2015 ROTARY INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION

The Value of Rotary Exchange Programs in a Globalized and Unsettled World

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ModeratorTerry McIntyre – Rotary Club of Barra Mansa-Alvorada, District 4600, Brazil

PanelistsPDG Edward Thompson - Rotary Club of Winnipeg-Charleswood, District 5550, CanadaPDG Friedrich Neddermeier - Rotary Club of Oldenburg-Ammerlan, District 1850, GermanyDGE 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!