ONE YEAR ABROAD, A LIFETIME OF POSSIBILITIES

 

Every parent carries a dream for their child: a good education, opportunities to grow, and the chance to build a future beyond what they may have imagined. For some families, however, even the smallest step towards that dream can feel financially out of reach.

 

For Diana Aletiru, a single mother in Arua, northern Uganda, watching her son Alvin Xavier Dakar leave for the United States was more than a proud moment. It was an opportunity she hoped would open a new chapter in his life.

 

On 9 August 2025, Alvin, a student of St. Joseph’s College Ombaci, travelled to California through Rotary Youth Exchange, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Arua Eco City in Rotary District 9213. He attended Windsor High School, where a new country, unfamiliar surroundings and different ways of life became his classroom.

 

 

 

 

He returned to Uganda on 13 July 2026, carrying experiences that could never fit into a school report: friendships across cultures, lessons in independence, community service, and a deeper understanding of what it means to represent one’s country.

 

At his host school, Alvin joined the Interact Club, connecting with other young people through Rotary’s spirit of service. He also played soccer and scored his first goal of the school season. These may sound like small moments, but for a young person learning to navigate life far from home, each new friendship, achievement and challenge can help build confidence.

 

His exchange also brought an unexpected act of generosity. The Rotary Club of Windsor committed to supporting school fees for Alvin and his sister, Ciara, up to US$4,000 per year each until they complete Senior Four. This was additional support arising from his particular exchange experience, not a standard benefit guaranteed to every participant.

 

For Diana, the experience demonstrated how one opportunity can reach beyond the student who travels. It can touch a family, inspire a community and give young people a wider view of what their future might hold.

 

Alvin’s story is a powerful reminder of what Rotary Youth Exchange can make possible when clubs look beyond familiar circles and recognise potential in young people who deserve an opportunity to grow.

 

 

The value of an exchange is not measured only by the countries visited. It is measured by the person a student becomes along the way.

 

 

Martinah Faith Kitiibwa, a participant in the 2022–2023 Rotary Youth Exchange programme, describes her experience as a turning point in her personal development. Living abroad gave her the chance to build lasting relationships across cultures, develop leadership skills and discover a level of independence she had not previously known.

 

Her story also highlights the courage required from families. Martinah reflected on her mother’s determination to pursue the opportunity and her willingness to let her only child at home go abroad. For a parent, allowing a child to leave for a year is not always easy. It requires trust in the young person, the programme and the people who will care for them.

 

For Martinah, that trust created room to discover what she could do independently. She returned with a stronger sense of herself and gratitude for her mother, the Rotary Youth Exchange team and Rotary International.

 

Her experience speaks to one of the programme’s most important lessons: young people often discover their capabilities when they are encouraged to step beyond what is familiar.

 

 

 

For Rayhan Isaak Tendo, the journey led to Argentina during the 2025–2026 exchange year. Sponsored by Rotary District 9214 and the Rotary Club of Entebbe Base through the Power of One initiative, Rayhan arrived with little knowledge of Spanish and entered a world where even everyday conversations presented a challenge.

 

Gradually, that unfamiliar world became a place of belonging. Three host families welcomed him and treated him like a son. He learned Spanish, participated in school life, took part in sports and engaged with the wider community.

 

During Students’ Week, his school won its first volleyball championship. Rayhan also represented Uganda by meeting a city mayor, speaking on local radio and giving presentations about his country. In doing so, he became more than a student experiencing another culture; he became a young ambassador sharing Uganda with the world.

 

His exchange brought opportunities to explore Argentina and build friendships, but the goodbyes proved especially difficult. Leaving his host families was among the hardest parts of the experience.

 

That emotion captures something essential about Youth Exchange. The programme does not simply take students to another country. It creates relationships that can make another country feel like home.

 

Rayhan credits the experience with strengthening his confidence, independence, resilience, leadership and cultural awareness. He returned with a broader perspective on the world and a better understanding of his place in it.

 

 

 

These stories reflect the purpose behind the collaboration between Rotary Districts 9213 and 9214 through Rotary Youth Exchange and the Power of One initiative.

 

One student may appear to be a small beginning. Yet that student can become a bridge between communities, a voice for Uganda, a future leader and a lifelong friend to people thousands of kilometres away.

 

Youth Exchange also asks something important of Rotary clubs. It calls on members to recognise potential in young people beyond their immediate families and social circles. The next participant may be in a classroom, a community group or a family that has never considered an international exchange possible.

 

Our responsibility is to help them discover the opportunity.

 

 

Applications are now open for the 2027–2028 Rotary Youth Exchange programme, with a deadline of 30 November 2026.

 

Students must be aged 15–17 as of July 2027 and be in secondary school or Grade 10 and above. The opportunity is open to children of Rotarians and non-Rotarians alike, but each applicant must be recommended by a Rotary club. Selected students must be willing to serve as ambassadors for Uganda during their exchange and return home after the one-year programme.

 

Participants gain the opportunity to experience a new culture, learn a language, develop leadership and communication skills, build international friendships and live with host families who support them throughout their stay. Destinations will depend on available exchange slots and will be communicated later.

 

Parents and guardians should plan to meet the costs of airfare, insurance, passports, visas and required vaccinations. Interested students and their parents or guardians must also attend a mandatory physical seminar, with sessions scheduled during December 2026 and in 2027 in Uganda and Tanzania, as communicated by the organisers. Completed application forms must be emailed as directed on the official flyer.

 

Rotarians, this is the moment to act. Speak to schools, engage families and identify students who are curious, responsible and ready to learn from the world. Do not assume that a young person will hear about the programme unless someone tells them.

 

Diana’s story reminds us that an opportunity offered to one student can mean far more than a year abroad. Martinah’s journey shows how independence can grow when a young person is trusted. Rayhan’s experience demonstrates how strangers can become family and how a young Ugandan can represent the country with confidence on the international stage.

 

The next story could begin in your club, your community or a school near you. 

 

 📞 FOR MORE INFORMATION & SUBMISSION

 

 

By Mark Asiimwe 

Rotary Youth Exchange Chair District 9213