In conjunction with Rotary International, the Rotary Club of Bellingen participates in the Rotary Youth Exchange Program (YEP) which allows local students between the ages of 16 and 19 to spend a year living in a family environment overseas.  At the same time students from over 150 countries around the world have the opportunity to spend time in Australia.

Rotary Club of Bellingen has been involved with YEP for many years.  Over the past three years the Club has sponsored local students to Russia, France and Switzerland, while hosting students from Denmark and Thailand.  Each of these students has had the opportunity to live with different families within their host nation, experience a different culture and traditions, and learn a new language.

At present local girl, Jessica Maher, who is in Switzerland, is participating in her ‘Eurotour’, during which time she will visit several different countries in Europe, experiencing the many and varied opportunities that this tour can offer.  Next year Sophie Sheather, a local lass who is a year 10 student at JohnPaulCollege, will live in Belgium for 12 months.

Vigga Laursen, a student from Denmark, who at present is being hosted by the Rotary Club of Bellingen, is drawing to the end of her exchange.  Vigga has lived with four Bellingen families during her stay and attended Bellingen High.  During that time she has had the opportunity to travel along the east coast of Australia extensively as well as visiting South Australia and the Northern Territory.  Vigga will return home very soon and will be missed by her many new friends in Bellingen, but both Vigga and all those whom she has met during her stay have been enriched by this experience. She is pictured below.

Bellingen High students Sammii O’Rourke and Gabriel Miller represented Bellingen High and the Rotary Club of Bellingen at a Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA) held in Woolgoolga on the weekend of 14-16 May.  Both Sammii and Gabriel participated in a simulated meeting of the United Nations General Assembly as delegates from Denmark, during which they proposed and opposed motions and participating in debate.

Ably assisting Gabriel and Sammii, both in the preparation of their material and during the event, were Rotary Exchange Student, Vigga Laursen and teacher, Donna Stanmore.  The students needed to represent Denmark in a wide range of issues including a ban on growing opium poppies in Afghanistan, the refugee issue, capital punishment, whaling, free trade and international fishing.  Over thirty issues were debated over the weekend and both Sammii and Gabriel were enthusiastic in their participation, well prepared and both spoke eloquently when they had the floor.  The students proposed a motion from the floor asking that the UN guarantees a minimum standard of education for every child and this motion was passed with the highest majority of the weekend.

The Rotary Club of Bellingen is very proud to have had these two students represent the club and is looking forward to them attending a club meeting to report on the MUNA experience.

Also attending MUNA was Vigga Laursen, Bellingen’s YEP Rotary Exchange student.  While at MUNA Vigga assisted the organisers and also presented a speech about the Rotary Youth Exchange Program (YEP) to all those attending.

The photos are of "The Team", and Vigga displaying her Rotary Exchange jacket.

Together with all the overseas exchange students from Rotary District 9650, Vigga Laursen from Denmark recently embarked on a trip around Australia as part of her 12 month exchange to Bellingen.

While in Australia Vigga has been a student at Bellingen High and is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Bellingen. She has been living with various families in the area, to allow her to experience a variety of different types of Australian family life. She is now staying with her fourth and last host family as she is due to return to Denmark in July.

On her return from her ‘Safari’ Vigga gave a very interesting Powerpoint presentation to Rotary Club members. After only 10 months in Australia Vigga was able to very confidently present a very interesting speech about her recent trip in fluent English.

Vigga’s ‘Safari’ had taken her from Sydney to Melbourne, South Australia - where she experienced a salt lake for the first time, Alice Springs, Uluru, Cairns, The Great Barrier Reef, Port Douglas, Byron Bay, and back to Sydney. During this trip she experienced many firsts, which included camping in the outback, a sunset at Uluru, camel rides, diving on the Great Barrier Reef, as well as experiencing Australia’s unique scenery. For Vigga and the other exchange students this was a trip of a lifetime.

During her stay in Australia Vigga has been a marvellous ambassador for her country and while here she has represented her host Rotary club, school and the Rotary Youth Exchange Program exceedingly well. Everyone who has had the good fortune to meet this lovely young lady with miss her friendly vitality when she returns home.

The photo is of Vigga with all her host "Mums", who were present at her "Safari" speech.