Pender Harbour Rotary President Sarah Johnston

Investing in our youth today; building leaders for tomorrow.

The Rotary Club of Pender Harbour is very proud of our 2023 accomplishments, and we have enthusiastically engaged in the (post Covid) reinstatement of the Rotary International Youth Exchange Program.

Over the past 14 years, 6 students from Pender Harbour High School have been sponsored on a year-long life changing experience. Denmark, Spain, Brazil, Belgium and Mexico have been host countries of the Exchange Program, while exchange students from Germany, Spain, Brazil, Russia, and Taiwan living with families in Pender Harbour, have broadened world perspectives for the students and citizens in Pender Harbour. This year's Outbound Youth Exchange student is Noah Sieben. Noah hopes to go to France, Italy, or Greece for his grade 11 year. Congratulations Noah!

Pender Harbour Rotary provides funding to support this Exchange Student initiative, both for outbound students and inbound students alike; though the inbound students are benefactors of a predetermined honorarium to support their life experience in our community and beyond. Our guest student is financially supported for such things as food, travel within BC to attend events such as Rotary Youth Leadership in Vancouver.

Fundraising efforts throughout the year include, April Tools, The Annual Show & Shine, Art Crawl, Scotch Tasting, Calendar Sales and a monthly online 50/50 draw. These funds were invested in the youth in our community, assisting in the PH High School Ski Trip to Whistler $2,250; sponsorship for 6 students to RYLA $2,250 (Rotary Youth Leadership Academy- an intensive three- day training program to develop character and leadership skills); providing $1.000 for the graduation ceremonies; and a $2,500 University Scholarship.

To help feed hungry minds, The club donated $3,500 to hot lunch programs in the high school and Madeira Park Elementary School.

To help support early learning the Club applied for and received grants from Rotary International, enabling a donation of $30,000 towards the new community school. The new building is ready and awaiting the appropriate permits to move and replace the current structure beside Madeira Park Elementary.

September saw the completion of the Story book forest walk, which is intended to create opportunities for children and their families to read and stay active. A series of 22 pedestals wind away along the paths of Tyner Park at Lily Lake, with captions that are centred toward physical activity while enhancing literacy. The entrance is across from the PH Health Centre

and pedestal stories are rotated on an evolving basis.

Locally the club continued to support the Pender Harbour Food Bank with $1,475 through proceeds from online 50/50 draws.

Yew Transition house received financial honorariums to help support women and families in crisis on the Sunshine Coast.

Internationally the club provided $2,000 in financial support to the AMORAK Society to help enable the “Mother’s Teach Others” program in Bangladesh. The premise of the program: a mother attends an Amarok School each day. Then, after class, she teaches five children everything she has learned. The boys and girls achieve higher levels of education - moving from destitution to better education and employment opportunities - while the educator gains a greater sense of confidence, self-esteem, education, and community engagement.

Supporters of Pender Harbour Rotary can be assured that their support directly enriches and impacts our community and the World community, as our organisation is 100% volunteer based.