In 2007 a GSE team from the English Midlands visited our district and we were one of the approx 10 clubs that hosted and entertained them during their time here.  Team Leader Rotarian Richard Bird reports one year later:  

Richard Bird (Team Leader) Rtn
• Neil Walker (Water Supply Technician)
• Ben Norman (Fire Services Trainer)
• Lorraine Moffat (Specialist Recruitment)
• Stephen Keogh (Food Production
One Year on - The team that visited South Africa in 2007 reflects on the impact that GSE has had on them.
It's often said that GSE is a life changing experience. The preparation, followed by four intensive weeks in the host District, and presentations to Clubs afterward s; this is the structured part which finishes around eighteen months after the team selection. But what about the longer term impact? I asked my team this question and here are some of their thoughts.

For Lorraine, a lot has happened. As a result of a con tact made at Rosebank Rotary club, she was invited to London to have lunch with the ex -President of South Africa, F W de Klerk, and hear about his aspirations for the region. Lorraine has had a career change and now works for the mental health charity Min d in central Lancashire.

Stephen has been made a partner in his family business. He continues to keep contact with some of his Rotary hosts in South Africa and with the Rotary club of Upper Eden, his sponsoring club. In September, Stephen organised a cha rity concert in Kirkby Stephen with fifty choral singers from all over the district. The proceeds, over £900, went to Refilwe, one of the charities that the team visited. One of the charity's activities involves caring for AIDS orphans and the donation has provided new school uniforms for many of the children.

Ben highlights community engagement as one of the significant impacts from the Exchange. " Following my experiences of the rich diversity, deprivation and positive multi agency working witnessed in South Africa I have developed myself, organizational policy and staff training to encompass equality, diversity and
community cohesion. My credibility to lecture on such topics is borne directly from the townships of Johannesburg."

For Neil, GSE was an opportunity which he seized with enthusiasm, " and in doing so it has certainly realigned my perspectives on a wide range of topics. This has proved to be beneficial to my academic studies and professional development as well as my personal outlook." Neil was able to use his contacts at work to help raise funds for another charity which the team had visited. This was Norah's Edu-Centre, a pre-school centre for children, mainly AIDS victims, supported by the Rotary club of Benoni, our first hosts in South Africa. More contributions have been made from other sources, and £1000 has been donated to provide a vehicle lock-up, with the vehicle being used to transport children and collect food and medication. The vehicle has been supplied courtesy of a matching grant, involving the Rotary club of Chatteris in Cambridgeshire which has also established links with Norah's.

The team has established lasting links with Rotary clubs in South Africa and in District 1190; hopefully they will become Rotarians themselves es in the future, having benefited from the Exchange and seen how Rotary operates as a truly international service organization. They have also made lasting friendships, sharing a unique experience as team members. They were able to get together again in October at a meeting of the Rotary club of Kendal when this years GSE team reported back on their experiences in Vermont, New Hampshire and Quebec.
Few organisations can offer the development opportunities for young professional people that is provided by Group Study Exchange. It is gratifying to be able to report on the impact that this has made on the team and on the actions that they have been able to take, not least of which has been to raise over £2500 for the two South African charities.
Richard Bird, GSE Team Leader, 2006-2007 and current District GSE Coordinator