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| Coronet Peak ski field near Queenstown, NZ during their South Island safari. |
Rotarians
get involved in many community activities, and in my 28 years in
Rotary, no event has brought me greater pride than helping the selection
of students to go to another country, to share in family life attend
school with a commitment to learn and to enjoy a new culture. I have
moved on to other things in Rotary as a Governor, and serving on the
Board of Rotary Down Under with fellow directors from Australia, but I
thoroughly enjoy continuing to offer my services to interview students
and families for the Rotary Matched Student Exchange Programme between
New Zealand and Australia.
This
programme is a short exchange of 12 weeks, with secondary students
selected from Year 9 (the first year at secondary school) to go on a
matched exchange to Australia in the following year. Kiwi students go to
South Australia, New South Wales and Queensland early in Year 10, and a
selected matched Australian student comes to New Zealand for 12 weeks.
The
lead up to selection is exciting, with much anticipation. Families get
into the process of selection – will it be good for my son or daughter?
can we afford the cost of travel? how will they get on living with
another family, and what if there is a falling out? The answers to
these questions are sorted out in family interviews, and this is where I
get my kick, as I love dealing with these issues and dozens of others.
The
smiles come on the faces of students and their Mums and Dads when you
show genuine interest in their well-being, that you are there to help
build their confidence and to make the exchange experience a memorable
one. If the match is made and the students are well prepared, they will
fit into their exchange as planned. With full knowledge given to them
by their selectors and mentors, it is a very successful Rotary venture.
When you get a big hug and thanks at the end, you really feel part of their family. It is great for Rotary’s profile.
By PDG David Watt
Rotary Club of Karori, Wellington, NZ
