The programs of a well-known service club are opening up the world to St. Albert youth.
Rotary International’s youth exchange is an ongoing program offered by all districts of the globe-spanning service organization.
Rotary International is the global arm of the popular service organization. All local clubs, to some extent, support RI.
On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 52 youth exchange students from districts 5360 and 5370 met in Edmonton with Rotary International president Sakuji Tanaka, noted St. Albert Rotarian Wayne McCutcheon.
“It’s the first time a standing president has ever come to our districts,” said McCutcheon by phone from the Alberta legislature.
The centre of Alberta government was only one of many stops for Tanaka and the students, stated McCutcheon.
Also on the list of events was a zoo visit, barbecues, meeting MLAs, visiting West Edmonton Mall, the Million Dollar Dinner and a lot more. McCutcheon said lots of Alberta youth were involved with the event, including youth from St. Albert.
He said Tanaka has a connection with this area, due to the youth exchange. During the devastating tsunami in Japan in 2011, an Alberta Rotarian’s daughter was near the stricken area while on youth exchange.
“I think that kind of cemented a unique relationship between Japan and our district,” said McCutcheon.
In total, 53 students, in-going and out-going, were involved.
McCutcheon himself has been involved in Rotary exchange for about 16 years, and said he’s impressed by the social value of the program.
“I think from what I’ve learned, I’ve seen the students who come into our country and gain an understanding of Canada and Canadians,” he said.
“We’re building a better understanding of our goal as Rotarians, which is world peace.
“We can get along a bit better. Our cultures are different, but at the end of the day we all put our pants on one leg at a time.”
Rotary International exchange centres around a Canadian youth travelling to a foreign country and living with a Rotary family there, while a student from the foreign country comes here and lives with local Rotarians. The youth even attend school while on exchange.
McCutcheon pointed out exchange students do not necessarily have to come from Rotary families. They simply must meet certain eligibility requirements.
For more information about Rotary International programs such as youth exchange, visit www.rotary.org.
