Priceless experiences with Rotary Youth Exchange Programme
Rotary Youth Exchange students spoke about their favourite part of this priceless experience.
THE Rotary Club of Johannesburg South 101 recently made priceless experiences possible for three learners from Marist Brothers Linmeyer and Parktown Boys, through Rotary’s internationally-known Rotary Youth Exchange Programme.
As Rotary is a service organisation whose sole purpose is to bring together business and professional leaders in order to provide humanitarian service and to advance goodwill and peace around the world, Rotary Youth Exchange builds peace one young person at a time.
Students learn a new language, discover another culture, become ambassadors for their own countries and truly become global citizens. Exchanges for students ages 15-19 are sponsored by Rotary clubs in more than 100 countries.
These students develop lifelong leadership skills and build lasting friendships with young people from around the world. They can help to bring the world closer together.
Rotary’s Johannesburg South 101 club exchanged Aaliyah Jackson, Carmen Sardinha and Bohlale Nthlola, scholars from Marist Brothers Linmeyer and Parktown Boys, with an Argentinian, Italian and German student respectively.
The CHRONICLE was not introduced to the Italian or German exchange students, but had the pleasure of meeting Camila Bustelo from Gualeguaychú, Argentina.
The four students whom CHRONICLE had the pleasure of meeting, spoke about their favourite part of this priceless experience.
Aaliyah said: “The best part of this whole experience for me was to have a sister, Camila. I am the only girl among my two brothers, so it was nice to have a girl’s company for a change.”
Carmen said: “Italy is such a lovely country and I experienced so much freedom there, not worrying about anything. This has been a great way to learn about a new culture, too.”
Camila said: “Going to Sun City has been a highlight for me, as well as the ‘war cries’ and school spirit at schools here. It’s really exciting.”
Bohlale said: “This experience went better than I initially expected. The people from Germany made me feel very welcome and accepted. It was a pleasure getting to know their culture.”
Carmen’s family also commented on this experience as the hosting family of Giuditta Fassina, the Italian exchange student: “As a hosting family, we weren’t too sure what to expect,” said Carmen’s mother, Celeste.
“Was our new ‘Italian child’ going to fit in with us? After all, Europe is a much more carefree country for a teenager to live in than in South Africa. To our pleasure, Giuditta, who I am now willing to call my daughter from another country, fitted in perfectly.
“We asked her if she worried about coming to South Africa at all, but she said no because she knew she would be in the safe care of a family that she trusted not to take her to places she shouldn’t go to. I found that to be such a mature and beautiful answer. Then, when we asked her what she really wanted to experience in South Africa, she said she was keen to see a shanty town (informal settlement) and, of course, our local wildlife.
“Our Rotary Youth Exchange programme was a family experience which created a lifelong bond with another family on the other side of the world. An unbreakable bond of love and friendship will forever exist between us,” Celeste concluded with a heartfelt smile.
For free daily local news in the south, visit our sister newspapers Alberton Record, Comaro Chronicle, Southern Courier and Get it Joburg South Magazine.
Remember to visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. You can also email our offices on cvdwalt@caxton.co.za, juliem@caxton.co.za or luckyt@caxton.co.za
Get regular news updates sent directly to your inbox: Newsletter-Signup
