About RYLA

What is RYLA?

RYLA, the Rotary Youth Leadership Award, is a 7 day residential leadership seminar. Young adults keen to exercise their leadership potential participate in a range of formal and informal activities, which promote leadership skills as desirable qualities.

Particulars for the 2019 seminar are:

Date: September 21 to September 27, 2018
Location: Nunyara Conference Centre, Belair, SA

Activities

You will be supported and encouraged through activities like:

  • Guest Speakers
  • Forums
  • Seminar Sessions
  • Team Building
  • Problem Solving
  • Sport & Recreation

RYLA incorporates guest speakers who this year (2018) covered a diverse array of topics including public speaking, problem solving, ethics, living your passions, goal setting, volunteering & leadership.

The week incorporates a lot of self development through a variety of mechanisms including reflection (individually and as a team), team work, sports and outdoor activities, dancing, and many others.” RYLA will provide the opportunity for you to make a lot of new friends. We will challenge you and test you but you will have a lot of fun.

You should also gain an insight into some of the skills needed to make a success of your life. As in most things, what you take away from the week will probably depend on what you are prepared to contribute.

 

Skills

Through these activities, you will learn and reinforce valuable leadership skills, including but not limited to:

  • Public Speaking
  • Self Confidence
  • Presentation
  • Conflict Resolution
  • Corporate and Social Ethics
  • Creative Thinking
  • Problem Solving
  • Team Building
  • Being a valuable Team Member
  • Goal Setting
  • Building Relationships

RYLA’s focus is on assisting young people to develop their abilities as leaders, and to encourage them to reach their full potential as valuable members of society.

Participants can seize the opportunity to develop leadership, communication and problem solving skills, can practice new behaviours, forge life-long friends and challenge their personal belief systems and values.

The Finer Details

Conditions of Attendance

RYLA will involve some sacrifice of individual liberties, as you might expect. The following are the essential points of the basic code of behaviour expected of all attendees.

  • No alcohol, drugs or other illegal items are to be brought to RYLA by participants,
  • No participant may leave the campsite without the knowledge of a leader,
  • “Outside” friends of attendees, are not to be invited onto the program location,
  • Attendance at all sessions is compulsory, and
  • Mobile phones are not permitted. If you bring one to the program location, it will be collected at the start and returned to you at the end. You are to make family, friends and other acquaintances aware that you will not be contactable during the program. A contact name and number will be sent to your emergency contact before the commencement of the program.
Am I Eligible?

RYLA is open to young people aged 18 to 25 years with an ambition to improve their leadership skills. So, if you see yourself making and shaping any part of your community, small or large, in the future, we want you!

What is the Cost?

RYLA is an awards program sponsored and run by Rotary Clubs with the aim of promoting leadership skills among young people. As such, you will be sponsored by a Rotary Club, and there is minimal cost to you for your attendance.

Note that some clubs prefer to spread their funds over a number of students, so some may ask you for a small contribution if they think you can afford it.  If you are in this situation and you can’t afford to contribute please contact the committee by email.

The investment by your sponsoring Rotary Club includes the RYLA seminar, Residential costs (accommodation and meals), and a Graduation dinner.

You will need to organise your own transport to and from the venue.

What should I bring?

Accommodation at RYLA is in dormitory style rooms and meals are provided in a communal dining room. Awardees should bring the following items:

  • Warm and cool weather casual clothing,
  • Rain wear,
  • Sports/walking shoes,
  • Warm clothes and torch for a night hike,
  • Sunscreen and hat,
  • Toiletries, including a towel, soap, toothbrush, etc.,
  • A Sleeping bag or sheets and blankets
  • A musical instrument, if you play one, and
  • Clothing for a formal event (more information to come).