Southern Gran Canaria once again became an international meeting point with the celebration this weekend of the Rotary Youth Exchange training sessions, organized by Rotary Spain Districts 2201, 2202, and 2203.
The event, held at the Vistaflor Apartments in Maspalomas, brought together nearly 60 Rotarians and youth delegates from across Spain for a forum dedicated to strengthening the quality, safety, and human impact of Rotary exchanges. Each year, Rotary students between the ages of 15 and 19 are offered the opportunity to study abroad and live with host families.
The Rotary Youth Exchange is one of the organization's most iconic programs—present in more than 100 countries and with more than 8.000 active participants—and seeks to foster international understanding through educational experiences that go beyond the classroom.
During the Maspalomas sessions, attendees addressed key topics such as youth safety and well-being, managing short- and long-term exchanges, the role of host families, and Rotary support before, during, and after the exchange. Best practices from Spanish and European clubs that have successfully established educational and emotional support networks for students were also presented.
The Rotary Club of Maspalomas played a prominent role in organizing the event, reaffirming its commitment to youth and to Rotary's founding values: service, leadership, fellowship, and international understanding. "The Rotary exchange program not only develops students, but also global citizens. It helps build a more empathetic, tolerant, and connected world," the organizers emphasized.
The meeting concluded with a call to continue increasing the number of young people participating in the Canary Islands, where Rotary exchange programs have seen increasing demand in recent years, both for sending and hosting students abroad. With this event, Maspalomas consolidates itself not only as a tourist destination, but also as a space for cooperation and social diplomacy promoted by Rotary.
