This June, the Rotary Club of Walkerton was proud to hear from Samantha Kim, a Grade 11 student at Sacred Heart High School, who recently returned from the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) conference held at Western University in London, Ontario. Samantha was one of two students sponsored by our club to attend the four-day leadership program, along with fellow student Claire and Rotary Youth Exchange student Vitoria from Brazil.
Samantha gave a moving in-person presentation to the club, describing the weekend as “one of the most inspiring, eye-opening, and life-changing experiences” of her life.
From the moment she arrived, not knowing anyone, Samantha embraced the experience wholeheartedly. She was placed in the Blue Team and quickly bonded with others through team-building challenges and discussions that explored the true meaning of leadership. One highlight she shared was a communication challenge involving toy blocks—chaotic but eye-opening, teaching the value of clarity, patience, and trust.
But the most powerful moment came during an activity called Build a Community, where groups faced unequal resources and harsh penalties, simulating real-world inequality. Samantha’s group was “cramped, restricted, and constantly penalized,” and the experience deeply affected her. “We learned this wasn’t just a game—it was a reflection of how systemic inequality and marginalization operate in the real world,” she explained.
Guest speakers, such as Survivor winner Maryanne Oketch and youth advocate Dillion Mendes, added to the experience, emphasizing that leadership is about perseverance, heart, and action—not status or popularity. Samantha’s team capped the weekend with a creative showcase that tackled themes of bias and discrimination using a courtroom drama to investigate the “kidnapping” of their team mascot, Barty the Triceratops.
Although her team didn’t win the competition, Samantha concluded, “We discovered that leadership isn’t about being the loudest voice. It’s about empathy, collaboration, and standing up for others. I’m so grateful to Rotary for this experience.”
While Claire was unable to attend the club meeting in person, she shared her own reflections by message—and they echoed Samantha’s in many powerful ways.
“At RYLA, I dove right in with the Blue Group Friday night, making incredible friends and memories through various activities,” Claire wrote.
One standout was an activity called Building from the Ground Up, where teams had to build a structure without seeing the final design. “It really hammered home the power of teamwork and clear communication,” Claire said.
She also described the Build a Community exercise as “eye-opening,” noting how it exposed inequalities and the need for empathy in leadership. “This activity starkly illustrated the unfairness that can exist within communities. It made me think deeply about how to address such disparities.”
Another memorable activity involved guiding blindfolded partners to lunch—a fun but trust-building experience. Claire also appreciated the lighter moments, including outdoor sports and a Saturday night dance, which gave everyone the chance to form even deeper connections.
“RYLA was an absolutely incredible experience that I would jump at the chance to do again,” Claire said. “The friendships I forged and the leadership skills I developed are things I’ll carry with me for a long time.”
What is RYLA?
The Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is a transformative leadership program for youth aged 18–30, organized by Rotary clubs around the world. Participants engage in interactive challenges, leadership workshops, and personal growth activities during a multi-day retreat. RYLA helps young people discover their leadership potential, deepen their sense of community, and connect with other future leaders.
