Impacts of Rotary Youth Exchange

Alan Wylie

Introduction

• Howdy ! “Right proud to be here”• Happy today to share impact of RYE

– RI presidents– Parents– Host Parents– Rotary Districts– Inbound Exchange Students– Outbound Exchange Students

• Reminders why we love this program

Past RI President Ray Klingensmith

• 200 SCRYE Rotary exchange students conducted opening ceremony at New Orleans– Flag Ceremony– Singing songs:

• We are Calling Out Across World, Come Join Us• Thank you for this Chance• We Are the World, We Are the Children• Happy Trails to You

• “Long” standing ovation from 25,000 Rotarians, many with tears in their eyes

• See video at RYE booth in House of Friendship

Opening Ceremony at 2011 Rotary International Convention

Past RI President Carl Wilhelm Stanhammer

• Not only a past RI president, but also a former Rotary Youth Exchange Officer

• Gave presentation at RYE conference prior to RI convention

• Gave an often quoted statement– “If every high school student was RYE

student, we would have no more wars”

Reflections of a Host Family

• Bernie and Patricia Satterwhite hosted Marie Kornek from Germany

• Bernie was tremendously impacted by students saying thank you at host family appreciation banquet

• He was motivated to write a beautiful letter which I often share

Host Father’s Thoughts

• Special bond between Marie, Patricia, and Bernie• Patricia and Bernie’s joy from Marie’s experiences

– Carrying German flag at district banquet attended by RI President

– Having picture taken with RI President– Successes on soccer field

• Parents’ pride – in Marie’s dedication to school work– Hearing Marie’s gratitude and love expressed at host family

appreciation banquet

• Final Comment (Reason for Letter): – Host families have special opportunity to shape young people’s

lives and are richly rewarded by the experience

Rotary District in Australia

• Thankfully tragedy seldom happens, but Kristal Quinn – while in Australia – went into cardiac arrest 3 times

• Was in intensive care in Australia for 3 months• Rolf from Ecuador – “We’ll keep a candle lit in

the window for her”• Was lovingly cared for by Rotarians, especially

by host mother and wife of Rotary counselor• Eventually sent back to Houston and recovered

after months in hospital

Australia, Continued

• Later our district sent Group Study Exchange team to Australian district

• Australia allowed our district to surprise Australian host mother and wife of counselor with Paul Harris Fellow awards at district conference

• Second surprise -- Krystal came out and presented the awards

• Not a dry eye in the house

Esteban Castano to Thailand

• Esteban rated extremely high at district interviews

• Wanted to make a difference

• Immersed himself in culture of Thailand

• Experienced amazing year

• Built video to music which RI shared on RI web site (to be shown at RYE booth)

After Esteban’s Year

• Motivated 15 students to apply for RYE • Following graduation, awarded scholarship to

Dartmouth University• Later selected to attend School of Economics in

London• Served as lead trainer at outbound camp for

past 2 years• Eventually will be amazing Rotarian• Classic example – the more you give, the more

you receive

Charlotte Thornton’s Dream Classroom Project

Charlotte Thornton in Paraguay

• Wanted to improve the education at her high school in Coronel Oviedo – No textbooks; teacher recited; students copied– Not good way to learn

• Approached principal about Rotary donating laptops, projectors, screens for the 3 classrooms– Principal’s face instantaneously lit up with joy at idea

of anything being donated

Charlotte In Paraguay

• Charlotte put together project plan – costs, installation, maintenance, security, … and approached West U Rotary for support

• Club quickly approved project

• Local club supported as well

Charlotte in Paraguay

• Equipment purchased in town 3 hours away

• Big day when equipment presented to school– Television– Guest speakers

• Charlotte with Rotary’s help has revoluntionalized way of learning in Coronel Oviedo for years to come

New Rotarians Active in RYE

• Ralph Gonsoulin – daughter to Sweden, son to Turkey

• John Thornton – daughter to Paraguay

• Jay Taylor – daughter to France

• Roseline Curran – daughter to France

• Kim Scofield – daughter to Poland

• Brazilians – sons and daughters to everywhere

RYE Impact on Rotarian

• My friend Kathy Meurin once said:– The overhead with RYE is huge with all of the

paperwork now required– No amount of paperwork will ever drive me

away from this program

RYE Impact on Students

• As said by Aleksandra Szczepanek from Poland :– How RYE has impacted me:

• I`m a Rotary Exchange Student so I`m the luckiest person in the world.

• I’m a much better person• RYE is something that I’ll never forget

– How RYE impacts the world• Youth Exchange is a wonderful way of providing

peace in the world.