"Making a World of Difference"
Rotary Youth Exchange students spend a year living with a few host families and attending high school in a different country. The students learn a new way of living, a great deal about themselves and a new language. They will also be ambassadors, teaching people they meet about their country, culture and ideas. They can help bring the world closer - and make some good friends in the process. More than 8,000 young people have experiences like these each year through Rotary Youth Exchange.
The Northwest Austin Rotary Club has been active in Rotary's Youth Exchange Program. During the 2008-09 school year, our club is sponsoring two Westwood H. S. students to study in Europe. We also have the opportunity to receive a youth exchange student from Belgium for the coming school year. During the 2009-2010 school year, our club is sponsoring a Westwood H.S. student to study in Argentina and we also have the opportunity to receive a youth exchange student from Taiwan. Her name is Angel Chiu and she will be attending McNeil H.S.
Hosting a youth exchange student from another country can be a wonderful experience. It allows a host family to become familiar with another culture and provides the opportunity to share a young student's hopes and ambitions. Youth Exchange promises to enrich the lives of the student and every member of your family.
Host families for this program can be Rotarians or non-Rotarians. Typical Rotary host families come in all shapes and sizes and might include young children, older children or no children at all.
If you would be interested in hosting a high school aged exchange student for 3-5 months and would like additional information, contact Pat O'Farrell, pofarrell@austin.rr.com or call 512-905-1759.
NW Austin Rotary hosted a 12-member delegation of Private Medical Entrepreneurs in Feb. 28, 2007. The delegation included a translator and group coordinator plus 10 Russian healthcare professionals who were either doctors or physicians, owners, directors and administrators of private, independent medical clinics in Russia.
Plans are to host five Russians in the Fall of 2009. We have again requested a delegation of medical professionals. NWAR will hire an interpretor, but will be reimbursed by Rotary International. There will be little or no cost to the club for this endeavor.
Peace and Conflict Resolution Institute - Kent Miler
Kent has been appointed District Chair for this initiative and he is currently on the speaking circuit drumming up support of this program. District 5870 needs to nominate a quality candidate and Kent is working with Professor Les Kurz in UT's Sociology Department and other area resources to identify propsective applicants. Our club is donating proceeds of our weekly Sunshine Basket to the Institute.
Is Peace Possible? Rotarians say yes! And we are putting our money and effort into changing the outcome for peace around the world. The Rotary Foundation has established the Rotary Centers for International Studies in peace and conflict resolution to make peace possible.
Each year, 60 World Peace Fellowships for a master's degree are offered on a competitive basis at six Rotary Centers, which operate in partnership with eight leading universities :
- Duke University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA
- International Christian University, Tokyo, Japan
- Universidad del Salvador, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- University of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England
- University of California, Berkeley, USA (NOTE: The Rotary Foundation Trustees will no longer be accepting applications for this program after the 2009-11 class.) Read more
- University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
Fellows are chosen from countries and cultures around the globe based on their ability to have a significant, positive impact on world peace and conflict resolution during their careers. You can help develop this project by educating Rotary clubs in our district. Kent Miller is chairperson of the District Peace Fellowship program. He needs persons willing to visit other clubs in the district to present a program on the Peace Centers, and to help build a network of clubs and people who are recruiting elgible persons for nomination to enter this program. How many candidates can we nominate from our District ? As many as we can find. It's up to us. Will you be on the committee and help make Peace Possible?
Soledad Water Well Project - Oliver Smith
This international project, a joint effort with other South Texas and Mexican Rotary Clubs, installs a water well and distribution system in the Mexican community of Soledad.
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