Welcome BBQ!

In the early hours of August 14, our exchange student Kai Wen (Kevin) Ku arrived from Taiwan! Originally, Kevin was heading to Fort McMurray with his host club being the RC of Fort McMurray Oil Sands. Due to the devastating wild fires this community experienced in May, this made hosting too challenging this year. Other clubs in our District rallied to come together to make this youth exchange happen for Kevin!

For the first time in our District’s history, Kevin will be sponsored and supported by more than two clubs. Our FUN FEARLESS & FOCUSED Rotary club is Kevin’s host club. We will be providing two host families: Marilyn Mucha (Len Chanasyk)  and Alfonso Ceccherini-Nelli. Mike Brandingen is his Counselor and has a wealth of experience in youth exchange; Mike has been both an inbound and outbound Counselor, hosted exchange students and has been the parent of an exchange student!

The Mayfield Club will be providing a host family, Brian Kierly, along with financial contributions. Three other clubs will be supporting Kevin financially this year: Edmonton West, eClub Canada One and Fort McMurray Oil Sands.

Kevin’s year here will be filled with adventure and fun! He will be attending Austin O’Brien Catholic High School in east Edmonton near Capilano Mall. He has already attended the Fringe Festival, tasted poutine, rode the old railway car over the High Level bridge, taken a day trip to Jasper and experienced a day of sailing at Wabamun Lake. Watch for updates on all that Kevin will be experiencing this year!

It takes a Rotary village to host an exchange student! Thank you to Sumeet Shinde, our RDA from the Youth Exchange team, Marilyn for all of her hard work and hosting Kevin, Mike for taking on the role of Inbound Counselor, District Governor Laura Morie for her continued support and enthusiasm,  the Rotary Club of Edmonton Whyte Avenue for taking this huge leap in being a host club for Kevin and to the other clubs for wanting to be a part of this unique Rotary Youth Exchange opportunity in making Kevin’s experience a true success!

 

Here are some pictures from the event: