Loves Park Rotary Club Secretary and Youth Exchange Officer Ciara Stahly says she was “completely changed” by her personal experience as a youth exchange student to Sweden while in high school. That experience prompted her to continue involvement with Rotary after college graduation and she now is part of the District 6420 Youth Exchange team. Joining Stahly at this week’s meeting was Alisa Stewart, president of the Mendota Rotary Club. She took part in a six-week exchange to Bolivia with two students while teaching in Putnam County. She noted that the Mendota Club has hosted two youth exchange students since she joined the club.
Stahly and Stewart praised the Rotary program as the flagship youth exchange offering. Its goal is to promote peace through cultural understanding and develop leadership. It will be sponsoring 9,000 students in 40 countries. They said all clearances and oversight are covered making club sponsorships easy. They added that there is something special about building lifelong relationships as a result of the youth exchanges.
Stewart and Stahly encouraged Sycamore Rotarians to consider raising funds to host a youth exchange next fall. Both the short term and long-term programs will be offered.