For 2019 RYPEN, of course! Thank you Katie for the follow summary and photos:
Last weekend, Katie Wilford, our Rotary Global Scholar from America, volunteered to support at District 9800's RYPEN up at Weekaway Camp in the Benloch valley. She was a supporter (along with nine other young adults) to encourage the RYPEN students to step out of their comfort zone in a "challenge by choice" mindset, run team-building and leadership activities, and just HAVE FUN!
Katie and Mustafa (another co-supporter) were assigned to the GREEN GROUP, a group of nine quirky high school students with lots of smiles, lots of laughs, big hearts, and big dreams. The co-supporter duo fostered critical thinking skills, facilitated group discussions about a range of topics, and ran activities to build an effective group. They had heaps of fun!
Throughout the weekend, the students learned about leadership behaviours, setting goals, steps to achieve their potential, how to effectively working in a team, global citizenship, life values, self care, and many more 'life' skills. The students were energetic and willing to 'give it a go,' knowing that it was their job to challenge themselves in order to receive the greatest possible impact. Katie is very proud of each and every one of the students and she loved watching their true spirit blossom over the course of the weekend.
The program was a mini "taste of RYLA" for the students...many of them can't WAIT to turn 18 so they can sign-up for RYLA!
Big shout out to the District 9800 RYPEN committee to organising such a successful program - it was an amazing experience for everyone involved!
Fun fact: Katie had never heard of the "flying fox" before she arrived in Australia...she gave it a go for the first time at RYPEN!
