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Left: Nineteen-year-old Moira Secondary School student Indigo Christ, whose participation in RYLA this week is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Belleville.
Right: Ryan Pardy, a first year Queen’s University Life Sciences Concurrent Education student whose participation is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Quinte Sunrise. Ryan is a graduate of Bayside Secondary School in Belleville.
Belleville, Ontario, May 16, 2012 – Loyalist College is pleased to host the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) program on campus from May 13th to May 18th. As part of the annual week-long event, 34 young women and men between the ages of 19 and 24 live on campus and take part in a leadership training course designed to cultivate the respect of others and get to know themselves better. Sponsored by Rotary Clubs within District 7070 between Belleville and Toronto, participants are inspired and empowered to make a difference in their communities.
“It is important to instill qualities of leadership in young people, who are the leaders of tomorrow,” said Past Rotary International President Wilf Wilkinson. “When I was a young man in 1964, it was Lester B. Pearson who made an impression on me when he spoke about Rotary in Toronto at Maple Leaf Gardens. He said, ‘We will never have peace in the world until people know each other, and they cannot know each other until they meet.’ Rotary international allows people from all over the world to meet and as a result create peace.”
Rotary’s 1.2 million members from 34,000 community-based service clubs believe that improving the world starts with a commitment to service above self. The District 7070 RYLA program, Leadership Begins with Me, introduces young participants and their families to the Rotary ideals of service each year. Established in 1971, RYLA helps to bridge the communication gap between the generations and strengthen relationships among youth groups, families and their communities.
“I’m enjoying meeting students from across Ontario who are doing all sorts of incredible things to help others,” says nineteen-year-old Moira Secondary School student Indigo Christ, whose participation is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Belleville. “This training at Loyalist, among other personal development opportunities I’ve gained through Rotary, have inspired me to give back to my community and have provided me with the volunteer outlets to do it.”
Throughout the week, the youths engage in discussions on individual and group issues, and participate in simulated games where they learn by doing. Every year, they spend a day volunteering at the Trenton Community Garden, which provides local food banks with fresh vegetables. In addition to fellowship activities, the youths enjoy a combination of structured recreational activities and lectures delivered by industry professionals.
“It’s a great opportunity to network,” said Ryan Pardy, a first year Queen’s University Life Sciences Concurrent Education student who received a scholarship from the Rotary Club of Quinte Sunrise upon graduating from Bayside Secondary School in Belleville last year. “Rotary has taught me about how easy it is to make a difference, and as an aspiring teacher, I found the session on public speaking very valuable.”
Loyalist College prepares students for a rewarding career by combining rigorous academic standards with hands-on training from industry experts. Programs range from apprenticeships and certificates to diplomas and post-graduate studies. Loyalist offers more than 60 full-time programs and 77 university transfer agreements around the world. The best testament to the College’s value is from students, 97 percent of whom say they would recommend Loyalist to a friend. Loyalist is committed to helping students find great jobs, as well as supporting and enhancing the economic and social development of all individuals in its communities.
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For more information contact:
Kerry Lorimer
Media Relations Specialist
Loyalist College
613-969-1913 ext. 2536