RYLA (Rotary Youth Leaderships Awards) is a service that Rotary provides to identify learners with leadership skills and to help develop these skills.

RYLA emphasizes leadership, citizenship, and personal growth, and aims to

* Demonstrate Rotary’s respect and concern for the youth

* Provide an effective training experience for selected youth and potential leaders

* Encourage leadership of youth by youth

Recognize publicly young people who are rendering service to their communities

In January the Rotary Club of De Aar approached Mrs. Van Wyk, the principal of Veritas High School, to identify a learner to send to the RYLA camp that was to be held at Tikwe Lodge, Virginia in the Free State. She chose Danielle Siljeur, a Grade 10 learner, for this honour.

Danielle travelled with 3 learners from Colesberg High School to Virginia where they were welcomed and entertained by the Rotary Club of Flamingo Welkom. Over the weekend they did many activities in teambuilding and leadership development. They also learned what Rotary International is all about. Danielle enjoyed the weekend alot and said she also learned alot from the workshops as well as the many new friends she met. The Ryla Camp was attended by 75 learners from all over the Free State, a few from Northern Cape and North Western Province.

Danielle received an certificate for attending  the weekend as well as a certificate for being on the winning team. The Rotary Club of De Aar will invite Danielle next term to do a presentation about the weekend at one of their meetings.