“Explore until you no longer can” is Cleeford Sylne’s message to others, and a testament to the rewards of the Rotary Youth Exchange.

Now the 18-year-old Haitian student has been brought to the island by the Rotary Club of Bermuda to share his story.

That includes his account of the devastating 2010 earthquake, which struck when he was 11 years old.

Cleeford recalls heading home from school feeling unwell, and finding the rest of his family also with headaches, as if in premonition.

“I woke up and thought I was dreaming,” he said. “Everyone was crying and screaming, and the place was shaking, as if a bulldozer was outside.”

The calamity has left Haiti unable to accept Rotary exchange students, but the programme still offers young Haitians an invaluable chance to experience life elsewhere.

Beyond the profound impact of the earthquake on his country, Cleeford’s story is one of hope. His story encompasses Haitian life and culture, the striking contrast between home and his studies abroad in Pennsylvania, and “how Rotary has made a change in me”.

Cleeford’s aunt, Miquette Denie McMahon, was inspired by her own Rotary experiences abroad to complete high school, and return home to found Teach Haiti, sponsoring children’s educations.

Out of that, and through his aunt’s Rotary club, came the chance for Cleeford to have his experience abroad.

Cleeford’s time at Bedford High School ends this July, and he plans to finish school after that, study business in college, and “go on to do the same as my aunt is doing now”.

“You never know the differences in the world until you explore.”

Cleeford is speaking throughout the week in Rotary Clubs and schools. He was brought to the island for his first visit after David Sullivan, the past district governor, was impressed with Cleeford’s presentation in January at the Eastern States Student Exchange.

Meanwhile, the Bermuda Youth Exchange Committee has announced that four local secondary school students have been selected for the 2017-18 youth exchange, and will be placed in Brazil, Argentina and Indonesia.

The programme has operated in Bermuda for 40 years. Worldwide, 8,000 students a year experience life in other countries through Rotary International Youth Exchange.