Rotary Clubs in the Illawarra take the opportunity each year to send young people between the ages of 18 and 25 to their annual Rotary Youth Leadership Awards program – known to all as RYLA. This year’s program was held at Yarramundi, Springwood, on January 8-14. Of the 62 attending, places were facilitated by Illawarra Rotarians for 14 young people who all share the view that RYLA is a “life-changing experience”.
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This year our clubs were able to support David Omoni and Tsz Yan She – known to all as Troy – Grace Freckleton, Narges Mirzaee, Nga Meh and Audrey Vu, who is also president of the University of Wollongong Rotaract Club (Rotaract caters for young people from 18 to 30).
Through Rotary’s relationship with both SES and their Volunteers’ Association, Tom Nicholls, Peter Lin, Patrick Moore, Charlotte Morrison and Madison Nemec attended.
Young skilled champions supported were Michelle Carpio, Brayden Gauci and Gaby Ware from WorldSkills Australia. Both Brayden and Gaby have been selected to join Australia’s 23-member elite international team – the Skills Squad – after their successful performances at the recent 2016 WorldSkills Australia National Competition.
Brayden and Gabi will spend this year training with a dedicated skills mentor in Wall & Floor Tiling and Hairdressing respectively, vying for the opportunity to join over 1000 young people from 75 countries at WorldSkills International Competition in Abu Dhabi in October.
Audrey Vu, president of the Rotaract of University of Wollongong and sponsored by the Rotary Club of Wollongong shared the following:
''RYLA has been a great experience. 62 like-minded candidates coming from a variety of backgrounds, a week full of activities in an encouraging and supportive environment has made this leadership camp a special self-development opportunity that I wish any young person could have. I have acquired skills which allow me not only to be a good leader but also a good team member and have made friends with the most talented and enthusiastic group of young people I've ever met. I would highly recommend RYLA to my friends.”
Audrey Vu has also invited young people to join UOW Rotaract’s annual Human-v-Zombies event to be held on April 22. This is the 5th year of the Battle Royale, a massive nerf tag game that takes place all over the UOW campus. All proceeds from this event will again be donated to Rotary’s End Polio Now. Join the UOW Rotaract Club Facebook Page for more information.
Correction from last week’s article ‘Rotary brings on the Razzamatazz’ the correct number for more information is 4271 3011.
