Lara Lions Club 'We Serve'

Home > Youth > Youth Exchange

Youth Exchange

The objectives of Youth Exchange are to bring young people into contact with citizens of other countries, thus promoting international understanding and goodwill throughout the world.

Youth from Australia are able to participate in exchange programmes with Brazil, Canada, District to District, Continental Europe, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, South Africa, UK-Scandinavia, USA, International Youth Camps. In addition, the Youth Exchange programme offers an opportunity for Australia Lions to host International Exchangees.

For further information, refer to the Lions Clubs International Youth Exchange Programme.

2008 Programme

(Lions Club of Lara President, Les Kelly holdind the Certificate of Participation for Lara hosting Jean Leblond of Albertville, France)

The Youth Exchange programme has commenced in Lara with the arrival of Jean Leblond, a 17yo French student staying with Rob and Sue Eyton. Jean is sponsored by the Lions Club of Albertville Olypique in the Savoie Region.

(Lions Club of Lara President, Les Kelly, swapping Bannerettes with Youth Exchange
student Jean Leblond of Albertville, France at a recent Business Meeting)

Lara members have been taking turns showing Jean the sights of the Region and he has even been taken to see an AFL Football Match!! Jean, being French supports Rugby Union, so it is probably interesting to get an opinion from him about the local footy!

The Lara Club is also assisting Geelong Hamlyn Heights Lions with Jeff Cahn and Marion Meyer, hosting Annukka Loukola, an 18yo student from Finland for just 3 nights.

(Lions Club of Lara President, Les Kelly, presenting the Club's Bannerette to
Annukka Loukola of Peräseinäjoki, Finland at the same Business Meeting)

Annukka is sposored by the Lions Club of Peräseinäjoki and the town is about 400km from Helsinki. Annukka has been mainly looked after by the Lara Leos and has had a great time being in the company of people the same age.

(Youth Exchange student, Annukka Loukola with Leos Felicia Santoro and Philip Beach and Lion Marion Meyer)

Past Exchange Students

Maiko Sakashita

Maiko, a 17 year-old student from Miyako-shi Iwate, Japan, stayed in Lara with Heather and John Frame during 2004.

Sybille Hofmann

Sybille, a 17 year-old student from a small village of Steinfurth, Germany, stayed in Lara with Jeanette and Don Robinson during 2004. Sybille was one of 16 students from all over Germany to visit Australia on the Lions Youth Exchange Programme.

During their stay, the girls visited:

You Yangs and Serendip Sanctuary
Geelong Waterfront
Geelong and Melbourne shops
Werribee Open Plains Zoo
Queenscliffe Maritime Museum
Sorrento by ferry
A farm at Anakie to watch shearing
Sovereign Hill
Torquay beaches and surf shops
Jirrahlinga Koala & Wildlife Sanctuary
Barwon Heads
National Wool Museum
Great Ocean road including an overnight stay at Port Campbell and visiting along the way Camperdown, and the Otway Fly
Queen Victoria Market
Rialto Towers
Puffing Billy
Feeding possums in the Fitzroy gardens
Hard Rock Cafe
And for a different experience an outback style cook out on an open fire
The girls also attended 2 Lions Club of Lara club functions.

Thanks to Sharon and Lion Bryan Walker, Leslie and Lion Herb Picker, Mary and Lion Bill Berkeley and Sue and Lion Peter Foster for also assisting in looking after the girls during their visit to Australia.