ROTARY YOUTH AND HARASSMENT PREVENTION TRAINING

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ROTARY YOUTH AND HARASSMENT PREVENTION TRAINING

• Session 5 - Preparing for a Safe Youth Exchange
  Experience
• Inbound Outbound YE Students

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INTRODUCTION

• Rotary Youth Exchange provides young people with
  the opportunity to experience other cultures
  develop a broader view of the world
• Youth exchange involves 7,000 students from 80
  different countries and regions
• International travel is a great experience but
  there are risks
• Lets look at how to make RYE as safe as possible

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WHAT RISKS MIGHT A STUDENT FACE?

• Theft
• Illness
• Injury
• Accidents
• Travel difficulties
• Natural disasters
• Harassment/bullying

• Political unrest
• Drug alcohol abuse
• Physical abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Emotional abuse

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How are these risks different from risks at home?

• All these risks are present at home or ½ way
  around the world
• Because our students look different they may be
  targets for theft, etc.
• YE students are more confident they may get
  involved in riskier situations because they think
  they can handle it
• YE students want to succeed so they might hide
  problems such as illness or abuse

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Who shares the responsibility for keeping YE
students safe?

• Rotarians
• Host families
• YE Counsellors
• Club Presidents
• Outbound Inbound District YE Officers
• YE Students
• Their parents
• Teachers others in the host community

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Statement of Conduct for Working with Youth

• Rotary International is committed to creating and
  maintaining the safest possible environment for
  all participants in Rotary activities. It is the
  duty of all Rotarians, Rotarians spouses,
  partners, and other volunteers to safeguard to
  the best of their ability the welfare of and to
  prevent the physical, sexual, or emotional abuse
  of children and young people with whom they come
  into contact.

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What we want you to have

• Our emergency procedures
• Contact information

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What can you do to help keep yourself safe?

• Behave more cautiously than at home
• Be aware of your surroundings
• Learn about the host culture especially how
  young people are expected to behave
• Dont be embarrassed to talk about problems
• Talk to a trusted adult about questions or
  problems

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What can you do to help keep yourself safe?

• Recognize that adjusting to life in a new country
  has its ups and downs
• Learn the language of your host country
• Choose friends who enjoy safe, positive
  activities
• Join school and community groups
• Meet regularly with your Rotary Counsellor
• Make sure someone responsible knows where are are
  all the time

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Students Guide to Preparing for Study Abroad

• Throughout your life, youve learned many
  self-protection skills. Your job now is to learn
  how to apply those skills in a new environment
  and to develop new skills that will help you keep
  safe during your exchange. Students who exude
  confidence, know where to go for support, and are
  willing to tell people when they feel

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Students Guide to Preparing for Study Abroad

• Get to know your Rotarian counsellor, your host
  families, your club and district officers, and
  other adults who are there to support you. Before
  you leave home, begin corresponding with the
  members of your support system abroad.
• Talk with your parents about concerns you or they
  may have. Learn to be comfortable talking about
  your worries.
• Keep the lines of communication open.
• Study the language, culture, and community of
  your destination so youll be prepared to avoid
  risks and seek assistance when you arrive.

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Students Guide to Preparing for Study Abroad

• What are four things you can do between now and
  your departure date to prepare for a safe
  exchange experience?
• How do Youth Exchange Rules protect you?

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Why do YE students need to know about abuse
harassment prevention?

• Whether you are at home or abroad, you are at
  risk
• The more you know, the safer you are
• Rules about drinking, driving, dating and drugs
  are meant to protect you
• Knowing cultural norms protects you

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• What types of behaviour do you consider
  harassment?
• Do any of the actions weve discussed seem
  related to cultural differences?
• Can you think of an example of a behaviour in
  your culture that could be misinterpreted as
  harassment by someone from another culture?

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CULTURAL CONSIDERATIONS

• Living in another country gives you an
  opportunity to learn what is different from what
  you know. As a Youth Exchange student, youll
  discover many differences between the values and
  norms in your home and host countries, including
  different ways of dressing to differences in
  relationships between males and females.

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CULTURAL CONSIDERATIONS

• In your home or host country . . .
• Do young people address adults by their fi rst
  names or last names?
• How do family members greet one another? What
  are the customary greetings among friends?
  schoolmates? business associates? men? women?
• How common is kissing or hugging among nonfamily
  members? holding hands?
• Is the style of dress modest? casual? formal?
• What gestures are considered obscene, offensive,
  or rude?
• How close do people usually stand to one another
  when talking?

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CULTURAL CONSIDERATIONS

• Behaviors that are considered rude in some places
  may be considered normal or even complimentary in
  others places. For instance
• Whistling
• Pointing
• Winking
• Keeping your hands in your pockets while talking
• Making direct eye contact
• Chewing gum
• Slurping while eating soup
• Crossing your legs while sitting
• Gesturing with your hands while speaking

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What should you do if someone you know (including
you) experiences abuse or harassment?

• Trust your instincts
• Tell someone who can help you
• Report to a trusted adult
• Encourage your friend to tell a trusted adult

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REMEMBER

• Abuse is unlikely to stop if it isnt reported
• Even if you feel uncomfortable, it is better to
  be safe than polite
• If you arent comfortable with the adults
  response, tell someone else
• Rotary is committed to protecting you
• Safety starts with reporting

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CONCLUSION

• The safety of Youth Exchange students is a shared
  responsibility of Rotarians, host families, YE
  parents, students and the community
• QUESTIONS?