“Young people, I happen to believe, are the world’s most precious natural resource.”
— Nicholas Negroponte
Rotary's many youth programs aim to create a safe environment for our young people, and to educate them in understanding and respecting cultural differences.
Rotary Youth Exchange is one of the best-known youth exchange programs in the world. Young people spend one year in another country where they live with a local family, attend school, learn a new language and take part in new customs. This powerful program has changed the lives of many young people.
Interact is a school or community-based club for people aged 14-18 that provides the opportunity to learn about service and caring for others. Interactors run fundraisers, visit aged care residents, and hear from speakers who inspire them on career development and who to meet the needs of their local and international community.
Rotaract caters for people aged 18-30 and carries out projects such as providing meals to people experiencing homelessness, maintaining gardens for older people, traveling overseas to complete work in developing countries and much more.
Rotary Geelong East is proud to support the young people of our community, and beyond. Do you know a young person who'd love to be involved; someone we could all benefit from knowing? Bring them along to an event sometime!
Are you coming to our next in-person meeting and dinner this Tuesday 7 May at Newcomb Library? We'll be hearing from special guests Vanessa (and Poppy) from Story Dogs! We hope to see you there.
Story Dogs has had a busy first term of school, with Dog Teams starting back again. Warm fuzzies were everywhere, from the soft fur on dogs to the feelings from school staff and students! Story Dogs is now helping nearly 3,000 children every week - an incredible result. Geelong East Rotary has previously sponsored the Story Dogs program at Newcomb Primary School, helping reluctant readers to become confident, enjoy reading and improve their literacy skills. We look forward to continuing to work with Story Dogs.
On behalf of the Barwon Area Integrated Family Violence Committee and our partner organisations, please find attached a Certificate of Appreciate to acknowledge the work of the amazing Rotary Volunteers that supported the ‘Our Stories For Change’ Art Exhibition.
Rotary Geelong East heard from the family violence workers at Meli more about the program, the success stories and the value of such a program to our community.
In April, we heard from Peter Mercurio, the Senior Sustainability Officer at the City of Greater Geelong. Peter works with partners, stakeholders, and the wider community to lead and deliver environmental strategies, projects and programs.
He provides the city and its staff, and special interest groups, with expert advice on strategic climate initiatives that reduces carbon emissions.
Peter spoke about his role, the success stories and the value of such a program to our community.
Last week saw RGE represented at the annual Cottage By The Sea - Winter Warmers campaign.
Over 160 people attended a breakfast in the Captains Room at GMHBA stadium, to hear about the program, and participate in a support raffle and auctions to raise funds and awareness for Cottage.
A wonderful organisation doing amazing things for 130 years, and we are proud to be a part of it.
The Winter Warmers campaign will kick off in June 2024 - watch this space!
Applications for the District Grant cycle for the 2024-25 Rotary year are now open until 30 May. District Grants support small scale local and international projects, scholarships, vocational training teams and related travel.
Useless Fact of the Week (submitted by Sam Hayward)
If you yelled for eight years, seven months, and six days, you would have produced enough sound energy to heat one cup of coffee. (Hardly seems worth it. Unless it's a Monday, of course!)
