Rotary's youth programs like Interact, Rotaract, RYLA, and Youth Exchange help develop young leaders while benefiting Rotary. The programs provide opportunities for international understanding, service, and leadership skills. Participants say the programs are essential to their growth. For Rotarians, the programs invest in the future, strengthen communities, and develop future leaders. Rotary is transitioning its New Generations Service Exchange program to a new model for participants ages 18-30 that focuses on humanitarian service. Surveys found many youth program alumni are interested in further Rotary opportunities and joining Rotary clubs.
5. Benefits to Participants
•
•
•
Develop life skills
•
Learn ethical standards and the dignity of all
useful work
•
Gain opportunities for service, locally and
globally
Acquire professional and leadership skills
Build international understanding and respect
for the rights of others
ROTARY’S PROGRAMS FOR YOUNG LEADERS | 5
6. Participant Testimony
“Rotary's…programs have
been essential to my personal
and professional growth.
Thank you Rotary for offering
amazing programs like
Interact, Rotaract, RYLA, and
Youth Exchange. You are
indeed changing lives for the
better!” (USA)
ROTARY’S PROGRAMS FOR YOUNG LEADERS | 6
7. Benefits to Rotarians
• Invest in the future
• Strengthen schools and communities
• Energize club meetings, events, and
service projects
• Instill a lifelong dedication to service
• Develop our next generation of
community leaders and Rotarians
ROTARY’S PROGRAMS FOR YOUNG LEADERS | 7
9. Coordinate with Other District Leaders
• Coordinate with district New Generations Service chairs
• www.rotary.org/alumni
TITLE | 9
10. Connect with Alumni Online
www.facebook.com/interactofficial
www.facebook.com/rotaractor
www.facebook.com/rylaofficial
www.twitter.com/rotaract
Search for: Rotary Youth Exchange
(Closed Group for alumni, host families, and
youth exchange chairs)
ROTARY’S PROGRAMS FOR YOUNG LEADERS | 1 0
11. Cross-promote Rotary’s Other Opportunities for Young Leaders
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
ROTEX
Rotaract
RYLA
Rotary Community Corps
Vocational Training Teams
Rotary Peace Fellowships
Global events
– New Generations Presidential Conferences
– Rotaract and YEO Preconventions
TITLE | 1 1
13. Transition to New Model NGSE
New program model
• Transition began 1 July 2013
• Under oversight of district New Generations Service committees
• Not subject to Youth Exchange certification requirements
• Funded locally
New Generations Service Exchange (NGSE)
• Participants must be above 18 and no older than 30
• Strong humanitarian or vocational service component
• Individuals or groups
• Up to 6 months in duration
• Host district will arrange for local transportation, housing and activities
• Participants must have sponsorship of local Rotary club, district New Generations
Service chair, and governor
RCOP 8.060 New Generations Service Exchange
TITLE | 1 3
14. NGSE Examples
Vocational tour (group)
• Group performing multiple activities surrounding a certain profession (law, tech, etc.)
• Group can stay in both host family homes and hotels/hostels
• Ensure time for fellowship and Rotary events
Unpaid internship/apprenticeship (individual)
• Focused on an individual’s profession or area of study
• Organize placement at corporation or organization for up to 6 months
• Home hosting is suitable
• Involve intern in local Rotaract/ROTEX activities
Service project teams (group or individual)
• Group of young adults interested in particular area of focus (water, education, etc.)
• Organize participation in Rotary service project abroad
• Give participants leadership opportunities!
• Ideal for Rotaractors and ROTEX
TITLE | 1 4
15. Transition Year
Work with district New Generations Service chairs to:
• Obtain approval of District Governor/Governor elect
• Identify projects in your area through community/vocational service
chairs
• Develop NGSE partner relationships from:
– Current exchange partners
– Current international project partners
– Former GSE partners
• Develop partner agreements to set expectations, regardless of
whether or not exchange is reciprocal
• Consider appointing a responsible project-leader or projectcommittee
TITLE | 1 5
16. NGSE Resources
•
Further resources are still in development and
will be distributed to district New Generations
Service chairs soon.
•
Contact your district New Generations Service chair to
see what information is currently available.
•
Email programs@rotary.org with questions or for a
more detailed Powerpoint presentation on NGSE
TITLE | 1 6
17. Why do we still have a membership problem?
TITLE | 1 7
19. Grasstops Youth Programs Survey
• In 2012, the RI New Generations Committee surveyed
approximately 100 high-performing “grasstops” youth
program participants to find out what they think and feel
about their Rotary experience and potential Rotary
membership.
• Over 80% of respondents were former Rotary Youth
Exchange students!
TITLE | 1 9
22. Survey Findings
• Over 60% were very interested in further Rotary
opportunities, such as:
–
–
–
–
New Generations Exchange (now NGSE)
Ambassadorial Scholarships
Peace Fellowships
Vocational Training Teams
• 80% were very interested in joining Rotary!
TITLE | 2 2
24. Background and Results
• Promoted through district chair kits,
Youth Exchange newsletter and
www.rotary.org
• 8,000+ respondents to date
• Wide range of ages, with majority 18-39
years old
• 30% current Rotarians
• Over 65% interested in joining
Rotary!
TITLE | 2 4
This slide shows you the overlap between Rotary’s programs for young leaders. We know that everyone in this room is active in Rotary Youth Exchange, and we encourage you to assess how the other programs for young people can be activated in your district. When all programs are active and well-supported—by sponsor clubs and by district leaders—young people have the greatest chance to transition from one program to the next. For instance, a returning Rotary Youth Exchange student may be the charter president of a new Interact club in her school. RYLA can provide leadership training to Rotaract officers while sparking the creation of new Rotaract clubs…or introducing Rotaractors to New Generations Service Exchange. We know that young people under 30 are in a dynamic time of their life—where they relocate for university, work, or family—this transition is a challenge of the club, the district, and Rotary worldwide. But this challenge is also a great opportunity: we estimate that there are almost 500,000 people that have participated in one or more of these programs annually215,000 Interactors330,000 Rotaractors25,000 RYLA participants7,000, Youth Exchange StudentsThis is a conservative estimate of only one year -- think of how many people have participated in these programs over the last ten, twenty, or fifty years!
Life skills include time management, personal accountability, financial responsibility, and self-esteem.Professional and leadership skills mean being a constructive leader, becoming involved in community improvement, and leadership of youth by youth. RYLA in particular highlights the fundamentals of leadership, ethics of leadership, and problem-solving and decision-making. But you see this leadership development and vocational development in Interact and Rotaract as well….where Rotaractors mentor Interactors and Rotarians mentor Rotaractors. Of course, international understanding makes you think of youth exchange, but this focus is found in all of our programs. For instance, each Interact club selects an annual project that builds intercultural understanding. Rotaract also provides opportunities from cross-cultural connection by correspondence, Rotaract home hosting, and Rotaract twin clubs.All of our programs give young people the chance to act locally and globally to improve their communities and communities worldwide. This is a key value of Rotary.
This is from an actual participant whose Rotary journey included all of our programs…and whose life positively changed. Now we will talk about some of the new opportunities presented by policy changes, by Rotary initiatives, and by projects initiated by Rotarians and others worldwide.
Sponsoring a Rotaract or Interact club, planning a RYLA or sending and hosting Youth Exchange students requires a lot of resources from a club or district, however the benefits of supporting Rotary’s next generation far outweigh the efforts put in.
As people intimately familiar with Rotary Youth Exchange, these surveys don’t tell us anything we don’t already know: youth programs are an integral part of Rotary’s future, both in terms of attracting future members from former participants and their families, as well as instilling the value of service in young people. As a Rotarian, you can help foster an environment in your district and around your club where Rotarians and former exchange students work together as friends, colleagues, and partners in service. Set a goal for three joint activities over the year which may include a social event, a service project, or a professional development opportunity. Create mentorship relationships between individual Rotarians and Rotaractors. Do a joint service project with Interactors. And plan a social event that is interesting to Rotarians and New Generations participants alike. Remember, RYLA is the most flexible and adaptable of our programs, and it’s a great way to energize incoming leaders—connect young people who have participated in different programs—and celebrate the end of a university term or a school year. Tips, resources, website banners, videos, downloadable resources, and colorful promotion cards to share with Rotarians in your districts can be found at the link on this site. One of the cards has specific tips for staying connected with former program participants! In the next weeks, RI will be launching a survey that, for the first time, will gather information from both TRF Alumni, such as Peace Fellows, and former RI program participants such as YEX students in the same place. Also, Rotaract Member Access.
You can also connect with us online!
These are just a few of the other programs and activities that Rotary clubs and districts offer that could appeal to program alumni. Consider providing alumni contact information to district chairs in which the alumni resides – this is especially important for alumni if they leave home to attend university.
The RI Board approved a plan to transition these exchanges to a new service model, beginning 1 July 2013. To accommodate already planned New Generations Exchanges, it is understood that these exchanges administered under the Rotary Youth Exchange program may continue through 30 June 2014. New Generations Service Exchange (NGSE):will be under the oversight of district New Generations Service committees; these exchanges will no longer be administered by district Youth Exchange committees, and districts will not be subject to Youth Exchange certification requirements for New Generations Service Exchange activitywill be open to young adults 18-30, but over the age of majority in the host countrymust include a strong humanitarian or vocational service component, such as participating in a service project, an internship, or vocational trainingare flexible and may be organized for individuals or groups, be reciprocal or one-way, and last as long as six monthsand must be funded locally; like Rotary Youth Exchange, no funding mechanism is available through RI or The Rotary Foundation
These are just a few of the different ways NGSE can be implemented.
How many of your districts have New Generations Servicechairs? Do you know them? Invite them to your next committee meeting!Take a few minutes and write down a few of the local service projects your club or district has performed in recent years.Now write down any of the corporations or industries with which your club/district has a relationship, either through past project sponsorship or Rotary connections.These can all be a part of your district’s NGSE!
Where we have more interaction is with “grasstops” participants. If the grassroots are our base—the 500,000+ participants that cycle in through our programseach Rotary year—then the grasstops are the much smaller number that are prominent members of the global community. They’re key influencers, they are heavy users of social media, they create things (wikis, videos, and campaigns to promote Rotaract) and they organize and inspire other program participants. For example: in an election, the grassroots are people who turn out to vote. Maybe they will also show up for a rally or go to a local opportunity to call voters in swing states. The grasstops individuals still vote, but they’re the ones that also host the debate watching party, provide pizza for a phone bank in their apartment, and offer to drive people to the polls. These are highly engaged folks. The area of grasstops participants that we have the most contact with at the Secretariat are Rotaractors.
Then we asked them to use 3 words to describe Rotary – and again, most of the responses were overwhelmingly positive…. [CLICK]…with a few exceptions.
Promoted through district chair kits, Youth Exchange newsletter and www.rotary.org8,000+ respondents to dateWide range of ages, with majority 18-39 years old30% current RotariansOver 65%interested in joining Rotary!
So… after all this, why do we still have a membership problem in some areas?