Our Youth Exchange Students
Outbound and inbound youth exchange students Claire Harkness and Nico Papp are this morning's guest speakers.
Claire Harkness thanked the club once again for selecting her to be the club's first outbound youth exchange student. Claire is into competitive sports in a big way being a cheerleader and figure skater; and, playing football (boys tackle team), soccer, basketball, badminton and baseball. She also volunteers with Hamilton Out of the Cold and Design Hope. At the end of August she will be on her way to Belmont Australia for a one year stint. Belmont is a small suburb between Lake Macquarie and Newcastle, about 150 km from Sydney. Claire has been in email contact with her first host family and is looking for the full Australian experience. In preparation as an outbound student she attended the winter camp in Temagami and the Jamestown NY and the Buffalo weekends with other youth exchange students. These are all part of the leadership development necessary for Rotary youth exchange students. Her goal for the year besides being an ambassador for Canada and Rotary is to become more mature, independent and brave as well as develop into a better leader.
Nico Papp has been attending club meetings since he arrived from Argentina in early February. He too attended all the leadership experiences for youth exchange students. Nico gave a lesson on Argentina, talking about its geography (very hot in the north to very cold in the south - penguins), its economy (some industry but mainly agriculture and minerals) and its politics (a democratic republic with executive, legislative and judiciary branches). Nico's lives in Alta Gracia, a city of about 50 000 with his mother, father and younger brother (his sister lives in Spain and his other brother in Los Angeles). He noted that Alta Gracia was home to revolutionary Che Guevara and many tourist continue to visit his house. Nico completed his stay at his first host family - the Neiberts and just started at the Montesantos. He thanked the Neiberts for their hospitality and for taking him to Florida on the family holiday. He also thanked Andy Colburn for taking him skiing and Bob Bell for the trip to the Toronto Zoo.
Both students are riding in the Niagara-on-the-Lake to Niagara Falls Bike Trek from June 3 - 5 and would appreciate any sponsorship club members would like to give. Funds raised go to support the District 7090 Youth Exchange Program. Bob Neibert thanked Claire and Nico for their presentations.