Where will Rotary take our youth?

George French, a Rotary Youth Exchange student from Crookston, Minnesota, USA, participates in a Rotary meeting during his exchange in São Paulo, Brazil.

 

Participants of Rotary’s in-person exchanges live with host families and attend school in another country. 15 April 2023. São Paulo, Brazil.

 

BACKSTORY: In 2022 George won the 4-way test essay contest by the Crookston Rotary Club that also has a student of the month club. 

Rotary members and professional educators host the Missouri Multidistrict RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) Academy, a community service and leadership training program for approximately 100 high school students.

 

The curriculum includes conducting a simulated service project, team building exercises, and an introduction to Rotary principles of Service Above Self and the Areas of Focus over four days in a residential setting.

 

BACKSTORY: Rotary clubs in Districts 6040, 6060, and 6080 promote the event and sponsor the participants. 12 July 2022.

 

University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, Missouri, USA.

Interactor Dustin Kane paints Irma Fuentes' hardware store in Detroit, Michigan, USA, 26 July 2014.

 

Rotarians from Detroit area clubs donated money and labor to assist with these improvements. Fuentes is one of 13 participants in the inaugural LaunchDETROIT program.

 

LaunchDETROIT, a project of Rotary District 6400, offers entrepreneurs and small business owners in the Detroit area free business training, microloans, business mentoring, and networking opportunities.

 

WHERE IS HE NOW? Look up his LinkedIN Profile and note the credit he gives his Rotary experience. Dustin now works for Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency in Michigan.