RI District 1040 Youth Opportunities Website Rotary Youth Exchange Project Leader: Cynthia Edwards

Youth Exchange  Youth Exchange students spend up to a year living with host families and attending school in a different country, and get to enjoy the rich experiences involved in seeing another part of the  The opportunities in Rotary's Youth Exchange programme are so numerous that young people are only limited by their own horizons! Youth Exchange programme offers a unique opportunity to spend time abroad and continue their education. o Meet new people and make friendships that will last a lifetime. o Develop new skills that will be invaluable for the rest of their life. o Learn a new way of living - maybe even a new language. o Enjoy an unforgettable experience

The list is impressive in terms of low cost, no reciprocal ties for young people. The sponsoring Rotary club does not have to pay the flight or the insurance costs involved for the travelling young person, they may wish to contribute but it is not compulsory. Looking to the summer 2011 when most of the camps/tours take place we as a district youth team need to raise awareness of the incredible opportunities that do exist right now ' off the shelf ' Each is unique, each stipulates the age group involved, each gives the costs involved (some have a cost others do not) some music trips for example I have forwarded to music heads in schools in my area this RIBI coordinated programme is arguably too good to miss, BUT to date we in 1040 have not engaged with any of the camps/tours offered Youth Exchange Costs

To date we in 1040 have not engaged with any of the camps/tours offered Why ? is the first question What can we do to change this ? is the next question These exchange opportunities need to be advertised & promoted to encourage clubs to take up and convey the details to schools, colleges, youth groups & young adults generally in their local areas. They are fully open to relatives of Rotarians ! Rotary Youth Camps & Tours

‘Youth Exchange’ is a term used by Rotary International in a very broad sense to cover all the ways in which young people can travel abroad, to get to know each other, their way of life, their thinking and their culture, so promoting international understanding and friendships between peoples of all nations, in the true spirit of Rotary. The age range is years and activities include exchanges, camps and tours, group exchanges, youth study exchanges, pen friends, hospitality without exchange, and school year exchanges. Sons and daughters of both Rotarians and non Rotarians are eligible. Rotary Youth Exchange – What is it?

The opportunities in Rotary's Youth Exchange programme are so numerous that young people are only limited by their own horizons! Opportunities can vary from a two week camp or tour, through short term home stays, with or without vocational experiences or academic study, to a full year living and studying in another country. Rotary's Youth Exchange programmes are available to all young people regardless of whether they are related to a Rotarian or not. Through the programmes, Rotary plants in the young people taking part an understanding and tolerance of other cultures and creeds as well as introducing them to the ideals of Rotary Service, and preparing them for the possibility of being the Rotarians of the future. Youth Exchange

Rotary Camp Switzerland 2010 Sophie Edwards Sponsored by Ackworth Rotary Club From the 23rd August to 4th September I attended a camp at the National Sports Centre in Tenero, Switzerland, which was organised by a local Rotary Club. Our group consisted of twenty young people who came from all over the world including Turkey, Bulgaria, Italy, Spain and America. The camp was a mixture of activities such as kayaking, hiking, sailing, archery and badminton, and a number of trips to places of interest. These included a visit to a local winery and a boat tour, several museums and a military fort. The local Rotary Club also invited us for several meals where we had the opportunity to meet the local members and thank them for their hospitality. The camp was a great opportunity for me as I got to meet and socialise with people from many different cultures, travel independently for the first time, and spend time exploring the local parts of Switzerland. I would recommend such a camp to any young person as it is guaranteed to be a great adventure with any lasting memories and experiences. Awardee Sophie Edwards