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On the 5 April, our club hosted 26 people from our Youth Program participants and their parents, to come and tell us about their experiences, and what it means for them going forward. Our Rotary Youth Exchange student, Mei Yamamoto, told us about her busy month, coping with her first assessments at school. Mei also told us of a great opportunity to go with Sue Rice and her family, and some exchange students, to Sue’s holiday house at Myall Lakes. Mei is not familiar with beaches and loved the experience. Unfortunately, Erika Otero, had the flu and couldn’t attend to give us her story of RYLA. Perhaps another time. Our Summer RYPEN participants are both from Marsden High school. Brieanna Buckland led the girls in her story of her experiences, and I guess they need more raft building skills, so they don’t capsize again. Brieanna has faced her fears of speaking in public and has gone forward in her leadership roles at school. Even so far as being approached to join the public speaking group at school. Well done, Brieanna. Tania, Brieanna’s mum, spoke to me of the difference in Brie’s approach to school, and life after attending RYPEN. Tania is truly grateful for the experiences given to her daughter. Tania wanted to thank our Rotary Club of North Ryde, for sponsoring Brieanna on this program. We also spoke of the opportunities afforded YEP, and Brieanna is very keen to learn more. I have referred them to Pam B, who has been in touch. Kayla Mason, then went on to explain what RYPEN, and the whole experience has done to help her with her public speaking and confidence to step into unknown experiences. Kayla’s mum, Melinda and dad Richard, spoke to me of the ability Kayla now has, to step into experiences she never thought herself able, previously. They also expressed their deep gratitude to Rotary North Ryde, for giving Kayla, that experience and opportunity. We then invited our year 9 students from Pitch for Purpose to come up. Each group had chosen an environmentally sustainable project, to fit the brief, our District Governor, Niranjan, had set for the participating teams. DG Niranjan, had asked for our support with one team. Ryde Rotary and Macquarie Park sponsored the other teams. They each introduced themselves and told us what project they had chosen. Our club sponsored the team for Tap Tok. Arequipa Hansford and Ethan Diaz explained they had researched a tap device, that could be programmed, by an egg timer like control, for volume and time of water to be dispensed. It has a filter to keep water safe for drinking and cooking. The team that came 2nd in the project was the Sharknet project team. Olivia Hainzl and Tess Chang, told us about their model Sharknet, using pulse LED lights, on the top and bottom of the sharknets, to deter all marine life from getting caught in the nets. Especially the sharks and any other marine life, like turtles, and dolphins. Ruisha Vithanage and Aailya Chan, delivered us their pitch, about a revolutionary a Dual Pipe device. This device filters and removes rubbish from our water system, via a series of 2 pipes, each with different grade filters. They were judges the winners of the senior’s team. Mandy and I are so pleased we can help with our Youth Projects to foster and grow our future leaders, and researchers, of the country. We are in capable hands. Bernie and Mandy. 2024-25 Youth Directors |
