ESSEX was founded in 1966. To facilitate a smoother functioning program, a number of Rotary Districts in New England and the Middle Atlantic States combined into a consortium called the Eastern States Student Exchange or ESSEX.
The Eastern States Student Exchange Program (ESSEX) organizes both the long-term and short-term Rotary student exchanges for 35 Rotary International Districts, including District 7255. ESSEX works with districts in 16 states in the eastern United States, Bermuda and Quebec, Canada, and exchanges with over 30 countries worldwide.
ESSEX is certified to operate youth exchanges. They are a member of the Council on Standards for International Travel (CSIET), a nonprofit organization that sets standards and monitors compliance for international educational travel. ESSEX is also approved by the U.S. Department of State and Department of Homeland Security. ESSEX also complies with Rotary International’s certification policy for exchange program participation.