Rotary Youth Exchange students return home
Isabel and Johan both agree this was an opportunity of a lifetime and would wholeheartedly recommend this experience to any teenager who wants to expand their horizons.
THE last part of Alberton’s brother and sister Rotary Youth Exchange combination returned home on January 6.
Johan and Isabel Venter started their year as Rotary Youth Exchange students on January 16, 2018. Johan settled in Limeira, Brazil, while Isabel made Ballerup in Denmark her home.
Rotary Youth Exchange is a worldwide programme, operated as part of one of the many projects of Rotary International. The programme aims to assist teenagers to foster international relations and goodwill while also assisting them to become citizens of the world and to promote self-development.
Rotary believes that cultivating empathy and understanding, is an effective way to build bridges among nations and across cultural, racial, and religious divides. With this goal in mind, they have been organising live-in experiences across the globe for the past 60-plus years.
Isabel, who matriculated from Hoërskool Marais Viljoen High School at the end of 2017, attended Borupgaard Gymnasium in Ballerup from January 2018 until September 2018. Apart from all her academic and cultural experiences in Denmark, she visited most countries in Europe with Rotary Exchange students from around the globe who were stationed in the Copenhagen area.“The Rotary ethos of ‘it’s not right, it’s not wrong, it’s just different’ has been quite an eye-opener. This together with all the lifelong friends I have made in Denmark and around the world was definitely a highlight of the year for me,” explained Isabel. Isabel returned home in September 2018 when her grandfather, Flip Rosslee’s, health deteriorated. Isabel will be starting her law studies at the University of Pretoria later this month.
Johan attended Colégio Prof Jandyra Antunes Rosa in Limeira from January 2018 until November 2018. He briefly returned to South Africa for his grandfather’s funeral in October after which he returned to complete his school year in Brazil. Interesting school subjects that Johan took included philosophy, sociology and Spanish.
“We live in an amazing country. Yes, we have problems, but the more we become part of the global village, the easier it becomes to spot opportunities for ourselves right here in South Africa,” Johan added enthusiastically.
Johan will be continuing his Grade 11 year at Hoërskool Marais Viljoen High School this year.
Apart from the long-term programme Isabel and Johan underwent, there are short term programmes available for a duration of six weeks. You can also become involved by hosting a student. Visit www.youthexchange.co.za for more information on the Rotary Youth Exchange programme or email Terry Cannon, chairperson of Rotary District 9400 Youth Exchange, at chairman@youthexchange.co.za
Isabel and Johan both agree this was an opportunity of a lifetime and would wholeheartedly recommend this experience to any teenager who wants to expand their horizons.
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