May is Youth Service Month

Posted by David Button on May 05, 2021
 
Rotary believes in developing the next generation of leaders. Our programs help younger leaders build leadership skills, expand education and learn the value of service.
 
Sounds pretty good, doesn't it, but what is our Club doing in the area of youth? 
The Rotary Club of Berwick has been a long term supporter of the Rotary Youth Exchange program. That program is currently suspended and may resume in 2022, depending on how travel bans play out. On the home front, our youth programs are one of our bright spots in the Club.
 
At the present time, the Club is looking for super excited science students in year 11 to experience the National Youth Science Forum. 

In 2021 the program received fantastic reviews from participants, many of whom cited it as being “life-changing”. Indeed, 9.2/10 of our 2021 participants recommend the Year 12 Program to others and all STEM sessions scored over 90% “good to excellent” ratings from the attendees.

In 2022, the NYSF will deliver a 12-day program from 10th -25th January via a combination of in-person and digital STEM experiences. 2022 participants will experience everything the NYSF is famous for, including keynote speakers, lectures, hands-on workshops, debates, expos and enriching social activities. In-person STEM visit days and events will be held over a week of the program at major city hubs across the country, enabling students to meet each other and network with like-minded peers.

A continuous program of digital events will run alongside the in-person events, meaning the program is accessible to all. This option also means the NYSF experience is still accessible and stimulating should there be a COVID-19 hotspot emerge, or lockdown called at a hub location. For more information, please visit: https://www.nysf.edu.au/programs/year-12-program/

We are also looking for student teams to participate in the Model of United Nations Assembly (MUNA).

★ MUNA 2021 is an ONLINE EVENT ONLY ★

After much deliberation, the Rotary District 9820 MUNA committee has decided to offer an alternative MUNA activity and sincerely hope that you will understand holding a face-to-face Model United Nations Assembly is not possible in 2021, due to the complications and restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Organising MUNA requires much planning and the committee has decided to reduce stress on Rotarians, clubs, schools, teachers/counsellors and parents by offering an opportunity for interested students to participate in a unique MUNA experience.

A delegation of two students, from either Year 10 or Year 11, will be tasked with producing a 5-minute video in response to a resolution pertaining to climate change and global warming. The aim is for students to gain deeper understandings of complex humanitarian issues, further develop their research skills and ability to prepare and present information specific to the chosen UN Member State (country) they represent.

The cost of the 2021 MUNA activity has been set at $50.00 per delegation and will be used to cover costs incurred to deliver an online event and cover prizes for winning delegations. Delegations will be able to select a country from a list of 40 UN Member States, once the delegation is registered on a ‘first in, first served’ basis. More information can be found here: 
 
And lastly for the moment at least, our Club is a very proud sponsor of the St Margaret's School and Berwick Grammar School Interact Club.
 
We are jointly responsible for this Club with the Rotary Club of Emerald. The members of this club, which is 40 at the moment, need some support and mentoring to encourage leadership and community service. We have had one opportunity to involve Interact in our Rotary projects, which was a great experience. They are also doing a cookie dough fundraiser, so it would be nice for us to support them with their project.