Youth
The Rotary Club of Waitakere City is committed to helping the young people of West Auckland. New Generations (Youth) Projects that we generally undertake include:
Rotary Districts 9910 / 9920 Challenge Camp
Rotary International Youth Exchange Students are matched up with physically challenged local students – and sent to camp for 5 days of challenges and fun.
Waitakere Rotary have hosted this camp twice – the last time in 2011. Everyone involved came back saying it was absolutely awesome and very, very rewarding for all involved. Monday16th May to Friday 20th May 2011
Fifteen Rotary International Youth Exchange Students were matched up with nineteen physically challenged local students – and sent to camp for 5 days of challenges and fun.Campers included those with impaired speech, hearing or sight, and those with muscular and neurological disorders.Challenge Camp Facebook Page
The camp was based at Vaughan Park in Long Bay and many of the activities were run next door at MERC. Off-site activities included Rock Climbing; 10 pin bowling; a visit to the Hot Pools and a trip to see the Wheel Blacks practise – and have a go themselves.The camp was funded by the Rotary groups of Districts of 9910 / 9920 and was, once again, a huge success for everyone involved – including the Rotarians from Waitakere Rotary who were priviledged to run it this year.
And a little history…
Waitakere Rotary have now organized the annual Challenge Camp three times in 1982, 1994 and now 2011
Waitakere Rotary Scholarships
We have three:
- The Alistair Morton Scholarship for a Rutherford College student
- The John Ritchie Memorial Scholarship for a Massey student
- The 10th Anniversary Bursary Scholarship for a tertiay student
Details here
Rotary International Youth Exchange (IYE)
This offers students aged 15-19 the chance to travel abroad for cultural exchanges of one week to a full academic year. Rotary clubs and districts sponsor and host more than 8,000 Youth Exchange students a year.
Waitakere Rotary both hosted and sponsored IYE students many times over the years.
2011 Outgoing IYE: Elise Nother to Chile
2011 Incoming IYE: Cecile Struvay from Belgium
Rotary National Science and Technology Forum
This is a 2 week residential programme for OUTSTANDING all round science, maths and technology students in Year 12 who will be returning to Year 13 and are planning to study the sciences or technology at tertiary level.
Each Rotary District is allocated 22 places – and competion to attend is intense. In 2011 3 students from Rutherford College were accepted.
Those students who have been say it is a real eye opener and very rewarding.
MUNA - Model United Nations Assembly
Purpose
1. To simulate the working of the United Nations Assembly by having school teams of two or three Year 12 and 13 (Forms 6 and 7) students represent a particular UN country in debates on matters of world politics and social concern.
Debates are held over a weekend from Friday evening to Sunday lunchtime.
2. To develop bridges of goodwill for the furtherance of world peace and understanding.
Goals
1. To develop in students an awareness of the United Nations and the international situation of the countries of the world.
2. To enable students to improve their public speaking and debating skills.
3. To encourage students to make informed comments on world problems.
4. To encourage students to share their opinions and friendship with students from other schools in Rotary Districts 9910 & 9920.
Dictionaries for 9 year olds
Introduced by Past RI President Bill and Lorna Boyd: aims to give every Year 4 Student in low decile schools a beautifully illustrated Osborne Dictionary to keep.
In September 2009 we supplied 600 dictionaries to West Auckland schools
Other projects the Youth Committee are / have been involved in:
Outward Bound
In 1962 Outward Bound opened in Anikiwa – with Rotary help. When funding permits we can help part fund one student a year to an Outward Bound course.
Outward Bound
West Auckland Truancy Trust
Also known as the Improving School Attendance Programme (ISAP).Over the last few years we have supplied the Truancy Trust with 5 cars
Police Bluelight
We helped fund the 2009 and 2010 Hine Toa and Tane Toa camps
NZ Bluelight
Police DARE
Three of our Rotarians are currently on the DARE West committee
DARE West
Our objectives are to
- To support Youth projects that we are currently involved in
- To evaluate, and where possible, support new projects that benefit the youth of Waitakere City
- To promote worthwhile youth events through our weekly bulletin and our contacts
- To seek extra funding to help fund youth activities
Fundraising
The major source of the funds for Youth Projects comes from our annual Soap Box Derby. Some of the organizations we assist help us with manpower and support for this event. For many years Truancy Services have helped us set up the barriers; the Police have come with speed cameras to film and “fine” the kids; and the local Girl Guides and Scouts have helped with manpower.