The Rotary Club of Wylde Green hosted an evening to hear about the travels of a group who visited the Caribbean as part of the Rotary Foundation Group Study Exchange programme (GSE). The programme is a cultural and vocational exchange opportunity for business people and professionals between the ages of 25 and 40 who are in the early stages of their careers. It provides travel grants for teams to exchange visits in paired areas of different countries. During the visits, team members experience the host country’s culture and institutions, observe how their own vocations are practised there, develop personal and professional relationships and exchange ideas.
The team was led by Jean Billingsley of the Rotary Club of Warwick Avon and included a prison officer, physiotherapist, a pharmacy technician and a media relations officer. Jean was joined by media relations officer, Laura Wedekind, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Redditch Kingfisher and physiotherapist, Ross Anderson, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Birmingham.
During their time in the Caribbean the group met people from organisations relevant to their particular vocation and undertook a programme of cultural and fellowship events organised by Rotarians from the islands of St Kitts and Nevis, Antigua, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago.
The group spoke to local Rotary clubs during their stay, discussing what they hoped to achieve from the experience and what they would take back to their individual places of work. The highlight for them was the opportunity to address several hundred delegates at the District Conference.
Rotarians opened up their homes to the visiting team which allowed them to learn about the Caribbean directly from its people, as opposed to a tour guide.
Wylde Green Rotarian, Carolyn McLaughlin said: "We were delighted to welcome Jean, Laura and Ross to our meeting. We knew the evening would be a popular choice for Rotarians, so we booked them to come along before they actually left for the Caribbean. We were joined by several other local Rotary clubs including Erdington, Handsworth, Meriden, Sutton Coldfield and Warwick Avon.
"By sending and receiving teams across the world and sharing the educational experience they bring, Rotary makes an important contribution towards the professional development of young people and for many it is a once in a lifetime experience.”
The team now has speaking engagements at other Rotary clubs around the West Midlands to share their experiences in the Caribbean.
