Dear Rotarians, Rotaractors, Interactors, and most of all—dear young leaders of District 7020,
Today, as we step into the heart of May, Rotary’s Youth Service Month, I speak to you with emotion, pride, and a soul brimming with gratitude. I am Dominique Bazin, your District Governor, and I come to you not only as a leader, but as a witness—of the brilliance, resilience, and beauty of our youth.
Our youth are not the leaders of tomorrow. They are the leaders of today.
I have met young Rotaractors who, without hesitation, rise to face the challenges of their communities. I have seen Interactors organize peace marches, food drives, literacy campaigns, and mental health forums—often with limited resources, but with unlimited passion. I have listened to their voices—clear, courageous, and committed to building a world that is more just, more kind, and more united.
In Haiti, I have stood beside youth who, in the midst of uncertainty and hardship, still choose hope. Still choose service. Still choose peace. What strength! What courage! They remind us that service above self is not just a Rotary motto—it is a way of life.
This month, we do not just celebrate our youth—we honor them. We elevate them. We believe in them.
To our Rotaractors: thank you for your energy, your ideas, your leadership. You are not in the shadow of Rotary—you are its bright flame.
To our Interactors: thank you for daring to dream. You show us that age is not a limit, and that compassion can start with the youngest heart.
To every youth exchange student, every RYLA participant, every young person who chooses service—thank you. You make this world better, one project, one smile, one brave action at a time.
As governor of District 7020, and as a daughter of Haiti, I carry in me the pride of our Caribbean spirit—a spirit of resistance, of renewal, and of rising above. That spirit lives boldly in our youth.
Let us, as Rotarians, keep opening doors, offering mentorship, inviting innovation, and sharing our platforms. Because when we invest in youth, we invest in peace. When we trust our youth, we are saying: the future is in good hands.
This May, let us be loud in our pride, fierce in our support, and unwavering in our belief that our youth are our greatest hope.
District 7020, I love you. I believe in you. And to our youth—I see you, I honor you, and I thank you.
Let us rise—together.
Thank you.
