2015 ROTARY INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION

The Value of Rotary Exchange

Programs in a Globalized and

Unsettled World

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Moderator

Terry McIntyre – Rotary Club of Barra Mansa-Alvorada,

District 4600, Brazil

Panelists

PDG Edward Thompson - Rotary Club of Winnipeg-

Charleswood, District 5550, Canada

PDG Friedrich Neddermeier - Rotary Club of

Oldenburg-Ammerlan, District 1850, Germany

DGE Viveca Serder - Rotary Club of Malmö-

Möllevången, District 2390, Sweden

Meet the panel

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ROTARY’S STRATEGIC PRIORITIES AND GOALS

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• Object of Rotary

– FOURTH: The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service

• Four-Way Test

• Avenues of Service

ROTARY’S GUIDING PRINCIPLES

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• Develop cultural competence

• Expand awareness, empathy, and promote goodwill and peace

• As exchange participants (both visitors and hosts), we serve as ambassadors of our culture, our traditions, our heritage, and of Rotary

The Power of Exchanges

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• Exchange opportunities through Rotary:

– Rotary Youth Exchange

– Rotary Friendship Exchange

– New Generations Service Exchange

– Vocational Training Teams

– International service/international volunteering

The Power of Exchanges

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Rotary Friendship Exchange

Ed Thompson

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• Reciprocal exchanges between individuals, couples, or groups from two international districts

• Unique travel and cultural opportunity

– Stay in Rotarian’s homes

• Exchange teams, usually led by each district’s Rotary Friendship Exchange Chair, agree on exchange details (dates, duration, itinerary)

Rotary Friendship Exchanges - Overview

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• Immersion– Socialization, food

and drinks, industry, business, housing, entertainment, language

• Global and cultural understanding and awareness

Rotary Friendship Exchanges – Why Participate?

• Expand international Rotary network

– Many exchange participants become not only lifelong friends but also service project partners supporting each other with Rotary initiatives

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• Expenses

• Language

• Time

Rotary Friendship Exchanges – Addressing potential barriers

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New Generations Service Exchange

Friedrich Neddermeier

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5th Avenue of Service

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• Provide university students and young professionals the opportunity to experience professions,education, and culture in another country.

• As their concept of the world expands, they mature and develop a deeper understanding of themselves, others, and the world.

Program Goal

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Participate Ages• Between the ages of 18 and 30• Legal age in host country

Participants• Former exchange students, RYLA participants• Rotaractors, former Rotaractors, former

Interactors• Youth/young adults associated with Rotary

goals

Application• Through local Rotary Club• Reciprocity

Cooperation• Using the Youth Exchange network

Program Features

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Duration: 3-6 weeks

Group size: 6-10 participants, elect team leader from group

Accommodations: Families and/or youth hostels, variety of locations

Content: To gain practical experience in their field or another profession or study curriculum; learn about the host country and the local culture; strong humanitarian and/or vocational component

Group Exchanges

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Duration: Minimum 1 months; typically 1-6 months (visa and country requirements must be considered)

Individual Exchange, Professional Internship, Academic Internship

Participants: High school graduates, university students, trainees, young professionals

Accommodations: Preferably host families; dormitories

Content: Internship / study; integration in local Rotary life; social engagement

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German NGSE with District 4630, Paraná, Brazil

6 participants (18-23 years old) and 1 Rotarian

Week-long program:• Coffee roasting plant• Tropical forest tour• Manioc factory• Waste Recycling• Kindergarten• Electrical power

plant• Sugarcane factory• Ethanol plant• Newspaper interview

Additional experiences:• Cathedral of Maringá• Fresh sugar cane juice• Churrasco and samba dance

lesson• Interact/Rotaract meeting• Iguaçu waterfall• Orchid farm visit• Cachaça, beer, guarana• Boat trip down Rio Paraná• Lunch in the German colony,

Graciosa

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Results

• Cultural, educational, and professional immersion enhances academic, vocational, and personal growth

• Host clubs, families, and communities are enriched by hosting someone from a different culture

• Exposure to different cultures ranks as one of the most powerful ways to promote international understanding and peace

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Busy Bees Pollinate Flowers

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Vocational Training Teams

Viveca Serder

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Jill got to be a very important person and changed the life of my family

Vocational Training Teams

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Vocational Training Teams

• Vocational Training Team: a group of professionals who travel abroad to learn more about their profession or to teach local professionals about a particular field

–Fact sheet available on My Rotary (search Vocational Training Teams)

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Operations in Angola

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Liana, from Brazil, visits Sweden

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Convention in Copenhagen

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Liana and children in Brazil, a grant funded by The Rotary Foundation

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An Italian team in south Sweden

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Organic pig breeding

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…and spumante in Modena

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Farewell Party

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My Ugandan daughter

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Vocational Training Team highlights

• Meeting new people all over the work through the Rotary network

• Cultural immersion– Cooking, eating, discussing cultures, customs,

vocational, etc.

• Mutual professional training

• Improve communities through global grant sponsorship opportunities

• A forum for learning and understanding

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Questions

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• Additional resources in the House of Friendship and online at www.rotary.org/myrotary

• Breakout session evaluation

Thank you!