Youth Initiatives

Rotary Burlington Lakeshore supports Youth Exchange Students and Exchange Hosts

Youth Exchange – It’s not a year in your life, it’s a life in a year!

Rotary Youth Exchange is the largest Exchange program in the World with over 8,000 students on exchange annually and 80 countries participating. Exchanges are done on a district to district basis; in other words, a close relationship is established with the exchange partners.  Rotary is proud of this program that has been in existence since 1927.
 
Each year, Burlington candidate recruitment takes place in the fall.  We are looking for Students with a strong work ethic, outgoing personality, good communication skills, involved in their community or school, willing to try new things, and be a good ambassador for Canada, Burlington, Rotary, and themselves.
 
Presentations are made at each of the local high schools by teams from all four Rotary Clubs in Burlington.  An information night is provided in early November to allow parents/guardians and applicants the opportunity to learn about the Youth Exchange Program and Hosting from Rotarians, past exchange students, and foreign exchange students in Burlington.
 

Suitable candidates and their parents/guardians are interviewed by a panel in early November. Selected candidates, upon notification and acceptance, are embraced into the exchange program and provided with training starting in January until their departure in the summer for the year of Exchange.  

Hosting is the next best thing to being an Exchange Student!
During the Exchange, the incoming student stays with between 2 and 5 Rotary screened Host Families.  The student is treated like a member of the family and is provided with room and board.  Hosting provides an opportunity to learn about the culture of the student and teach about our culture through daily activities such as cooking and taking care of errands.
 
To find out more – please download the pamphlet.
To apply – download the application form.
 
Links to information videos:
  1. D7080 RYE Clara’s video (1:27) Rotary Youth Exchange from an international exchange student perspective:  https://youtu.be/Tp0lvRrehOI.
  2. D7080 RYE Info & Announcement Day (2:47) Information about the D7080 Rotary Youth Exchange Program and clips of students at Country Announcement Day: https://youtu.be/DbVpk8S7tns.
  3. Rotary Youth Exchange District 7080 Goodbye Video 2013 2014 (8:17) Video clip of Rotary Youth Exchange Students reflecting on their exchange and saying goodbye: https://youtu.be/FqtgwAYqH74.
  4. 2016-2017 Rotary District 7080 Inbound Exchange Students Video clip of Rotary Youth Exchange Students reflecting on their exchange: https://youtu.be/YMiCs_SPjGY.

Rotaract is a Rotary Club for those 18-30+ years old. It generally has a more casual vibe than a traditional Rotary Club. However the passion for ‘Service Above Self’ is just the same, as members enjoy working together to better their local and international community. There is also a focus on personal and professional development through speakers, workshops, mentoring, volunteering, fundraising, networking etc. Many Rotaractors are former members of Interact Clubs in local high schools.
You will find Rotaract Clubs at many colleges and universities but there are also community-based clubs such as the recently renamed and relaunched Rotaract Club of Halton. This club is growing rapidly as more young people from across Halton Region become aware of it. Please let your friends and extended family know about Halton Rotaract via https://www.haltonrotaract.com/.

To learn more about Rotaract in Canada, visit https://www.rotaractcanada.org.

The Rotary Club sponsors participation in this unique opportunity to gain a better understanding of our democratic institutions, the diversity of our country, and the privileges and responsibilities of Canadian citizenship. This is a 4-day program held annually in Ottawa in May. 

Rotary Burlington Lakeshore is responsible for the transportation costs to and from Ottawa for attendance in the program. The Rotary Club of Ottawa provides accommodations, meals, and transportation during the program in the national capital area.  
 
 
To find out more about the Adventure in Citizenship program, visit the “Rotary Adventure in Citizenship Program page.”
 
Adventure in Citizenship 2021 will be held virtually in April 2021. Applications for 2022 will be available in January 2022 so please check back for your chance to take part.

Camp Enterprise provides senior high school students with an introduction to professional, business owner and management careers, through 3 ½ days of exposure to the private enterprise system, the art of negotiation skills, insights into business concepts and the opportunity to have face-to-face discussions with business leaders.

Camp Enterprise is cancelled for 2021. Applications for 2022 will be available in Burlington and Oakville high schools in early 2022.

Visit the official website at https://rotarycampenterprise.ca

 

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is an intensive training program that brings together youth and young adults, to further develop character and leadership skills and learn about Rotary.

To learn more about RYLA, visit https://rotary7080.org/sitepage/ryla

Want to learn more about our Youth initiatives? Contact our, Youth Service Director.

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