Youth Exchange News | 3 new certified districts

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Youth Exchange E-NEWSLETTER Rotary International May 2013 In this issue Updates from United miles winners Our newest certified districts Journal of a Thailand exchange Poll: What predeparture support do you offer? Details on upcoming website changes Innovation awards for Future Vision, Youth Exchange alum Rotaractors awarded for outstanding projects Latest Youth Exchange Directory Answers to your policy questions Upcoming events Updates from United miles winners Photo of Venetian masks by DeWayne, exchange student in Italy In November, we introduced you to DeWayne, Monique, Tai, and Khamis, current Rotary Youth Exchange students who received free round-trip airfare for their exchanges through United’s 10 Million Charity Miles Giveaway. Tai and DeWayne recently provided updates about their exchange experiences: “Time is quickly passing by and before I know it, I will be returning back home to America. Knowing this saddens me, as I love my life in Japan and I wish to stay here for a much longer time. On the other hand, knowing that I will be leaving in a few months also gives me the motivation always to make the most out of my exchange year, and to do everything I want to do while in Japan. It also makes me appreciate the people in Japan who support me, such as friends, Rotary, and host families; I love them with all my heart, and I want to spend as much time as I can with them.” -- Tai, sponsored by District 5230 (California, USA) on exchange in District 2780 (Japan) “I’m so glad I’m here, because even though I feel a bit intimidated by life, I know when I come back home, I’ll be a much stronger person. My resolution is to start living life like I never have before. To be myself, and not be ashamed of who I am.” -- DeWayne, sponsored by District 6150 (Arkansas, USA) on exchange in District 2050 (Italy) We invite you to post your own stories of exchange on the Rotary Youth Exchange group on LinkedIn. Our newest certified districts Congratulations to these districts, which have met full certification requirements to participate in Rotary Youth Exchange: District 2090 (Italy) District 3240 (North Bengal, states of Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Sikkim, and Tripura, India) District 7360 (USA-Parts of Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia) See the current list of noncertified districts. Journal of a Thailand exchange A year of exchange has the potential to profoundly alter the course of a student’s life. Former exchange student Ashley Krepps tried to capture her experience in Thailand in her travel journal, which was recently published under the title Forever Farang. She covers everything from her first informational meeting about Rotary Youth Exchange to the reverse culture shock she experienced after returning home to America. Learn more about Ashley’s story. Poll: How do you involve past exchange students? In our last issue, we asked how you keep in touch with past exchange students. Your votes show that the most popular option is inviting students to a Rotary meeting or service project. Other ideas included asking students to orient future outbound students or pairing them with inbound students for mentorship. This month we want to know what kind of support you provide for outbound students before they depart. Take our poll to share your experience. Details on upcoming website changes Rotary is developing a new website that will have additional functions for Rotarians and program participants. New web features will be launched later this year, but for now you can follow the Rotary Digital blog for updates on what’s ahead. Innovation awards for Future Vision, Youth Exchange alum The Edison Awards gala on 25 April was a big night for Rotary. The awards recognize innovative new products, services, and business leaders in the United States. Rotary received a silver Edison Award in recognition of the Future Vision Plan, the new grant model that enhances the scope, impact, and sustainability of humanitarian and educational projects funded by The Rotary Foundation. In addition, former Youth Exchange student Tony Clark received a silver Edison Award for his work designing the Backpack Bed, a lightweight backpack that rolls out into an outdoor bed. Backpacks have been distributed through the charity Swags for Homeless. Read more about the awards. Rotaractors awarded for outstanding projects Students line up for eye screening during a health camp. Members of the Rotaract Club of the Caduceus in Mumbai, India, most of them medical doctors, have provided comprehensive vision care to thousands of children in poor neighborhoods of their city in a project called Vision Six by Six, which is aimed at improving the children’s performance in school. This initiative, one of thousands of Rotaract service projects that improve lives worldwide, was chosen as the 2013 Rotaract Outstanding Project Awards international winner. Read a blog post by the winning club’s president, learn about the other winning projects, and watch a video chat with several of the award winners. Latest Youth Exchange Directory The Youth Exchange Directory is updated and emailed quarterly, but the current version can be downloaded anytime from the Youth Exchange workgroup site. All district and multidistrict chairs should visit the site regularly by clicking on Rotary Workgroups on the Member Access welcome page. Note: In order to sign in, district and multidistrict chairs must use the same email address they used when they registered for a Member Access account. If you help administer exchanges and do not have the most recent directory, contact your district or multidistrict chair. Answers to your policy questions The Rotary Code of Policies (PDF in English) contains details on RI policies regarding the Youth Exchange program. The most relevant sections are Youth Protection (2.110), District Finances (17.060), and Youth Exchange (41.060). Translated versions of these sections are available on the Rotary Youth Exchange Workgroup site, which district and multidistrict chairs can access by logging on to Member Access or by emailing youthe...@rotary.org. Upcoming events Rotary Global Peace Forum Hiroshima Hiroshima, Japan 17-18 May This forum explores ways in which each of us has the power to promote peace in our daily lives and in our own communities. This future-focused meeting will ask participants to consider what impact they will make in the days and years to come. Japan Youth Exchange Conference Hiroshima, Japan 18-19 May Contact Ken Kanda. 2013 Youth Exchange Officers Preconvention Meeting Lisbon, Portugal 21-22 June 61st EEMA Conference Rome 30 August-1 September 33rd Brazilian YEO Meeting Porto de Galinhas, Brazil 7-9 November 2014 NAYEN Conference Cancun, Mexico 6-9 March Do you know of an event we should add to this list? Email us at youthe...@rotary.org. Contact us Contact RI Youth Exchange staff youthe...@rotary.org Phone: +1-847-866-3421 Fax: +1-847-556-2182 Youth Exchange resources Social Media Like Interact Like Rotaract Like RYLA Follow Rotaract Youth Exchange alumni - join us Watch Interact