Rotarian John Smale, Chair of the Rotary Club of Belleville's Youth Leadership and Bursaries Committee, was pleased to introduce speakers today with a focus on youth, one of the five Rotary Avenues of Service. Pictured L to R: Rotarian Jared Bellemare, John Smale, Ella Bellemare, President Peter Malone, PP Sam Brady, District Rep Rob Pope, Zoya and Piper.
Ella Bellemare aka Bella Bellemare, daughter of Rotarian Jared Bellemare attended the Rotary Youth Leadership Symposium held in the spring this year. The symposium was held at the Ganaraska Forest Centre, a 3 night, 4 day experience geared toward youth between the ages of 16 - 20. An inspiring program that offers workshops in conflict resolution, diversity, equity and inclusivity, leadership, group dynamics, public speaking, outdoor survival and more. The program empowers young leaders to develop new skills and take action. The Rotary Club of Belleville supports the nomination and provides payment of the registration fee and ensures transportation to and from the camp. Ella said she made new friends and connections and learned more about teamwork and trust. Attending the symposium provided an opportunity to experience new things, build confidence (she admitted to being reserved) and engage in conversations with people she had never met before. Ella learned about a project that Rotary was involved with in the Dominican Republic, providing hygiene products to young girls so they would not miss important time at school. Ella has participated in other Rotary activities such as Camp Merrywood and will be attending Trent University in the Fall, studying law and sociology and continuing to support Rotary's work whenever she can. Thanked by a very proud father, Jared Bellemare.
Next up was Rob Pope, currently an Assistant District Governor and involved with the Rotary Youth Exchange Program for 5 years. The Rotary Youth Exchange started in 1929 in Europe and it was through a chance meeting in Europe of Bill MacKay Snr. and a South African Rotarian who help start the program here. The first exchange was in 1972-72 when Wilf Wilkinson was District Governor and our own Rotarian, Ian Acton, was the first exchange student. The objectives of the program are to foster international goodwill and understanding, enable students to study in a new
environment, learn a new language, meet and live with people in a different country, culture, act as an ambassador for Canada, their city/town, sponsoring Rotary Club, develop skills and confidence to last a lifetime. The program is open to students 16 - 17 years of age, in Grade 11 or 12. It is a 10 or 11 month exchange and students must attend Rotary Club meetings and service projects. The student is hosted by the Rotary Club, lives with 3 or 4 host families. There are financial costs for the students/parents. Host families provide meals, reasonable transportation for after school activities, help the student learn the language and culture of their chosen country, include the student on family outings. The sponsoring Rotary Club covers orientation and mandatory trips @ $1,500, a monthly allowance of $150, transportation pass, meals associated with Rotary meetings and events and Christmas and birthday presents. The District 7070 Youth Exchange Committee is co-chaired by Trevor Hagerman and Beth Selby, inbound co-ordinator is Shelley Hagerman and district reps are Rob Pope, Sonja Chouljian, Diego Galbiati.
environment, learn a new language, meet and live with people in a different country, culture, act as an ambassador for Canada, their city/town, sponsoring Rotary Club, develop skills and confidence to last a lifetime. The program is open to students 16 - 17 years of age, in Grade 11 or 12. It is a 10 or 11 month exchange and students must attend Rotary Club meetings and service projects. The student is hosted by the Rotary Club, lives with 3 or 4 host families. There are financial costs for the students/parents. Host families provide meals, reasonable transportation for after school activities, help the student learn the language and culture of their chosen country, include the student on family outings. The sponsoring Rotary Club covers orientation and mandatory trips @ $1,500, a monthly allowance of $150, transportation pass, meals associated with Rotary meetings and events and Christmas and birthday presents. The District 7070 Youth Exchange Committee is co-chaired by Trevor Hagerman and Beth Selby, inbound co-ordinator is Shelley Hagerman and district reps are Rob Pope, Sonja Chouljian, Diego Galbiati.
Two outbound students, Zoya Wannamaker, hosted by the Rotary Club of Trenton and Piper Godden, hosted by the Rotary Club of Campbellford shared their enthusiasm for applying to be Rotary Exchange Students and their exchange destinations -- Zoya to Warsaw in Poland and Piper to Randers, Denmark. Both are very excited and hope to be on their way in August. Past President Sam Brady thanked Rob and both Zoya and Piper, a host parent himself who is a strong supporter of the program. We need more members to be involved to be host families, to spend time with the students, to support a host family. Our Club has hosted 9 Rotary Exchange Students and Sam and his family have made lifelong friends and learned new parenting skills and is actively encouraging the Rotary Club of Belleville to re-invigorate the program in our community.