Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA)
Posted by Rual Perkins
on May 23, 2012
ROTARY YOUTH LEADERSHIP AWARDS (RYLA): Each year thousands of young people are selected to attend Rotary-sponsored leadership camps or seminars held in districts throughout the world. In an informal atmosphere groups of outstanding young people ages 14-30 spend several days in a challenging program of leadership training, discussions, inspirational addresses, and social activities designed to enhance personal development, leadership skills and good citizenship.
2012 RYLA students L to R Macie McCauley, Gerardo Moya, Rachael Montgomery, Leia Montgomery and Maceo Williams go to RYLA at Texas Women's University the third week of June.
2012 RYLA students L to R Macie McCauley, Gerardo Moya, Rachael Montgomery, Leia Montgomery and Maceo Williams go to RYLA at Texas Women's University the third week of June.
The RYLA program began in Australia in 1959 when young people throughout the state of Queensland were selected to meet with Princess Alexandra, the young cousin of Queen Elizabeth II. The Rotarians of Brisbane, who hosted the participants, were impressed with the quality of the young people and decided to bring youth leaders together each year for a week of social, cultural, and educational activities. The RYLA program gradually grew throughout all the Rotary districts of Australia and New Zealand. In 1971, the RI Board adopted RYLA as an official program of Rotary International. While RYLA is generally conducted as a district activity, an international RYLA is now held each year before the RI Convention.