Adventures for young South Pacific and New Zealand leaders

ROTA Pacific awardees enjoy a day’s site seeing in Auckland with Ellerslie Sunrise Rotarian David Broadhead.

(L-R): Ravi Changanlal, Sarah Narayan, Sera Raisulu, David Broadhead, Jemima Lanyon and Daniel Fisher.

It was smiles all round for five South Pacific visitors recently hosted by the Rotary Club of Ellerslie Sunrise, NZ for the annual ROTA Pacific programme over three weeks that combines both vocational and leadership training.

District 9920 Rotary clubs in New Zealand take turns in organising the international visit and join forces with Rotary clubs in the Pacific Islands to invite young adults with leadership potential to apply to come to NZ for a unique experience not otherwise available to them.

Jemima Lanyon and Ravi Changanlal from Savusavu, Fiji, Sarah Narayan and Sera Raisulu from Suva, Fiji joined Daniel Fisher from Rarotonga, Cook Islands and first enjoyed a wonderful week of friendship and opportunities with their Rotary hosts. This included visits to the Tip Top ice-cream factory, Hunter Creative graphic design studio, ANZ Bank’s Auckland Head Office and Jenner International Cargo as well as local site seeing as far south as Hobbiton in Matamata and some retail therapy at Sylvia Park shopping centre.

Coming from the warmer Pacific climate to NZ’s winter, the ROTA Pacific group gratefully stocked up on thermal clothing before the start of their second week which was spent at the annual Rotary Young-person Leadership Awards (RYLA).  This is a comprehensive week-long, live-in programme sponsored by District 9920 Rotary clubs for up to 120 awardees (aged between 20 and 28 years) based at Willow Park Camp at Eastern Beach, Auckland. 

 

The outdoor adventure!

RYLA helps young people develop their team work and communication skills and fulfil their potential as leaders.  The impressive line-up of leadership, team building, skill development and motivational speakers and activities quickly become life-changing as the participants’ perception of themselves and others changed.  RYLA is highly experiential as it includes fitness, survival, problem solving and business promotional exercises, culminating with an outdoor experience that has a surprise component which comes from left field and challenges the awardees far more than most have experienced before. 

 

Like ROTA Pacific, each year a different club in District 9920 is responsible for organising the RYLA experience and the Rotary Club of St Johns ran this year’s June 27 to July 4 programme that organising committee chairman Miles Cain said, “required over 7,000 volunteer hours over 18 months to stage, but the effort is more than repaid by the positive changes those involved can see in the awardees over the week”. 

 

This is also illustrated by the participants’ feedback.  “This is my first time to New Zealand”, said ROTA Pacific awardee Jemima, “And I’m so grateful to Ellerslie Rotary for giving me this opportunity. I’ve made so many new friends and it has opened my eyes to what I can achieve personally and what I can when I return to Savusavu”. 

 

Liam Flack, who was sponsored by the Rotary Club of St Johns said, “RYLA has changed my perspective on life and what I value”.  Paul Farquhar, who was also sponsored to RYLA by St Johns commented, “We started as strangers but left as mates” … a friendship that continues as the awardees continue to meet up socially and stay in touch via the Facebook page for RYLA 2015. 

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RYLA is run every year with applications being sought from around March.  The organising Rotary club in 2016 is Howick Rotary.  

The website is www.ryla.co.nz (will update closer to the application date).  

In other districts in NZ there is a similar programme - refer to their website via www.rotarysouthpacific.org 

My Rylarian Rite of Passage

The Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) is a five-day programme for people aged 18 to 24, during which you become a ‘Rylarian’.  I attended the 9940 RYLA, hosted by the Rotary Club of Port Nicholson in January 2015.

Beyond the acronym I knew very little about RYLA. I had no idea what I was getting myself into and when I arrived was rather nervous, and I am so glad I went! I made fabulous friends, and learnt a great deal about myself, others and leadership, but more significantly, how it all comes together.

With an overriding theme of leadership and collaboration, RYLA is a week of learning and reflection. Each day was filled with inspirational speakers, including Gregory Fortuin, New Zealand's former race relations conciliator, and former friend and colleague of Nelson Mandela. Fortuin spoke about utilising your life experiences and personal values to achieve compassionate leadership and create change.

It was a week of team building. We had to work together, trust each other, and understand our different strengths and skills in order for us to get through. We were pushed out of our ‘comfort zones’ with fast-paced activities that demanded synergy from each team. Over the week, we were tied with rope and had negotiate with bushes, gates and tree stumps; we searched for ‘missing’ teammates while blindfolded and unable to speak to one another; we did an obstacle course through the trees at Adrenaline Forest; and on the final day, we had the ‘RYLATHON’, where all our learning came together. A treasure hunt of epic proportions, this final challenge involved building a raft and relocating it, and us, to the opposite side of a small bay around a large jetty.  These are not your ‘everyday’ activities, and they a demanded an understanding of what we, and others, can bring and need from a team in order achieve great things.

RYLA 9940 2015 showed me how a group of strangers can come together to do inspiring things by combining their knowledge and skills through supportive collaboration. I am immensely grateful to the Rotary Club of Port Nicholson who sponsored me to attend. I found the experience invaluable, and I encourage all people ages 18 to 14 to attend, you won’t regret it!

Brontë Jefferies


Supplementary:  All Rotary districts in New Zealand hold a RYLA annually.  The purpose is similar but each devises their own programme and criteria.  Please contact the appropriate district via www.rotarysouthpacific.org

View a clip about Rotary Youth Leadership Awards 2014 in Christchurch for young adults

“Building a Foundation “ – People & Relationships, Starting with you

The Rotary Club of Auckland had the opportunity of organising RYLA 2013 for District 9920 and it was once again centred on Willow Park at Eastern Beach in Auckland, plus Motutapu and Rangitoto Islands, during the period 29^th June to 6^th July 2913.

A District RYLA Mini Assembly was held in November 2012 and Clubs were provided with a complete ‘Information Guide’ and after working closely with RYLA Club coordinators a total of 118 Awardees participated, supported from 23 Auckland-based Rotary Clubs, including 4 Awardees from Fiji and 1 from the Cook Island under the ROTA PACIFIC scheme.

RYLA 2013 was an-eight day residential programme involving Leadership Themes of “Building a Foundation “ – People & Relationships, Starting with you, Getting Inspired ; all over 3 days.  Next it was “Leadership in Practice” – Commercial Perspectives, Managing Teams, Working under Pressure. This section included a two-day Island Experience on Motutapu and Rangitoto Islands which was once again expertly managed by the NZ Army under the control of Lt Col Jon Atkinson with the Rotary Club of Auckland providing all the logistical support. The Awardees in teams were able to test their leadership skills during a non-stop 26 hour period under difficult conditions with ample support of NZ Army Officers. This once again proved a unique and challenging experience and a highlight for many Awardees.

The final two days incorporated further “Leadership in Practice” – In the Community, where Awardees went to three different Community Projects and got physically involved in practical projects to make a difference. The final night featured a Graduation Dinner at Willow Park which 280 people attended including the Prime Minister Rt Hon John Key, DG Willard Martin, the NZ Army Officers  involved  and Rotarians from the Rotary Clubs sponsoring Awardees.

Rotaract took the opportunity to showcase their activities on the final morning and a feedback session produced valuable information with which to improve future RYLA programmes.

Overall the feedback was extremely positive which reflected the huge effort put into the organisation of the 2013 event by Rotary Club of Auckland members supported by other District Rotarians. We all gained enormous satisfaction and proved once again how valuable RYLA is in developing leadership skills in our talented young people.

Jim Johnston

Chair RYLA 2013 Operating Committee

Past President, Rotary Club of Auckland Inc                                                                                                                                                  

RYLA - Building a Foundation

The Rotary Club of Auckland had the opportunity of organising RYLA 2013 for District 9920 and it was once again centred on Willow Park at Eastern Beach in Auckland, plus Motutapu and Rangitoto Islands, during the period 29th June to 6th July 2013.

A District RYLA Mini Assembly was held in November 2012 and Clubs were provided with a complete ‘Information Guide’ and after working closely with RYLA Club coordinators a total of 118 Awardees participated, supported from 23 Auckland-based Rotary Clubs, including 4 Awardees from Fiji and 1 from the Cook Island under the ROTA PACIFIC scheme.

RYLA 2013 was an-eight day residential programme involving Leadership Themes of “Building a Foundation “ – People & Relationships, Starting with you, Getting Inspired ; all over 3 days.  Next it was “Leadership in Practice” – Commercial Perspectives, Managing Teams, Working under Pressure. This section included a two-day Island Experience on Motutapu and Rangitoto Islands which was once again expertly managed by the NZ Army under the control of Lt Col Jon Atkinson with the Rotary Club of Auckland providing all the logistical support. The Awardees in teams were able to test their leadership skills during a non-stop 26 hour period under difficult conditions with ample support of NZ Army Officers. This once again proved a unique and challenging experience and a highlight for many Awardees.

The final two days incorporated further “Leadership in Practice” – In the Community, where Awardees went to three different Community Projects and got physically involved in practical projects to make a difference. The final night featured a Graduation Dinner at Willow Park which 280 people attended including the Prime Minister Rt Hon John Key, DG Willard Martin, the NZ Army Officers  involved  and Rotarians from the Rotary Clubs sponsoring Awardees.

Rotaract took the opportunity to showcase their activities on the final morning and a feedback session produced valuable information with which to improve future RYLA programmes.

Overall the feedback was extremely positive which reflected the huge effort put into the organisation of the 2013 event by Rotary Club of Auckland members supported by other District Rotarians. We all gained enormous satisfaction and proved once again how valuable RYLA is in developing leadership skills in our talented young people.

Jim Johnston
Chair RYLA 2013 Operating Committee
Past President, Rotary Club of Auckland Inc                                                                                                                                                 

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards - done differently and well

RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Award Programme) makes a huge difference in the lives of young people. Graduates aspire to become future leaders in Rotary clubs and communities.

Following the District 9940 Programme in February 2012, Gemma said, ‘Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I have already taken steps to achieve my goals.’

The 9940 Programme caters for young people between the ages of 18 and 24 and will be coordinated by The Rotary Club of Plimmerton in 2013. Their job is to produce a budget, book the venue and transport, seek applications from Clubs and organisations and organise the speakers.

Former graduates, Rylarians, plan and manage the activities which are organised to challenge individual ability to lead and work with a team. Visiting speakers generously donate their time and talents.

Participants are challenged indoors and outdoors in many different ways.  They meet interesting people  and visit interesting places.

Zach said, ‘An enormous thank you. The inspiration that you provided and the leadership you gave will have a lasting impact on every single person who attended.’

Rachel Townsend said, ‘The Programme was absolutely amazing and so inspirational. Everything about it was perfect. Fantastic speakers and activities and all the crew were great.’

The venue was The Silverstream Retreat in Upper Hutt. The venue may change from time to time but the philosophy doesn’t. Its aim is to emphasise leadership and personal growth. It demonstrates Rotary’s respect and willingness to enable youth to excel. It encourages leadership of youth by youth and provides an effective training experience for selected youth and potential leaders. The 2013 Programme will run from 23-27 January.

By the last day the candidates are inseparable.

Leaders get out of the fox hole first, flying the flag ...

Excerpt from Christchurch International Airport Ltd CEO Jim Boult’s address to Rotary Youth Leadership Award, Christchurch, January 2012

… Leadership is about setting example and communicating.  It’s about demonstrating to your team that you are the person who is prepared to get out of the fox hole first, flying the flag and encouraging others to follow you.  It’s about having courage to make tough decisions which won’t always be popular - and to do what’s needed to see them through. 

It’s about relating to other people, no matter what their status.  It’s about sharing successes on an equal basis with everyone in the team. 

And it’s about humility … in good times and in bad, including the times of facing failures with the team, accepting responsibility, learning and moving on.

Leaders are people in whom others put their trust and confidence, from whom they get their vision and professional purpose. These are also qualities which earn respect and give some degree of comfort in difficult times.

People in leadership positions, as well as every other person prepared to show personal leadership, will have to fully commit to what’s required. The challenge is to focus on what’s needed, rather than what’s wanted.

Successful leaders have the happy knack of engaging others, which means they demonstrate what they expect. They don’t talk - they do;   they shine the light on the good and the not-so-good. They know when it’s time to be in the trenches with the team and standing on top giving orders.

Successful leaders depend on the people around them. It’s important to be modest so others feel they can speak up when you’re around. And when they do, listen carefully and let them see you are doing that.

It’s OK to disagree – in fact it’s healthy and often it’s when some really good ideas and plans take shape.  No leader has all the answers – that’s way too much pressure!

So go well on the next leg of your journey … be proud of who you are and all you have achieved to date.  Believe in yourself. Look after yourself – and your family and friends. Show people what you stand for - display personal leadership at all times and professional leadership when you get the chance.

Watch and learn from people you aspire to be like or work with. Leaders learn from both success and failure – sometimes learning from success presents bigger challenges.

Above all, be the best you can be. That’s leadership.

You are young leaders – I invite you to grow into older leaders.