Rotary Young Leaders - North WalesThe Rotary Young Leaders Award (RYLA) course, organised by Rotary clubs in Thames valley, was based in Rhos-y-Gwaliau, a small hamlet near Lake Bala in the Snowdonia National Park, North Wales.
The first part of the course concentrated on team building activities. This was followed by learning new skills, including orienteering, rock climbing, abseiling, high rope walking, sailing, canoeing and slate mine exploration.
Rotary Young Leaders AwardKatie, a Royal Berkshire Hospital clinical research trials assistant and Sarah, a biological sciences under-graduate at Reading University have both completed a physically and mentally challenging week in North Wales. They accompanied 32 other young people on a Rotary Young Leaders Award course known by its acronym of RYLA.
Colin Moir, President of the Rotary Club of Reading Maiden Erlegh, presented both participants with framed certificates recording their successful completion of the RYLA course. He said, “It is always inspiring to see the value these young people get from their participation in RYLA”
Rotary Youth Exchange - SwitzerlandTwo 18-year-old local girls, Catherine and Katie experienced amazing adventures at their Rotary Youth Exchange Camps, a world-wide Rotary initiative for young people between the ages of 15 and 25. Catherine, a keen climber, attended the Thomas Kaiser Alpine Climbing Camp in Switzerland along with 22 other Rotary sponsored participants from 16 different countries. Both thanked Rotary for sponsoring them and said that their experiences had significantly improved their confidence, in addition to making many international friendships.
Rotary Youth Exchange - TaiwanKatie participated in a Discovery of Taiwan adventure as one of a group of thirty-three international participants. They took part in a wide range of activities during their tour of Taiwan, experiencing aspects of the local culture and food, including cooked snake and pig blood pie. The activities also included a two-day stay in a monastery, meditation, archery, snorkelling and a river trek that included an exhilarating plunge into a waterfall. Rotary Club President Colin Moir said, “We are delighted that these two talented young people have benefited so much from our support and we all wish them the very best for the future”.