The Business of Rotary Youth Exchange

A Global Venture

Building Vehicles of Peace

Al Kalter, ChairmanRotary Youth Exchange Florida

Components of any business

Ideas

Investors

Suppliers

Customers

Products

Marketing

Ideas …

Help cultures to know each other

Bring the world into our communities– Building Communities

Open up the world to our citizens– Bridging Continents

Invest in our young people

Build international understanding and peace

Ideas …

Carl-Wilhelm StenhammarRotary International President, 2005-06

Why do you feel the Rotary Youth Exchange program is so important?

“One of our goals is to create peace and better understanding between people. I think Rotary’s Youth Exchange program is the best way of doing that. My dream is for every 17-year-old to become a Youth Exchange student. If we could achieve this, there would be no more wars.”

Components of any business

Ideas

Investors

Suppliers

Customers

Products

Marketing

Ideas = Rotary Ideals

Investors = Parents and District Governors

Suppliers = Sponsor districts/clubs

Customers = Host districts/clubs

Products = Students

Marketing = Selection/Preparation

Defining our product …

New models every year– Bright, shiny, with lots of energy– Often consume a lot of fuel– Exported all over the world; imported too– Imports usually outnumber exports– Imports often better quality than exports– Exports often have features that are not really

suited for the international market

Defining our product …

How about a test drive?

www.ryeflorida.org

The Youth Exchange ExperienceMackenzie Laporte– Outbound to Lithuania, 2009-10

“I like the person I'm becoming, and as every day passes I feel that person growing. I am somehow more sure of myself, more sure of what I want. But in other ways, I am just as lost as anyone else, and I question everything I do. I guess that transformation will never be complete; how could it be? Since I've seen a little more of the world, I have realized that with each new person I meet, I gain new perspectives, and in each new place I see, I can always find wonder.”

“I am developing a thirst for new experiences, and I am not the scared little girl who arrived in Lithuania seven months ago. I am no longer intimidated by what I don't understand. I have found such a good place inside myself, that I don't need to be afraid. I am now aware that the only person in charge of how I feel is myself. And I am constantly surprised by just how good things really are.”

The Youth Exchange ExperienceTajah Schroff– Outbound to Ecuador, 2005-06

“Hector gave another introduction speech, explaining the role of the medicine man in a society, his duties and responsibilities, his training. Domingo then lit the fire in the middle of the hut, and rolled a couple of cigar-type things. One by one, we took our seat on the chair in the middle, and Domingo performed the traditional cleansing ritual on us, brushing us with a small bunch of leaves, and blowing smoke down our backs and around our faces.”

“With every hug from a family member, every outing with friends, every kind word or encouragement, I create a new voice, one that says that even though my time here will end, my impact here never will. I might be gone, but I am damn sure taking a part of the heart of every person that I have met here with me when I go, and I’m leaving behind a million parts of my own.”

The Youth Exchange ExperienceMike Williams– Outbound to Italy, 2005-06

“Now I have a new feeling in my soul, I am not sure if I know exactly what that is. It's a strange feeling, unlike anything I've ever felt before. One day I will wake up and it will be July 14th, the day I come home. And then I have to say goodbye to it all, My families, My new friends, My new life, I don't wanna go home... if you ask me, I feel as if I am already home.”

“Believe it or not I think I am enjoying myself more on this farm then I ever have in the city. Maybe it's the smell screwin' with my thinkin' juice, or maybe I'm just havin' the time of my life.”

The Youth Exchange ExperienceAriana Stark– Outbound to Hungary, 2010-11

“I’ve decided that I want to make this year extraordinary. So far, I’ve worked to embrace what may seem strange, solve possible communication problems, and have begun making those connections that make this very large world seem so much smaller.”

“I’ve stepped outside of my comfort zone, into the realm of the unknown. The first step is always the hardest, but it’s the one that’s most worth the taking.”

The Youth Exchange ExperienceMatt Hagler– Outbound to Russia, 2004-05

“The raw horse didn’t taste so strange anymore. It wasn’t much different than reaching into a bag of potato chips or popcorn; doubts only arose in me after seeing the occasional purple vein emerging from a chunk of the frozen meat.”

“After the play ended our group of five went to a nearby café. We were constantly being watched since we also represented five different countries. After all, one foreigner in Yakutsk is unreal enough but five means we must have been banished here.”

The Youth Exchange ExperienceAndrijana Krasnec– Inbound from Croatia to Lancaster, PA

(courtesy of Craig Nelson, D5030, Issaquah WA)

“The year I spent as an exchange student turned out to be much more than I had possibly expected. Growing up in communist Yugoslavia, I was brought up not to trust strangers. My family lived in a constant state of fear from the Communist party that was involved in all the aspects of our lives.”

“My involvement with Rotary members showed me a different side of human nature, one I had previously experienced only in my family. I was deeply touched by the sincere interest of my host families, counselor, and Rotarians about the political situation in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and especially by their willingness to help.”

The Youth Exchange ExperienceAndrijana Krasnec– Inbound from Croatia to Lancaster, PA

(courtesy of Craig Nelson, D5030, Issaquah WA)

“Today, fifteen years later, I am Advisor to the Vice Prime Minister in the Government of the Republic of Croatia. Two months ago I graduated from Harvard Kennedy School. I doubt I would have the courage to apply to Harvard, had I not had the experience of being a Rotary Exchange Student.”

“The idea of service and care for the world I live in was sparked in me by the Rotary Club when I was a teenager. I am living the mission of service ever since.”

The Youth Exchange ExperienceJacob Dobbs– Outbound to Thailand, 2004-05

“Now, as I write this report, the death toll climbs to about 70,000. I have been trying my best to take advantage of the situation that I was put in, especially since so many families and local people were not as lucky as I had been. Yesterday I spent the entire day at City Hall, where over 30 representatives of Embassies from around the world tried to help the victims fix their passport or money problems and send them straight to Bangkok. The area was filled with boards of fliers with the faces of missing loved ones, and a large hospital board posted pictures of people that were too mangled to recognize. I was an English – Spanish – Thai translator for the tourists, basically escorting people through the whole process of getting enough paperwork done to get sent back to their countries.”

The Youth Exchange ExperienceJacob Dobbs– Outbound to Thailand, 2004-05– Graduated from Florida International Univ.– Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholar in China

“Right now I'm still in Shanghai, finishing my thesis for my Master's degree in Chinese Economy at Fudan University while developing an Experience gift company that I started about a year ago.”

“I also just got engaged to Lana Yang, whom I actually met in Thailand about 6 years ago and have been keeping in touch since getting to China (pretty sure this says enough about Rotary's influence in my life!). We're having a Chinese style wedding in her hometown in Kunming, China this January.”

The Youth Exchange ExperienceJacob Dobbs– Outbound to Thailand, 2004-05– Graduated from Florida International Univ.– Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholar in China

“In terms of Rotary, I just finished my year as President of the Rotaract Club of Shanghai and now sit on the board as a director. We have been doing food and clothing drives, orphanage trips, projects to help migrant schoolchildren, and even a project to renovate a hospital in the DPRK.”

“Perhaps the biggest message I can give is this: Beware - becoming part of any Rotary program means a lifelong commitment to an open mind and desire to help others. Take every challenge as an opportunity to serve and give without holding anything back - you will build some of the strongest lifelong relationships in the process.”

The Youth Exchange ExperienceMike Williams– Outbound to Italy, 2005-06

“I get it now... I understand what this program is all about... understanding... An exchange never ends, it continues forever, because the only thing guaranteed in life is change, the only thing to satisfy change is understanding, and the only way to truly achieve understanding is adaptation.

“Rotary gives you an opportunity to WITNESS change in understanding through adaptation, first hand. And that is truly a miracle. That is how and why world peace can be achieved... We are all so different, yet so alike, that it is actually possible to change the world, one person at a time, one year at a time... So... who's turn is it next?”

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