Four local secondary school students are taking part in upcoming citizenship and leadership programs sponsored by the local rotary clubs.
Nathan Bean of Stratford District Secondary School is set to attend the four day ‘Adventure in Citizenship’ program in Ottawa from May 14-17, the Rotary Club of Stratford said in a news release.
The AIC program involves some 200 senior high school students from across Canada. The program was established in 1951 by the Rotary Club of Ottawa.
The students will be experiencing lectures, discussions, tours and social events "to enhance their understanding of the parliamentary system and their appreciation of Canadian citizenship and cultural diversity", the club said.
Former Governor General Adrienne Clarkson, the Right Hon. Joe Clark, and the Hon. Ed Broadbent are all former AIC participants.
Nathan Bean is involved in Stratford District Secondary School's student council and the SDSS Eco-Club as a well as the AMDSB Student Senate, the Rotary Club of Stratford noted.
He also serves as a Harrington community volunteer and, in his spare time, tends six beehives that he has developed through dialogue with the University of Guelph.
Merzia Noman and Georgia Neely of SDSS long with Grant Byvelds of St. Michael Catholic Secondary School will take part in ‘Rotary Seminar for Tomorrow's Leaders’ from May 12-14.
This is part of the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards program held annually at Western University.
The Youth Leadership seminar is meant to foster the leadership skills of grade 10 and 11 students.
Through icebreakers, guest speakers, group discussions, and interactive activities, students tackle topics ranging from ethics, communication, and conflict management to the elements of community and global citizenship.
Youth Leadership participants come from throughout Rotary District 6330 which stretches from Tobermory to Stratford to Chatham and Sarnia and then across the border into the eastern half of the Michigan Peninsula, ending just past Flint, meaning the young people will have the opportunity to exchange some international perspectives.
Merzia and Georgia are sponsored by the Rotary Club of Stratford while Grant is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Festival City.
Reflective of very different backgrounds, the three young people were selected for their determination to improve their emerging leadership skills, the Rotary Club said.
Georgia is captain of her basketball team. Merzia is working towards a career as an architect.
Both are involved in local environmental initiatives.
Grant plays basketball, hockey, tennis and baseball and is also in swimming. He has his eye on pursuing math and science at university.
Learn more about the Adventure in Citizenship at this link, and about the Seminar for Tomorrow’s Leaders here.
