Rotary Youth Exchange- It’s not a year in a life, IT’S A LIFE IN A YEAR!
 
On the first weekend of February, members of the District Youth Exchange Committee gathered together the “inbounds”, those here from other countries, and the newly selected “outbounds”, those heading out in the summer of 2020 for a year of adventure and self-discovery, at YMCA Wanakita in Haliburton for our annual winter training camp. Described as one of the highlights of the year by many Exchange Students, our goal is to observe the students over a weekend of truly Canadian activities- snowshoeing, cross country skiing, team initiatives, and of course, sleeping outdoors in a Quinzee, a snow shelter similar to an igloo that the students build themselves.
 
At the start of the weekend, the students are nervous and quiet, and most have not met each other. But an amazing transformation happens- they quickly learn what it means to be an Exchange Student! Shared expectations and shared fears create a common bond that will turn them into life-long friends.
By the end of the weekend, tears and hugs are the common currency of these international ambassadors. Also during this time, Committee members match the outbound students to the country we feel the best fit for them for their year of exchange, a method unique to our District.
 
I have been in Rotary 34 years, and involved in Youth Exchange for most of that time as a host parent, club counsellor, Youth Exchange Officer, or District Committee member, and it’s hard to describe the satisfaction for both Club and Rotarian that Youth Exchange provides. It is truly energizing for your Club to have a Youth Exchange student and can make meetings much more fun- a Finnish inbound once led us all in the Finnish version of the Bunny Hop on a dreary Thursday morning!
 
Rotary Youth Exchange builds communities - “rebound” students, those recently returned from their year away, integrate back into their communities with an entirely different view of the world, one that can only come from a year of immersion in another culture. The benefits can stretch far and wide, into education, the workplace and Rotary itself, as many rebounds end up joining Rotary. Youth Exchange can literally change the world!
 
I want to help your club change the world through Youth Exchange- if you are ready to learn more about it for the first time, or if you are keen to re-energize a long expired program, our District Committee team is ready to help. We can provide step-by-step guidelines to get you up and running quickly. Please contact me directly:
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Dean Rutty
Chair, 2019-2021 
Youth Exchange Committee | Rotary District 7080  
Ontario, Canada
Cell: 905-802-1547