A panel discussion to examining the challenges, share experiences, and make recommendations to help expand YEX into Africa and other developing countries. Facilitators: Serdar Kelahmet, Vicki Dilley, Sue Goldsen, and Grace Okaro

1. 2018 YEO Preconvention
Expanding YEX
into Africa &
Partnering with
Developing
Countries

2. 2018 YEO Preconvention
Serdar Kelahmet, President of EEMA 2016-20
Sue Goldsen, Central States Rotary Youth Exchange
Vicki Dilley, Northstar Rotary Youth Exchange
Grace Okaro, District Chair D-9142

3. 2018 YEO Preconvention

4. 2018 YEO Preconvention
TYPES OF YOUTH EXCHANGES
• Long-term Exchange.
• Short-term Exchange.
• New Generations Exchange.
Only certified countries can take part on
Rotary Youth Exchange Programs

5. 2018 YEO Preconvention
Last year 8747 exchange students unlock their true potential to:
Become a global citizen.

6. 2018 YEO Preconvention
We need a peaceful world and we can do that with our young
ambassadors.

7. 2018 YEO Preconvention
“If all 17-year-olds had a chance to be a
Rotary Youth Exchange Student, there
would be no more war.”
Carl Wilhelm Stenhammar, president of Rotary International, 2005-06
“Someone should start the peace, as
someone initiated the war” Stefan Zweig

8. 2018 YEO Preconvention
PURPOSE OF DISCUSSION
• To identify challenges militating against participation
of African Districts in Youth Exchange
• To find ways of making African Districts participate
more in Youth Exchange
• To identify problems disrupting Youth Exchange
partnerships between the developed and developing
countries.
• To proffer solutions for the expansion of Youth
Exchange into Africa & increased partnership between
developed and developing countries
• To make appropriate recommendations to all
stakeholders

9. 2018 YEO Preconvention
CERTIFICATION
Sue Goldsen

10. 2018 YEO Preconvention
•Mandated by Rotary
International
•Protects Students, Rotarians
and Rotary International.
CERTIFICATION
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

11. 2018 YEO Preconvention
•How do we get students from other
countries to want to go on Africa
exchange?
•One way exchanges are a challenge
• Resources in Africa
CHALLENGES WITH
AFRICA EXCHANGES

12. 2018 YEO Preconvention
Expanding YEX into Africa &
Partnering with Developing
Countries
Vicki Dilley from North Star

13. 2018 YEO Preconvention
Some ideas of what
can be done…
Come dream with us…

14. 2018 YEO Preconvention
• Extra funds to apply to a new idea
• Desire to broaden and deepen our exchange experiences.
• Support people who worked with the target population (15-19
year olds).
• District Partners available to work with
………Why not…let’s give it a try!
Time and place come together…

15. 2018 YEO Preconvention
• Language
• Transportation
• Running water
• Warm and cold (MN can be very cold!)
• Life style
• So much more, still…..
Wanzita’s life
Different in so many ways from life in Minnesota

16. 2018 YEO Preconvention

17. 2018 YEO Preconvention

18. 2018 YEO Preconvention
Owego, New York!!!
Meet Paulina….
…….going to…

19. 2018 YEO Preconvention
Paulina… 2018-19 Outbound

20. 2018 YEO Preconvention
Neema met us in Tanzania and recently sent me a note and
photos…she is very interested in RYE, are you
ready for a scholarship student?
“I am very much motivated with your
program of exchange and I am so much inspired, I could
wish if there is opportunity for me to be part of that
program. Please advise me how to go about it.”
If you are interested in hosting a Full Scholarship
student
Please speak to me after this session…..

21. 2018 YEO Preconvention
The African Perspective
Grace Okaro

22. 2018 YEO Preconvention
• D9010 (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia)
• D9110 (Nigeria)
• D9125 (Nigeria)
• D9211 (Uganda, Tanzania)
• D9212 (Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan)
• D9220 (Comoro Islands, Djibouti,
Madagascar, Mauritius and Seychelles
one-way, Réunion and Mayotte two-way)
ONE-WAY
(OUTBOUND ONLY

23. 2018 YEO Preconvention
•D9141 (Nigeria, provisional)
•D9142 (Nigeria, provisional)
•D9210 (Zimbabwe)
•South African districts 9350,
9370, 9400,
TWO-WAY

24. 2018 YEO Preconvention
NO-WAY
NOT CERTIFIED TO EXCHANGE
• D9010 (Mauritania)
• D9101 (Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote D’Ivoire,
Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali,
Senegal, Sierra Leone)
• D9102 (Benin, Ghana, Niger, Togo)
• D9150 (Burundi; Cameroun; Central African
Republic; Chad; D.R. of Congo; Equatorial Guinea;
Gabon; Rep. of Congo; Rwanda; Sao Tome &
Principe)

25. 2018 YEO Preconvention
CHALLENGES TO AFRICAN
PARTICIPATION IN YOUTH EXCHANGE
• Partial Certification by RI
• Security/Safety Conditions of Partnering Districts
• Lack of Confidence in a Partner District
• Ignorance of Youth Exchange Officers
• Lack of interested Youth Exchange Participants
• Uninformed Club Officers, Sponsors & Hosts
• Unavailability of Hosts
• Language Barriers
• Immigration Problems
• Fear of the Unknown
• Lack of funding/subsidy
• Discrimination

26. 2018 YEO Preconvention
SOLUTIONS &
RECOMMENDATIONS
• D9141 (Nigeria, provisional)
• D9142 (Nigeria, provisional)
• D9210 (Zimbabwe)
• South African districts 9350, 9370, 9400,
• D9142 (Nigeria, provisional)
• D9210 (Zimbabwe)
• South African distr
• Encourage full Certification of Districts by RI
• Limit hosting to secure & safe environments
• Open mindedness of Youth Exchange Officers
• Regular participation of Youth Exchange Officers in Preconvention & Regional
Conferences
• Proactive & widely informed Youth Exchange Officers
• Proper orientation of club officers, sponsors & hosts
• Good orientation for potential participants
• Placing Youth Exchange in the priority list and making adequate provision for it in
the districts’ budgets
• RI should find a way of popularising Youth Exchange globally to reduce Immigration
problems.

27. 2018 YEO Preconvention
• Employ the use of RI Directory for Youth Exchange Officers to
establish contacts
• Provide relevant information about your country and district
• Create access to information about Youth Exchange in your area
• Provide souvenirs that showcase your country and culture
• Participate in Youth Exchange Exhibition Displays
• Be identified with your countries colours or culture
• Speak about your country to colleagues
• Showcase your successful exchange programmes

28. 2018 YEO Preconvention
QUESTIONS

29. 2018 YEO Preconvention ABIJ 2017 Sao Luıs