Rotary: Speakers Corner..March 14, 201

Posted by Trudy Gallant 
on Mar 18, 2012
 
.....Yashar paints a very vivid picture of a home invasion..South African style:

 
   It was so good to have Yashar Taheri Keramati back with us for the second time.  His work in the townships of South Africa is so remarkable and he is a shining example of the impact of one individual who has chosen to make a difference in the world.
   Yashar told us that he was born in Iran and moved to Canada with his family when he was 8 years old.  He grew up, safe and secure, in the Coquitlam area.  He was chosen to be a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar  (which already tells us that he is an execptional young man) but a car accident derailed his original study plans and he ended up heading to South Africa where one experience led to another, that led to another,  that led to his committing his life's work to the youth of the townships..a place rarely visited by other South Africans (never mind North Americans) because of the overwhelming poverty, crime and violence.
   Yashar paints a very vivid picture of a home invasion..South African style:  you are lying in bed at night..and someone removes the front door of your dwelling..or maybe 4 people come along..each one takes a corner of your shack..and suddenly..there are no walls to protect you from the outside world. 
  Yashar further spoke of the violence,  sexual assaults and murder that are part of the everyday world of young people in the townships.  He also described his efforts to create a safe place for those same youth..an abandoned shipping container, squatting on any available land...where youth can spend time..creating music and having a meal. And,  how in the music and the meal..there is planted the seeds of hope and how that hope can lead to education and skills to help young people  have a choice other than the life of crime and violence.
   He is truly inspiring. He probably would not like the term applied to him, but he is heroic.  He clearly knows that his choices have put his own safety at risk...and he will likely never be rich in wordly goods from his work but he is so rich in heart and spirit.
  Yashar thanks us and Rotary for the support that we have given him, but I think it is us who should all be grateful to him and for the opportunity to support him in his work.