowknife is offering local students the chance to live for a year in a different country. There will be an information evening at St. Patrick high school next Monday at 7 p.m. Interested students should come out with a parent or guardian to learn more.

Susan Huvenaars of the Rotary Club says it is a great opportunity for students, and participants will learn a new language.

"We don't exchange with any English first-language countries," said Huvenaars. "Our district exchanges students with Austria, Brazil, Denmark, France, Hungary, Japan, Poland, Sweden, Taiwan, Belgium, Chile, Finland, Germany, India, Mexico, Slovakia, Switzerland and Thailand."

Students have some choice of destination, but they may not get their top country.

"Students get to choose their top ten countries of where they would like to go," said Huvenaars. "It's sort of first come first served. Our application deadline for paper work is Dec. 1. The first person to get their application there, probably they'll get to go to their top three choice of countries."

Huvenaars said each student who goes out of country will have a counsellor to facilitate and support them through the application process. The counsellor will assist the student with challenges they may face in their exchange country.

The Rotary club wants applicants who have above average academic ability and communication skills to apply.

They want young people who can adapt to new food, culture, language and living conditions. Applicants must have leadership skills, be independent, have good health and a good reputation. Students who are interested must be between 15.5 and 17.5 years of age by Aug. 31, 2009.

Huvenaars said students who are interested after the information session will be asked to complete an application form. They will have an interview with a selection committee. All students who apply will be informed of their status by mid-October.

Kristi Swihart is a former Yellowknife student who went to Brazil in 2006-2007. She encourages other Yellowknife students to apply for the Rotary exchange program.

"It is a really great experience," said Swihart. "You get to see the world and learn new languages. You learn things about yourself that you would have never realized otherwise if you didn't go on the exchange. I learned I'm a lot more adaptable to things than I thought. I can learn new languages and live in a place with people I don't know."

Huvenaars encourages interested students to contact her before Monday night so she can be prepared to answer any questions they may have.

"The purpose of an exchange is to go and learn about different languages and all that other kind of stuff," said Huvenaars. "It's not to go to a specific country."