The five members of a Rotary Group Study Exchange to the state of Gujarat were selected at the weekend, with candidates from throughout Rotary district 9980, from Temuka south, vying for places.
Leader Murray Kennedy, of Cromwell, said the calibre of applicants was exceptionally high.
"All had been through one elimination already and we had 12 candidates to interview and narrow down to five, which was a real challenge."
The team is: lawyer Gareth Davis (31), of Invercargill, Taieri College teacher Karen Dunlea (38), of Dunedin, Maheno School deputy principal Anne Gordon (38), of Oamaru, veterinary surgeon Ryan Luckman (25), of Waimate, and Timaru Herald photographer Natasha Martin (35).
Cromwell Rotarian Mr Kennedy (57), the chief operating officer at VinPro in Cromwell, was chosen a fortnight ago to lead the team.
The six-week visit begins on January 2 next year and in return, the southern Rotary district will host a team from Gujarat in April and May.
People aged from 25-40 who showed leadership qualities and potential to "make a difference" were eligible to apply for places in the study exchange team, Mr Kennedy said.
"The exchange is a cultural and vocational experience to gain a greater understanding and appreciation of the world we live in.
The team is hosted in Rotarians' homes and get taken to places and experience the culture and work in ways no tourist could ever experience."
Team members would visit Indian Rotary clubs to talk about their life, family and work.
In their first week there, they would speak at a district conference of 2000 Rotarians.
The service club supported an international campaign aimed at eradicating polio and the team would take part in a national polio immunisation day.
One held recently in India involved two million volunteers immunising more than 150 million children, he said.
Each team member is sponsored by a Rotary club within the southern district, and their employers had agreed to them taking six weeks' leave.
