Hybrid Interact Membership Success
Chantelle, Dylan and Lindsay attended our October 16th meeting to present us with the coveted Hybrid t-shirt and 20 hours of service for the club with the most young people out to their Orientation nights in September (we got 2 students out!). Hybrid's membership since that time has gone from 9 to 22! Congratulations, Hybrid!
Hybrid is a group of young people aged 14 - 18. They keep busy with projects both in our community and reaching out to the world. Their community-based projects include 'Adopt-a-Road', Trick or Eating (for the Kamloops Food Bank), a Bike Rodeo in Riverside Park, and helping other Rotary Clubs in Kamloops. Their international project, in collaboration with Dr. Scheffel of TRU, focuses on Roma (gypsy) children and their families in Svinia, Slovakia. Major fundraisers that allow them to support these efforts include their Valentine's Day Gala, the Polar Bear Swim on January 1st and Runs for Friends.
THE ROMA PROJECT
"Life is like a child's shirt; dirty, ragged and short" Roma proverb.
The Roma people in Svinia, Slovakia live on the outskirts of the city. Unemployment is 100%, primarily due to racism. They have no rights: they cannot vote, or own property. Their children most often do not go to school, although Dr. Scheffel has worked to establish a grade one program in Svinia. Many children attend grade 1 for several years in a row because they have nowhere else to go.
"Wealth is accompanied by money; poverty by song" Roma proverb
When Hybrid Interact began working with Dr. Scheffel to support Roma children in Slovakia, they started with shoeboxes. They collected these and filled them with hygiene products and little toys. Now they've launched a larger project: fundraising $5000.00, which Dr. Scheffel will match, and the total then used to purchase a home for a Roma family. Because the Roma people cannot own land, Dr. Scheffel will retain ownership.
MEMBERSHIP
Hybrid is actively recruting members. Currently they are 22 strong; they want many more members! They meet on Tuesday evening at 7:30 at the Henry Grube Centre, Room 6. Any young person aged 14 - 18 who wants to make a difference in the world is welcome to join. Contact Lindsay Eastwood hybridinteract@hotmail.com or Chantel Wilkinson chantelw_12@hotmail.com for more information.