Community

21 December, 2024

Students on exchange

EXCHANGE students, both inbound and outbound to and from the Cairns region, were celebrated by the Rotary Club of Cairns West last week with an Aussie barbecue evening to celebrate the spirit of the vibrant Rotary youth exchange program.

By Isaac Colman

Committed to promoting worldwide peace and understanding, the program encourages teenagers to develop a global perspective, establish lifelong friendships and cultivate empathy by being provided with firsthand experiences of different cultures.

Not only benefitting the students, the program also enriches the communities they become a part of, fostering a spirit of connection that transcends borders.

Gathering Rotarians and participants from District 9560, the event brought together 10 current inbound exchange students as well as 14 soon-to-be outbound students preparing for their transformative journeys overseas.

Enjoying a spread of Australian cuisine, the event also recognised and celebrated the cultural diversity of inbound exchange students, hailing from countries including Belgium, the Czech Republic, Japan, Italy, Finland, Spain, and France.

Rotary Club of Cairns West president and district group 2 Rotary youth exchange coordinator Sam Dyer said the evening was extremely successful.

“This evening was a resounding success,” he said. 

“Not only in bringing together our wonderful exchange students and Rotarians, but also in reinforcing the important work Rotary does in fostering global connections.

“The excitement and enthusiasm among participants were clear, with many expressing their gratitude for the chance to learn and grow through the Rotary youth exchange program.

“It is through these meaningful interactions and shared experiences that we continue to build a brighter, more interconnected world.”

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