With the help of a local service club three Year 11 students from John Gray High School recently attended the annual World Affairs Seminar held at the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater - campus.

Hakeem Bush, Kimone Chambers, and Brittany MacVicar, attended the one-week seminar through sponsorship from the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman Central.

The World Affairs Seminar is a unique, high energy, educational programme for high school students that provides a forum for future leaders to be introduced to some of the most perplexing global issues and problems.

It enables hundreds of students from around the world to come together to study and discuss these issues in a safe and non-threatening environment. Participants also learn about each other's customs, traditions, opinions, and aspirations. The academic programme is based on a central theme, which this year was "Global Leadership, Rising Powers, Who Counts?"

Each participant was a member of a small study group that developed a position paper during the Seminar. The daily schedule included lectures from visiting expert speakers, films, small group discussion sessions, and opportunities to participate in social and recreational activities across the campus.

"Presenters spoke about how a country's economic rise can be accommodated with respect to its culture, and which country is rising in power fastest (China)," said Hakeem Bush.

"In our study groups, we discussed problems, then tackled those problems to try and find solutions. We then had to justify our solutions to see whether or not they conflicted with previous solutions to other problems.

"When I first arrived at the campus in Wisconsin, it felt weird because I only knew Kimone and Brittany. After I got settled in and met my roommate, I started to feel more confident in myself and about introducing myself to others."

Hakeem said his experience was amazing and surprised him in many ways.

"I never knew that I could make many friends in just one week," he added.

"What I got out of the seminar was a new knowledge of problems that are happening today, not only in my country, but also globally; self-confidence, being able to speak in larger groups without being nervous; and most important, a better understanding on how to solve major problems without compromising the country's culture and its economic rise."

Brittany MacVicar also said the experience was something to remember.

"The World Affairs Seminar was a memorable, educational and beneficial experience in which I gained life-long opportunities as well as making life-long friendships from every corner of the globe," she said.

"Having the Seminar at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater gave me a broad idea of what to expect when I attend University next year. Having the opportunity to be sponsored by Rotary Club of Grand Cayman Central was definitely an honour."

Kimone Chambers felt that it had been a life-changing experiience. She made lots of new friends and had learned that even the most world-changing initiative had started from the idea of a single person.

Rotary spokesman Fred Speirs said that the club has been sending students to the Seminar for the past ten years.

He explained that students are selected by their teachers and all expenses are met by Rotary Central.

Students do not have to raise their own funds to attend.  This process ensures that the candidates selected possess the highest academic grades and have already exhibited outstanding leadership qualities.