RYLA 2015

RYLA 2015

On the 3rd April twenty young people attended the Rotary Youth Leadership Award  (RYLA) Weekend  at Avon Tyrrell activity centre which is situated on the western eddge of the New Forest.  Candidates were sponsored by several Rotary clubs within the district. A coach  was arranged  starting at  Wilsons School  Wallington to the centre. An additional stop was made at Sunbury Station to collect more participants.

Rotary Youth Leader Awards is an endorsed programme by Rotary International to provide personal development and leadership skills amongst young people. The photographs  show some of the outdoor activites as well as those who took part.

The District 1140 Rotary Youth Leaderdhip awards weekend provides  a unique experience into the difficulties and barriers experienced by different forms of communication . Practical examples  demonstrate  these difficulties in a fun enviorment. The  activities take place indoor and outside.  All outdoor activities are supervised by qualified instructors who are based at Avon Tyrrell. 

During the second part of the weekend the participants are given group work to discuss and describe issues affecting young people. They are asked to provide a presentation on these issues. Following this activity  participants are asked within their groups to show how these issues should be addressed and to whom.

A summary of the course structure and activites organised by our course tutor Mike Hurley, with the aims of each activity are shown above:-

AIM  to make young people more confident

1 SESSION        Introductions, ‘icebreakers’ and course ‘menu’
          Expectations of weekend and ‘take away’
          What is ROTARY, ROTARACT and RYLA
          An information section into the organisation
          Outdoor Activity  Line Walk (blindfold)
          Low ropes (working in a team)
          Archery  Snakes and Ladders (teamwork)
          Canoeing  Changing one canoe to another  (confidence and trust)

AIM    to look at ways of communicating more effectively, and speaking with one voice

1 SESSION               Barriers to communication (examples)
2 SESSION               Communication – consensus – Tamouse Square Puzzle to be sorted out into a word  
3 SESSION               Talking with one voice – ‘shouting shops’  (showing difficultly to hear) an example of how noise can stop the message  
4 Outdoor Activity     Line Walk Guiding Blindfold
5 ACTIVITY               Listening – ‘Rumours’ recounting 20 facts (how stories and facts can be distorted)

AIM    to explore issues of working in a team.

1  ACTIVITY                Aesthetic Treasure Hunt  Around the site
2  SESSION                Team Challenge – ‘The Great EGG Race’
3  SESSION                ‘Irish Jigsaws’  Actions with hats

AIM  to empower young people and enable them to be better heard.
         
ACTIVITY                     Listening – ‘Sinbad’ Morales  ( a discussion process)

AIM   1.  to consider whether young people are ever really consulted.
         2.  to formulate questions, relevant to young people, to ask of people in power.
  .
1   SESSION             Issues affecting Young People
2   SESSION             Delegate, Representative or Advocate  definitions
3   SESSION             What Questions and to whom?
4   SESSION             The Right Question – What, How + Who

AIM   to evaluate the course and help plan any follow up or further courses.
 
 SESSION Feedback

Some of the feedback we have already received has been very positive about the whole experience. We are very grateful for these comments.

Rotary  would like to express thanks to Julia and Helen from Rotaract,  Mike Tilson from Aldershot and the course tutor Mike Hurley for all their help. The participants were all insured under Rotary GB&I insurance but in addition extra cover was provided in case any had an accident causing injury.