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World Rotary Boss Tips Uganda Youth on Securing Jobs

"You have an advantage as you have grown with technology, but what is new for you and all of us is Artificial Intelligence, so get comfortable with it" -Stephanie Urchick.
12 Jan 2025 11:31
Stephanie Urchick, poses for a picture with some of the Rotary officials and youth.


The Rotary International President, Stephanie Urchick, has advised youth to embrace technology meaningfully, speak, and write well to attract employers. She was on Saturday evening speaking to 240 youths currently undertaking the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) program, at Kaazi – Busabala.

RYLA, which targets youth between 17 and 30 years is designed to equip young leaders with the skills, knowledge, and networks to succeed. The program is built on four core pillars of leadership development, personal growth, community engagement, and networking.

In her speech, Urchick narrated to the youth her background in higher education where she performed administrative work in colleges and universities. 

“I was helping people register, pay the bills, and that kind of thing. But half of it was working with career services…helping young people figure out what they wanted to do with their future, what kind of jobs they wanted to get, and helping them find those jobs. I want to talk to you about the skills you need today and tomorrow. It doesn’t matter what job you end up having. There are skills that every employer wants you to have,” she said.

The Rotary International President encouraged youth to get comfortable with technology, specifically Artificial Intelligence.

“It doesn’t matter what job you have, even if you are a farmer, there is technology in every single job that we have today,"  Urchick noted." You have an advantage because you have grown with it. But what is new for you and all of us, of course, is Artificial Intelligence, so get comfortable with it because it is going to help move all of us as we continue to move forward, and who knows what is going to be beyond that.”

However, she hastened to caution the youth about the dark side of Artificial Intelligence and appealed that they should make sure that they remember the Rotary core values of integrity by using the technology in the right way.

“Back in the U.S, in my own area, someone who is a cyber-security expert has already shown me that on the dark web, there is an image of me, with my voice, talking about things that are never going to happen in Rotary. So, people are using Artificial Intelligence for the wrong reasons. So let's make a pledge that we will continue to do it for the right reason,” she cautioned.

In addition to embracing technology, Urchick also told the youth that the other key skill employers always ask for is - people who speak well.   She encouraged them to always make use of public speaking opportunities since employers, in all professionals, look for people who are able to do so.

“You know there has been a lot of studies, and research and they list things that people were most afraid of and number three on the list is dying but number one is public speaking," Urchick revealed. "People would rather die than speak in public. So take every opportunity you can, here at RYLA, in your school environment, in your churches, everywhere, you have a chance to take a microphone, do it because it prepares you for today and tomorrow.”

The youth were also tipped about good writing skills and avoiding to use shortcuts availed by technology while making formal communication.

Maureen Tumwebaze, the District 9213 Chair for RYLA, said that the program this year is under the theme; ‘Passion, Action, Reaction’, and that the youth are given tools to grow and turn dreams into action to solve problems.

The youth displayed their skills in plastic recycling, liquid soap making, paper bag production, and making of re-usable sanitary towels. 

“The youth are the leaders of today and without empowering youth, our countries are doomed," Tumwebaze explained. "We are also equipping them with challenge resilience and how to handle success as well.”

Urchick, the second woman to serve as president of Rotary International, arrived in Uganda on Sunday night for a week-long visit aimed at showcasing and deepening the organization’s impact in the country.

Rotary unites a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges and creating lasting change. Rotary connects 1.4 million people of action from more than 46,000 Rotary clubs in almost every country in the world.

Their service improves lives at both local and international levels.