How RYLA helps to create leaders

Rotary is always keen to encourage young people to develop their skills or enhance their life exeriences. Two of the many opportunities we offer are youth leadership training and international travel.

Joshua Hyde recently visited Ramsey Rotary Club to tell members about his experiences at Grafham Water Centre earlier this year. The club had selected Joshua to attend an eight day residential Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) training programme and he was keen to give an account of benefits he had gained from attending the course.

RYLA encourages the development of teamwork and leadership skills in young people who have the potential to be future community professionals and business leaders. The course combines water sports, practical initiative tests, development of interpersonal skills, camping, map reading, problem solving and a computer based business game with lectures and presentations. Daily team competition builds on knowledge and experience gained on previous days.

Joshua is employed by the John Lewis Group. He was given paid leave to attend the course, his company recognising the benefit of the RYLA programme. In his spare time Joshua is developing his own photographic business. Joshua said that the course had given him confidence in leadership and presentation skills and was helpful both in his workplace and with his business venture.

Ramsey and other local Rotary Clubs are currently looking for candidates for the 2017 Rotary Youth Leadership Awards. There is no cost to successful candidates as the course is wholly funded by the Rotary Club. If you, or someone you know, could benefit next year contact a Rotary club in your area. RYLA is open to young adults aged 18 – 26.

Youth Exchange Students Kayleigh Morris and Oliver Elkins visited Ramsey Rotary Club to talk about their overseas visits. Kayleigh went to Japan, staying with a Rotary family.f The food, culture, transportt system and the Hiroshima Museum were memorable aspects of her visit. The H Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum documents the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in World War II. Belongings left by the victims, photos, and other materials that convey the horror of the event are on display. They are supplemented by exhibits that describe Hiroshima before and after the bombings.

Oliver visited three different locations in the Netherlands, again staying in Rotarian family homes. He met up daily with other students from all over Europe on the same programme. He highlighted his most memorable visits as being to Amsterdam, especially the canal system, The Hague and Eftteling Theme Park where he rode the Python, the largest roller coaster in Europe.