What does it mean to be a Facilitator?

The Facilitator Year is often considered the most audacious and transformative step on the RYLA leadership ladder. In this role, participants shift from learning to leading—applying the lessons gained throughout their RYLA journey in a hands-on leadership capacity. With ongoing support and mentorship from the RYLA team, Facilitators embrace a position of elevated responsibility that both challenges and shapes them as leaders.

Facilitators play a vital role in guiding incoming students through their first RYLA experience. They are responsible for curating a sense of community, fostering meaningful fellowship, and encouraging participants to step beyond their comfort zones. Through their leadership, Facilitators often leave a lasting impact—igniting in others the same spark that deepened their own connection to the RYLA community.

Facilitators lead by example, stepping into a space where service meets leadership. They embody Rotary’s motto, “Service Above Self,” not just through action, but through a genuine commitment to uplifting and supporting others. This role is for those ready to give back to the community that shaped them—and to help shape the next generation of RYLA leaders.