Youth Programs
Rotary believes in developing the next generation of leaders. Our programs help younger leaders build leadership skills, expand education and learn the value of service.
If you or someone you know is interested in any of these programs please contact us.
Alumni
One of our alumni of recent times is Stephany Martin.
Recently, Stephany was South Australia’s 2018 Young Citizen of the Year, and one of four finalists for South Australia’s nomination for the 2019 Young Australian of the Year.
Rotary empowered Stephany through her attendance at both RYPEN and RYLA, and now she empowers others as the Chair of these programs. Stephany has gained her Bachelor of Laws, complementing the BA she has already received, allowing her to empower disadvantaged communities through accessible legal advice.
The Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment (R-YPEN) is sponsored annually by Rotary clubs from District 9510.
The Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment (RYPEN) provides a group of young people aged 14 to 17 an opportunity to develop valuable leadership skills.
This weekend long program sees young people engage with like-minded people, while having fun and learning new skills in areas such as problem solving and public speaking.
On top of learning these skills, RYPEN gives the chance to put them to practical use, through debate and physical activity.
Interact clubs bring together young people ages 12-18 to develop leadership skills while discovering the power of Service Above Self. Find out how serious leadership can be seriously fun.
What are the benefits?
Connect with leaders in your community and around the world to:
- Take action to make a difference in your school and community
- Discover new cultures and promote international understanding
- Become a leader in your school and community
- Have fun and make new friends from around the world
Interact clubs organise at least two projects every year, one that helps their school or community and one that promotes international understanding. Rotary club sponsors mentor and guide Interactors as they carry out projects and develop leadership skills.
Celebrate the global impact of Interact by getting involved in:
- World Interact Week
- Interact Video Awards
- Rotary Youth Day at the United Nations
- Global Youth Service Day
Follow Interact on Facebook and visit Interact’s YouTube channel to see what Interact clubs are doing around the world.
The Science Experience is a 3 or 4 day opportunity within one of our fabulous universities.
Each program is designed to provide students who have an interest in science with an opportunity to engage in a wide range of fascinating science activities under the guidance of scientists who love their work.
Participants learn through performing experiments in the laboratories, learning from senior lecturers in the lecture theatres and they learn through attending site visits and walking around and experiencing what it is like to be on the campus of a university or tertiary institution.
This forum has a history of 14 years of educational programs where Rotary clubs work together to host a camp for students in Year 9 and 10 who are interested in environmental activities based in and around the Murray River.
Students learn about environmental issues, learn from each other, and learn that environmental service is critical in today’s society. Rotarians learn from the young people about their passions, their knowledge and their service.
This program is for students aged 15 to 17 at the time of leaving Australia.
Long Term Rotary Youth Exchange (LTYE) students spend up to twelve months living and studying overseas. The exchange is between a Rotary Club in Australia and a Rotary Club in the corresponding country.
All students must attend secondary school whilst in their host country, and return to school in Australia after the exchange, as they are on a residential student visa. Applications close at the end of April in the year proceeding to departure. Students depart in January each year.
The first step is completing an Online Expression of Interest Form by 30 April of the year prior the youth exchange year. The available countries are listed on the homepage of our website.
To qualify, applicants should be good students who have demonstrated leadership in their community. Candidates should also possess qualities such as flexibility and a willingness to try new things that will enable them to fully experience life in another country and become excellent cultural ambassadors.
NYSF is unique in Australia. The flagship program of the National Youth Science Forum, the January sessions bring 400 young people to Canberra for a 12-day immersive science experience.
The NYSF program consists of a mix of scientific, formal, personal development, and social activities. These range from laboratory visits to sports evenings and from a swing dance to working on understanding group dynamics.
The National Youth Science Forum is an opportunity for students going into Year 12 to learn more about opportunities available to them, but also more about their specific area of interest. Held at the Australian National University and the University of Queensland during the summer school holidays. it is a tremendous experience which is in high demand.
Adventure in Citizenship (RAIC), this is an intensive and fun filled week-long program to help prepare young adults for full participation as citizens of Australia.
Each year around 35 Year 11 students (the delegates) are sent by their local Rotary clubs to Canberra. They are taken out of their comfort zones into new places, set amongst new faces and asked to do new things.
For a week, RAIC puts the delegates “inside” Canberra. This program transforms the knowledge delegates have of the democratic system in Australia, allowing for a more educated populace. It transforms the Parliament from being isolated to engaging, with the delegates coming back to their local communities wanting to transform them.
RYDA is a series of practical and powerful workshops that aim to change the way young people think about road safety. As part of an interactive one-day experience, students experience braking at different speeds, devise travel strategies that will work for them in the real world and get tips from road safety experts on how to protect themselves, their friends and family. Perhaps the most impactful moments come from the personal stories of loss and survival.
RYDA is designed for 16 to 18 year old students who are approaching that crucial time in their lives where they start to drive independently or are travelling as passengers of novice drivers.
RYDA focuses on cognition development, building and increasing social competency and resilience and motivating low risk behaviour. Facilitators work with students to develop and practise personalised strategies and life skills which will help them respond positively to challenges on the road, both as drivers and highly influential passengers.
RYDA saves the lives of those who participate, and potentially the lives with whom the participants are travelling.
Is a 7 day residential leadership seminar for aspiring leaders aged 18 to 25. Young adults keen to exercise their leadership potential participate in a range of formal and informal activities, which promote leadership skills as desirable qualities.
RYLA is a leadership development program run by Rotary. While participants can be any age, most events focus on secondary school students, university students, or young professionals. RYLA events are typically 3–10 days long and include presentations, activities, and workshops that cover a variety of topics, including:
- Leadership fundamentals and ethics
- Communication skills
- Problem solving and conflict management
- Community and global citizenship
Follow RYLA on Facebook to learn about inspirational events happening around the globe.
RYLA participants are nominated by their local Rotary clubs. To learn more about a RYLA event in your area.
RYLA inspires our young people to greatness. A week long seminar held in the outskirts of Adelaide, it provides an opportunity for these young people to be inspired by a tremendous array of speakers but also by each other.
New Generations Service Exchange is a program where young people aged 20 to 30 are able to go overseas on a customised Vocational and Service-based adventure that combines a participant’s humanitarian goals with their professional development. An exchange can be up to six months in length.
When on this exchange, they transform the communities in which they serve, transform the organisations in which they learn, and transform themselves into a more culturally aware young person.
Rywell recognises that some of our youth are quite disadvantaged as a result of family circumstances and seeks to provide them with opportunities for enjoyable recreational activities. The Committee has formed a liaison with the Department of Child Protection over recent years to organise holiday programs of activities for young people who live in Government Accommodation Units under the responsibility of the Minister.
Rotary Youth WELLbeing (RYWELL) is a program which provides children in the guardianship of the state, opportunities to learn new skills and have experiences they may not otherwise have.
A partnership with the Department for Child Protection, the RYWELL Committee raises funds for, but also organises these events.
Events such as Go-karting, surfing lessons, manicures, funding for artworks and, as shown in the photos, football competitions as a part of NAIDOC week.
In June 2017 Sir James Hardy launched a book at the Adelaide Naval and Military Club. Over 100 attended; many were yachtsmen and Rotarians. The book written by the author Trevor Gill was about the life of Jim’s friend visionary South Australian boat builder David Binks. It was entitled “Casting Off Tradition”.
A short time before the launch Trevor and then the publishers Wakefield Press offered to give David a proportion of the sale price of books sold to go to a charity of his choice.
David having spent a lifetime designing, building and sailing yachts felt it was appropriate to choose something related to the sea. At the time of the book launch David had been a Rotarian for 52 years. Much of his Rotary activity had centred on programs designed to assist young people.
David also knew that his friend Jim Hardy had been very involved in promoting the building of South Australia’s square-rigged training ship One & All. Trevor the author was also very passionate about the ship and had chaired the One & All board for a number of years.
David had seen first-hand the benefits sailing gives to young people and therefore it was logical he chose for the money from his book to go towards a Rotary program he would set up to send students on 5 day training voyages on the One & All.
The program was established shortly after the book launch and now enjoys the support of many Rotary Clubs, Schools, the Boating Industry Foundation and corporate sponsors (including Sealink) who have observed the positive benefits for those who have had the Sailing Experience.
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