By Carol Chang
If you don’t know what to do, try something! The Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) Young International Managers Training Program seeks to cultivate and develop the leadership skills of young people, as well as provide opportunities for participants to engage in community service and international affairs.
Being one who loves to participate in activities, I signed up for the program without a second thought. I was honored to be selected as the District 3481 RYLA Champion Winner and the delegate to the 2024 Rotary International Convention in Singapore. The selection process included submitting a video introduction and taking part in classroom training.
I traveled to Singapore with our district governor to interact with people from all over the world. At first, I thought Rotary conferences were serious, and that most of the people gathered in Singapore were just doing meetings and workshops. But it was actually very different! The Rotarians greeted us warmly and communicated with us in a friendly manner. Some even wore clothing representative of their countries and exchanged pins to get to know each other.
In addition to enjoying the scenery of Singapore, I was able to listen to many Rotary seminars. The speakers mentioned making a positive impact, being mindful, and having a powerful impact on the world. It made me reflect on how I, as a young person, can use the resources available to me to give back to society. For example, as young people, we can participate in youth volunteer service to help children in remote villages develop their English skills.
RYLA Leadership Training
In the buildup to attending the convention, my six months in the Leadership Training Program were highly rewarding. The program included monthly lectures. With the assistance of AI technology, we worked in teams to incorporate our new knowledge into proposals that we delivered as presentations to our classmates. After each class, we discussed the topics with our team members and divided up the work. I was most impressed by the way the class taught us communication and coordination. Speakers shared information on how to communicate well with bosses, employees, and other stakeholders in the workplace. We also learned how to appreciate what was important to each group.
We can actually use this information in our careers. The class made me feel more prepared to enter the workplace, and working on our presentations taught us to analyze topics and think creatively.
Although I often stayed up late to work on a presentation, I always felt the time was well spent. We got helpful feedback from teammates. In addition, I gained good friends from different fields. And our leader enthusiastically shared his experience in Rotary.
What I saw in Singapore
In Singapore, I saw how Rotary members serve their communities and the world. In the House of Friendship, I visited Rotary project booths and learned about various projects from promoting equality for LGBTQ+ individuals to providing better sanitation in remote areas. I also learned about Rotary’s efforts to eradicate polio.
The entertainment was outstanding too, from the passionate performance of the Red Hot Chili Pipers to the sensual style and lyrical excellence of Calum Scott, which served as the perfect ending to the closing ceremony. The most touching moment for me was the flag ceremony, especially the moment when the Taiwan flag was waved on stage and attendees from Taiwan stood up to enjoy the moment together.
I am grateful to all the members of the 2023-24 RYLA team and coaches, as well as my partners in the program, for helping me learn more about Rotary and its commitment to service. In the House of Friendship, I saw a large sign with Rotary’s Action Plan:
“Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change.”
In the future, I hope to participate in more volunteer activities and actively take part in all kinds of volunteer and community service projects to create lasting change.
Register for the 2025 Rotary International Convention by 15 December to take advantage of the early registration discount.
https://blog.rotary.org/2024/12/11/ryla-program-sparks-career-growth-passion-for-rotary-at-singapore-convention/