Our YOUTH programs.
The Club has an active program in both district-sponsored and locally initiated youth and youth affairs.
It participates in Rotary District 9800 sponsored programs such as the following;
RYPEN
Rypen is a weekend seminar for year 10 & 11 students (two seminars per year). The principal aim of the program is to communicate to young people a series of ideas, issues and social experiences that will assist them in forming their own values and standards. The seminars are run by members of ROTARACT (aged between 18 & 30 years) who have carefully planned the weekend`s activities in conjunction with Rotary. Numerous Bacchus Marsh students have attended over many years and all have thoroughly enjoyed the experience, firmly recommending the program to selected participants. The selection is made by the local schools,(through year 10 & 11 Co- ordinators) with generally two students from each of the local secondary schools. Following each seminar, the Club invites the students to a Club dinner meeting where they share with members their experiences gained from the seminar.
The seminar is held at a location at Lancefield, with Rotary members providing transport to and from the venue. The Club meets the cost, there is no cost to students.
RYLA
Ryla is a week long residential personal development program for young people aged 18 to 25 years, which focuses on self,leadership and community.
RYLA aims to:
MUNA
Muna occurs once each year, usually around the end of May, and is a live in weekend activity. The Club sponsors two year 10 students per local school, who are nominated by the Rotary Club running the event, as to which country of the world they are to represent. Students are encouraged to research their nominated country so that they are better able to debate world wide issues taking the approach normally expected from that country in debating world affairs. Topics have been previously selected. Obviously an interest in debating would be helpful and in being able to convey your adopted Country`s views to other participants. Voting on topics occurs in a similar manner to the operations of the United Nations forum. Dressing in the manner of your adopted country is also encouraged.
Cost of attendance is free to the students, with the Club meeting the costs.
At the end of the weekend, two students are chosen to represent the Rotary District in an Australia wide MUNA forum held in Canberra. Our Rotary District is made up of approximately 70 Clubs.
RYEP
Rotary Youth overseas Exchange Programs occur on an annual basis and involves an exchange of students nominated by individual clubs to spend a year living overseas as a Rotary Exchange student. Whilst there is some cost to the Club, the student and his/her parents generally incur a cost of around $5000/$6000. The Rotary Exchange student undertakes to be an ambassador for their nominating club and for Rotary generally, and there are rules and guidelines around which the exchange operates. A number of speaking engagements may occur. The student lives with several host families during the year and is expected to accept family rules etc. Rotary members of the host club usually provide the hosting arrangement.
Before the student is accepted as an exchange student, they must first pass an interview at Club level and then an interview at Rotary District level.
If the Club decides to proceed with an exchange student nomination, it generally releases the information to local schools or through the local press.
Our club has participated in RYEP for many years.
More recently:
Ambassadorial Scholarships
Each year the Rotary District invites nominations from students who have completed an undergraduate degree and who may be seeking post graduate studies on a particular subject at an overseas university(as an example) Opportunities exist through Rotary to assist these people. In turn, overseas students have been awarded ambassadorial scholarships to study in Australia.
A number of speaking engagements can be expected during this appointment, but overall it is an opportunity offered by Rotary for students to further their specific studies.
Rotary Summer Science School
Each year the Club has an opportunity to partially sponsor a student to the Summer Science School held at Canberra National University over the summer holidays.
The student spends approximately two weeks in the company of other like-minded students being exposed to science activities on University campus and offsite.
On return, the student usually attends a Club dinner meeting to speak on their impressions etc. Nominations are usually canvassed through the year 11/12 coordinators and if a number of nominations, an interview process is required.
New Ideas
The Club is open to any suggestions or recommendations to consider any program or initiative which may, in a positive way, add to existing programs of enrichment for young people living within our community. The development of an idea may ultimately lead to its adoption in many communities both here in Australia and overseas.
Remember that all existing programs, many of them now held world wide, started from one simple suggestion. Our Club undertakes its commitment to youth activities in the knowledge that the youth of today are the next generation of leaders ( and do we need them!)
It participates in Rotary District 9800 sponsored programs such as the following;
- RYPEN (Rotary Youth Programs of Enrichment)
- RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards)
- MUNA (Model United Nations Assembly)
- RYEP (Rotary Youth Overseas Exchange Programs)
- Ambassadorial Scholarships
- End of year awards to students of local schools selected by the schools for excellence in some aspect of the student`s year
- The creation of an award for a student or young person at the annual Bacchus Marsh Rotary Art Show
RYPEN
Rypen is a weekend seminar for year 10 & 11 students (two seminars per year). The principal aim of the program is to communicate to young people a series of ideas, issues and social experiences that will assist them in forming their own values and standards. The seminars are run by members of ROTARACT (aged between 18 & 30 years) who have carefully planned the weekend`s activities in conjunction with Rotary. Numerous Bacchus Marsh students have attended over many years and all have thoroughly enjoyed the experience, firmly recommending the program to selected participants. The selection is made by the local schools,(through year 10 & 11 Co- ordinators) with generally two students from each of the local secondary schools. Following each seminar, the Club invites the students to a Club dinner meeting where they share with members their experiences gained from the seminar.
The seminar is held at a location at Lancefield, with Rotary members providing transport to and from the venue. The Club meets the cost, there is no cost to students.
RYLA
Ryla is a week long residential personal development program for young people aged 18 to 25 years, which focuses on self,leadership and community.
RYLA aims to:
- Provide an opportunity for young people from diverse organisations and backgrounds to come together to gain a better understanding of their own strengths, and the unique qualities and abilities of others.
- Provide an opportunity for young people to develop a network of resources to facilitate their roles and development.
- Provide a training program incorporating teamwork, communication and motivation to develop the leadership skills of young people.
- Create a greater awareness of social issues affecting young people and
- Demonstrate Rotary’s commitment to young people.
MUNA
Muna occurs once each year, usually around the end of May, and is a live in weekend activity. The Club sponsors two year 10 students per local school, who are nominated by the Rotary Club running the event, as to which country of the world they are to represent. Students are encouraged to research their nominated country so that they are better able to debate world wide issues taking the approach normally expected from that country in debating world affairs. Topics have been previously selected. Obviously an interest in debating would be helpful and in being able to convey your adopted Country`s views to other participants. Voting on topics occurs in a similar manner to the operations of the United Nations forum. Dressing in the manner of your adopted country is also encouraged.
Cost of attendance is free to the students, with the Club meeting the costs.
At the end of the weekend, two students are chosen to represent the Rotary District in an Australia wide MUNA forum held in Canberra. Our Rotary District is made up of approximately 70 Clubs.
RYEP
Rotary Youth overseas Exchange Programs occur on an annual basis and involves an exchange of students nominated by individual clubs to spend a year living overseas as a Rotary Exchange student. Whilst there is some cost to the Club, the student and his/her parents generally incur a cost of around $5000/$6000. The Rotary Exchange student undertakes to be an ambassador for their nominating club and for Rotary generally, and there are rules and guidelines around which the exchange operates. A number of speaking engagements may occur. The student lives with several host families during the year and is expected to accept family rules etc. Rotary members of the host club usually provide the hosting arrangement.
Before the student is accepted as an exchange student, they must first pass an interview at Club level and then an interview at Rotary District level.
If the Club decides to proceed with an exchange student nomination, it generally releases the information to local schools or through the local press.
Our club has participated in RYEP for many years.
More recently:
- In 2012 we sponsored 4 students to Norway, Brazil, Denmark and Germany.
- In 2014 we sponsored 2 students from Bacchus Marsh College to Brazil and Hungary.
- In 2015/6 we sponsored a student from Brazil and a student from Switzerland.
- In 2017/18 we sponsored a student from Sweden and a student from Taiwan.
- In 2018/19 we sponsored a student from France and a student from Finland.
- Sponsorships in 2020/22 were cancelled due to the Covid pandemic.
- We are planning to reintroduce the program in 2023.
Ambassadorial Scholarships
Each year the Rotary District invites nominations from students who have completed an undergraduate degree and who may be seeking post graduate studies on a particular subject at an overseas university(as an example) Opportunities exist through Rotary to assist these people. In turn, overseas students have been awarded ambassadorial scholarships to study in Australia.
A number of speaking engagements can be expected during this appointment, but overall it is an opportunity offered by Rotary for students to further their specific studies.
Rotary Summer Science School
Each year the Club has an opportunity to partially sponsor a student to the Summer Science School held at Canberra National University over the summer holidays.
The student spends approximately two weeks in the company of other like-minded students being exposed to science activities on University campus and offsite.
On return, the student usually attends a Club dinner meeting to speak on their impressions etc. Nominations are usually canvassed through the year 11/12 coordinators and if a number of nominations, an interview process is required.
New Ideas
The Club is open to any suggestions or recommendations to consider any program or initiative which may, in a positive way, add to existing programs of enrichment for young people living within our community. The development of an idea may ultimately lead to its adoption in many communities both here in Australia and overseas.
Remember that all existing programs, many of them now held world wide, started from one simple suggestion. Our Club undertakes its commitment to youth activities in the knowledge that the youth of today are the next generation of leaders ( and do we need them!)