Thirteen new young ambassadors for Reunion Island

Thirteen students were awarded the title of ambassador of Reunion Island by Serveaux Patrick, Vice President of Reunion Island Tourism (IRT) on Wednesday, March 12, 2014, on the site of the Lazaretto

Thirteen students were awarded the title of ambassador of Reunion Island by Serveaux Patrick, Vice President of Reunion Island Tourism (IRT) on Wednesday, March 12, 2014, on the site of the Lazaretto Great Rowboat. On Reunion Island in the Youth Exchange program organized by Rotary International, these students from six different countries were able to discover the culture and hospitality of the island while living together.

The siting of the Lazaretto was not by chance. This was the point of entry of immigrant populations to the island, and the Lazaretto Great Rowboat is an emblematic site in the history of the settlement of Reunion Island. With its isolated location making it easy to monitor, the Great Rowboat was chosen as a place for quarantine. Throughout the nineteenth century, the site hosted workers engaged from the Comoros to develop the culture of sugar cane from India, China, and Madagascar.

In present day, thirteen young people from Germany, Egypt, the Czech Republic, Madagascar, Rodrigues, and Lithuania took their turn walking the historic ground of the Lazaretto Great Rowboat. From March 12 through March 19, 2014, these students selected by the Rotary clubs of their country of origin discovered Reunion Island through its culture, its people, its economy, its natural heritage, and its history. Their experiences on Reunion Island is now theirs to share when they return home. This Youth Exchange program began in the 20s under the leadership of European Rotary clubs. Each year, more than 8,000 participants have benefited from the program in 80 countries worldwide. This is the first time that Reunion Island was involved in the Rotary International Youth Exchange program.

Participants of the Reunion Island exchange program were: Max Stilp (Germany), Mohamed El Kharbotly (Egypt), Ondrej Peroutka (Czech Republic), Antso Tsiriniaina Rajaobelison (Madagascar), Herimahatsangy Andriantsoa Ramalanjaona (Madagascar), Sandra Marie Casimir (Rodrigues), Mindaugas Tarnauskas (Lithuania). Laurynas Suodaitis (Lithuania), Raphael Wullai (Reunion), Amandine Vaulry (Reunion), Steve Zafarison (Reunion), Mhoumadi Aboulazzi (Reunion) and Andri Techer (Meeting). It is now the mission of these young ambassadors to inform of and pass their love on to others for the destination known as Reunion Island.

About the author

Avatar of Linda Hohnholz

Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

Share to...