Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA)
Programs worldwide
Program guidelines and examples
Though each RYLA event is tailored to participants’ ages and interests, the RI Board recommends a core curriculum that covers the following topics:
- Fundamentals of leadership
- Ethics of positive leadership
- Importance of communication skills in effective leadership
- Problem solving and conflict management
- What Rotary is and what it does for the community
- Building self-confidence and self-esteem
- Elements of community and global citizenship
The core curriculum should reflect community issues and be presented in a manner consistent with local customs. Consult past RYLA participants for ideas on making the topics and presentations interesting; young people can provide you with the best input on what will interest other young people.
RYLA programs consist mainly of presentations, activities, and workshops. These three components are supplemented by group work, which can enhance presentations and facilitate team building.
Before developing a program in your community, Rotary International recommends visiting other RYLA events to get ideas.
RYLA program example
District 9100 (Burkina Faso), 25-26 February 2006
District 9100 in Burkina Faso organized its second annual RYLA event in February 2006. The 25 participants, ages 20-28, attended sessions on topics such as Rotary International’s presence in their region, ethics, conflict resolution, and leadership techniques. To learn more about this event, e-mail us.
Read more about RYLA programs in the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards Handbook (PDF).
Use the RYLA Report Form (PDF) to send us information about your RYLA program. We might include it on the website.