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Local Rotary offering global trip for youth

Local youth between the ages of 15-18 could get an international experience next year thanks to the Rotary Club of Lac La Biche and its global reach. "We are excited to announce their participation in the 2020-21 Rotary Youth Exchange Program.
Moa Rotary

Local youth between the ages of 15-18 could get an international experience next year thanks to the Rotary Club of Lac La Biche and its global reach.

"We are excited to announce their participation in the 2020-21 Rotary Youth Exchange Program.  Our commitment to the program means we will be recruiting a student between the ages of 15-18 years old to represent our club, our district and our country as an outbound exchange student for the 2020-21 school year," says local Rotary president Aaron Hodgins.

Local Rotarians will also be recruiting host families in Lac La Biche to assist with the hosting of an inbound exchange student  that will arrive in Lac La Biche at approximately the same time.

"The exchange program is a reciprocal program, but not necessarily with the same country," said Hodgins.  "Sending a student to Germany for example does not mean a German student will come here."

Countries that are part of the exchange include Switzerland, Netherlands, France, Belgium, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Austria, Italy, Denmark, Portugal, and Japan. Last year, more than 8,000 youth took part in the exchange program.

"The objectives of the Rotary Youth Exchange program include instilling international understanding and goodwill in students, creating positive change by empowering youth, and making lasting connections for host clubs, host families, communities, and the students involved," said Hodgins.

Total learning experience

The exchange isn't just a simple visit, either, he added, explaining that the youth is immersed in the culture of their host country.

"Long-term exchanges usually last one academic year, during which the student lives with multiple families in the host country and is required to attend school," Hodgins said. "Through Youth Exchange, students will learn a new language, discover different cultures and customs, and make friendships that last a lifetime."

The program is supported by Rotary including funding, training, student support, and host family supports.

Who can go?

The Rotary Club of Lac La Biche will be actively recruiting students in Lac La Biche County during  October and November.  Final outbound student selection will be made by Nov. 30  Students must be 16 years old by June 30, 2020, must not turn 19 between June 30, 2020 and June 30 2021, and must be returning to high school in the 2021-2022 school year

"Following the selection of our outbound student we will then begin recruiting three or four host families for the inbound exchange student that will arrive in our community in the summer of 2020 in time for the school year 2020-21," said Hodgins.

Anyone interested in becoming an Outbound Exchange student or a Host family for the 2020-21 Rotary Youth Exchange program is encouraged to contact Hodgins 780-623-0930 or at [email protected]

Recently an exchange student who spent a year in northern Alberta returned to one of her host communities to thank the residents.

Moa  Johannson was in the Westlock and Athabasca area in 2017-18 as part of the exchange program.  During her time in the region, she visited many areas of the province, including parks, the mountains, major cities and sporting events She returned in July to offer her thanks.

 

Life changing

"It's been a year since I left and it's already affecting my decision in what I do and all the connections that I have," she told Westlock residents at a Rotary-hosted event earlier in the summer. "In the future, who knows? Maybe I'll get a summer job in Banff ... I"ll be traveling to Canada for sure."

 Moa Johannson from Sweden was in Canada from 2017 to 2018 Moa Johannson from Sweden was in Canada from 2017 to 2018

Hodgins said the comments are common with past participants, remembering one exchange student from Japan.

"Sbe said, 'My 12-month exchange changed my life in all aspects - how I see people, the world and myself. It gave me a huge impact back then, and still continues till now. It’s amazing that I can still contact with families and friends I made in Canada, and share my experience with new students who will go on the exchange.'"

For Alberta youth heading to foreign communities, one of the most-recent participants is also from Westlock-Athabasca area. Katie Wilks is a high school student in Westlock who is part of that community's Interact student Rotary club. She returned to Canada in September after a year in Italy. She recently  told the POST's sister paper, the Town & Country  that the experience helped her to grow in all ways.

 Katie Wilks recently came back from a year in Italy. Katie Wilks recently came back from a year in Italy.

"I went in as a very closed-minded person, and I came out so open-minded. I met so many amazing people from everywhere ... Everything was so different, and we always had to cope with it, and I"m so proud of myself ... I feel like an adult now ... I feel like I can go out in the world and actually be a person worth talking to."

Upcoming wine event

The exchange program is one of  several projects and programs the local Rotary Club is part of.  The annual Wine Tasting Night is coming up on October 26. The event comes on the heels of the summer's Lobster Fest, numerous volunteer and fundraising events and the first full year of use for the McArthur Place gazebo / bandstand that was built with Rotary Club funding.

Hodgins says events like the wine tasting are a good way for the community to mingle and have fun, but to also find out more about Rotary programs.


Rob McKinley

About the Author: Rob McKinley

Rob has been in the media, marketing and promotion business for 30 years, working in the public sector, as well as media outlets in major metropolitan markets, smaller rural communities and Indigenous-focused settings.
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