Benefits of

A Regional

AssociationRtn. Devang MunimNGE ChairmanRI District 3060

Success Story Came to India as an IYE student in 1997

Studied Social Sciences, Philosophy and International Relations in Belgium, South Africa and France

Settled in Delhi in 2005 to develop undergraduate student exchange programs for Sciences Po, Paris

Got married in 2007

Is pursuing a Ph.D. in Political Science on State politics in India and the trajectory of a North Indian political party.

"The year spent in Gujarat as an IYE student gave me the opportunity to immerse myself into Indian culture and society as no degree in the world could have done. Being hosted and loved as a family member opened my mind in practice to alterity and ultimately made me capable of developing a sense of belonging to places I do not originate from". -

Gilles

Youth Exchange Program- A Unique Program

It’s an RI program but:

Totally financed by the clubs and students

It spills over more than one Rotary year

It’s success is dependent on very few individuals, but demands co-operation from a lot of Rotarians and non Rotarians

It’s success highlights an emphasizes the fourth objective of Rotary and creates a wonderful public image of Rotary

Demands of a YEO

He has to be sincere, dedicated and hardworking.

He is responsible for the physical, social and emotional health of the students.

He needs to be having highest standards of moral and ethical value.

He needs to be a diplomat, coordinating with two/three consecutive district governors, host families, students, sponsor families, club officers.

Demands of a YEO

He has to be an excellent trainer.

He has to be knowledgeable about the program, the local regional and country laws and the laws of his own district.

He has to be socially active in the district.

He has to work as hard as the district governor for three years of his tenure.

Problems faced by YEO

Poor communications with his predecessors and with RI at the time of taking over the position.

Inadequate training for the position.

The sense of insecurity during the transition from one District Governor to another.

Constraints of finance.

Regional issues in conflict or not in accordance with the RI YEP rules.

Problems faced by YEO

Lack of infrastructure for paperwork, communications etc.

Lack of knowledge on use of electronic media.

Difficulties in setting up desired exchanges because of regional factors, political issues and cultural prejudices.

Poor training/support in handling emergency situations.

Why a Regional association?

It can offer a required platform for sharing of regional concerns and ideas.

It can offer additional training to the incoming youth exchange officers.

It can offer materials and equipment for training Rotary Youth volunteers, host families and students.

It can provide support for safe exchanges for students.

Why a Regional association?

It can be a bridge between districts, the RI youth exchange committee, and the district governors to formulate and enforce policies in an effective manner.

It can promote more exchanges within the regional association amongst the member countries.

It can create fellowship amongst fellow YEO’s.

It can associate with similar regional associations to improve the number of exchanges and the quality of exchanges.

State of Youth

Exchange in

South and South

East Asia PDG Devang ThakoreDistrict 3060

A Rewarding Experience

A Rewarding Experience

Top 10 Countries

STATISTICS OF YOUTH EXCHANGE (INBOUND) IN SOUTH AND SOUTH

EAST ASIA (2009-'10)

Experience a ‘Special Flavour’

South & South East Asia, in particular, India, offers a very unique cultural experience.

The joint family system – a different community life style – a special warmth.

Great opportunity to understand the community needs that offers a chance to VOLUNTEER to meaningful SERVICE.

A Superb chance for an inbound exchange student to develop a global vision, in the true sense.

RYE in 3060– a Genuine Commitment A special emphasis is laid on the Training and

Orientation programmes

Great stress is put on the orientation of the Host families encouraging them for their role as foster parents.

In-bounds are properly looked after, more so with respect to Abuse & Harassment prevention.

Sufficient opportunities for schooling & extra-curricular activities like dance, music, language skills, festival celebrations etc.

Tours to historical & cultural locations.

Very affectionate, efficient & considerate RYE Team, right from the Committee Chair up to the local club counselor, vastly increases the comfort level of the exchangees.

South and South Asia Regional Association (SSARA) Proposed Constitution

PP Dr. Mrugank MerchantDistrict Counselor - YEP RI District 3060

Success StoryMelissa BurkeExchange StudentRI District 3060Year : 1989

Melissa Burke Visiting Sardar Dam in 2007

Vice Principal in a High School in LA California

Christmas 2007

How of Constitution Includes mission and objectives

Acts as bridge between RI YEP, RI Districts and the YEO’s without creating a parallel organization

A legal document reflecting the legal concerns of the member countries

Simple and easy to follow without creating ambiguities and wrangling

Plan for the proposed finances to run SSARA.

Steps - Formation May 2012:

Preliminary discussion at the Pre-convention Youth Exchange meet at Bangkok Convention

Feedback from proposed member countries/districts, DG’s, YEO’s and the RI youth exchange committee members.

September 2012: Formation of a proposed legal constitution

December 2012: Adoption of the proposed constitution at the first

annual meeting of the SSARA at Goa, India

January 2013 onwards: Election of the office bearers and collection of dues

Mission Statement

To promote and strengthen the Youth exchange program in the region and improve the Youth exchange experience for the young people by providing an annual forum for the Rotarians to share the knowledge of, to discuss the issues arising from, and to explore and create new opportunities within the Rotary International Youth Exchange Programme and to provide an effective representation of the region while at the same time enjoy the International fellowship in different SSARA zone regions and countries each year.

Objectives To help spread the knowledge of the Youth Exchange Program in the

member countries of SSARA Zone.

To help promote more districts and clubs and students to participate in the Youth exchange Program.

To help promote a safe environment for the students who participate in the Youth Exchange program.

To help creation of more opportunities for young people to participate in the youth exchange program from and within the SSARA Zone.

To provide forums to study and discuss issues affecting the Youth Exchange Program in the region and try to find solutions having negative impact on Youth exchange program.

To help provide adequate representation and liaison with rotary districts and the Rotary international Youth Exchange Program.

To help promote fellowship amongst YEOs in the zone.

Membership

Active Members: Districts and multi-districts of all

countries in the SSARA zone (Rotary International Zones 4-a, 4-b, 5-a, 5-b, 6-a and 6-b)

Associate Members: Districts and individuals outside the

SSARA zone

Executive committee

The President

The Vice President

Hon. Treasurer

Chairman of the Conference

Role - The President

Propose SSARA representative for the Rotary International Youth Exchange Committee

Liaison with Evanston and sister organization

Give inputs at Youth exchange events viz. YEP Pre-convention, RI Convention, National and Regional Conferences, etc.

Disseminate information about Youth Exchange to the member countries and districts /multi-districts of SSARA

Create & steer task forces to address specific and general issues concerning Youth Exchange Program

Create programs to promote Youth Exchange amongst Districts / Clubs / Students in the SSARA zone

Annual conference planning in association with the conference Chairman

Role - The Vice President

Assist President

Assume President’s role in his absence or as advised by President

Be responsible for maintaining the statistical details of the members

Role – Hon. Treasurer

Financial management of SSARA

Collects membership fees and dues

Prepares budgets in the beginning of the year

Prepares and presents an audited report to all the members at the annual conference

Role – Conference Chairman

Organization of the annual conference in association with the President and the Vice president

Elections - President / Vice-President

The Vice-President to be elected for a two year term by secret ballot at the plenary session of the relevant Conference

Each SSARA country represented at the Conference has one vote

Nominations by a country, a multidistrict or a district must be submitted in writing to the President no later than the first of May in the year of the election

Normally the Vice-President will be elected as President but if the Vice-President does not enjoy the support of the national representatives then the election of President will be conducted in the same manner as the election of the Vice-President.

Conference Host & Organising Committee

SSARA Annual Conference in a different SSARA zone country rotating between North and South

Decision to select host country to be based on voting - one vote per represented SSARA zone country. After first five years, host country to be decided on show of hands at a Conference.

A country could opt for hosting only if the application is supported by the written consent of the District Governor of the District where conference to take place. If the District is part of a Multidistrict then written consent of the President of the Multidistrict must also be presented.

Selected country to appoint the Conference Chairman and Organising Committee.

Conference Chairman and 2/3 members of the organizing committee to attend a minimum of three SSARA conferences after the country’s nomination

 Honorary Membership & Certificate of Merit

Honorary membership to the following members who:

Are no longer active as YEOs

Were active for 5 years or more as YEOs

Have attended at least 3 SSARA Conferences

The same rules are used to grant a certificate of merit to the YEOs of districts outside of the SSARA zone.

The names of candidates nominated for honorary membership and for certificate of merit should be given to the President before the last plenary session of the Conference.

Thank You