Ready to welcome a Rotary international high school student to your community? 
A true benefit to being a Rotarian is having instant and infinite connections to communities across the world. When Jay and I decided to welcome a high school student from Brazil as part of a long-term youth exchange, we were excited, scared, curious, and full of a whirlwind of emotions. Let me introduce Maria Eduarda Lopes Franco, a long-term inbound Rotary exchange student who attends Putnam City North HS. She is incredible, and I hope you will get an opportunity to meet her while she is here!
After Rotary halted the youth exchange programs due to the pandemic, there was little time to organize sending Josiah Richardson (who'd previously experienced a short-term youth exchange in Japan through our annual WINGS of Rotary program), son of Kevin and Jennifer Richardson of the West OKC Rotary Club, and receiving Maria Eduarda from Brazil, but it all worked out beautifully!!
What we have found is that we need your help - in any capacity you are able to do so:
1. Raise your hand to join a district youth exchange committee - short term or long term (remote and in person opportunities, big and small available)
2. Connect our committee to cool places, events, and activities in your community for our inbound WINGS of Rotary team from Japan in March 2023
3. Spread the word with your friends, family, and colleagues about the Rotary youth exchange program as we are preparing for the next year of youth exchange opportunities
If you're ready to jump in or just learn more, register for the upcoming South Central Rotary Youth Exchange Conference (affectionately called "SCRYE") which will bring USA Rotary leaders and youth exchange students from all over the world to Tulsa, OK on January 28th. Register at https://scrye.org/winter-
If you are at all interested in helping youth exchange, please contact jessica.rotary5750@gmail.com for more information!