21-10-2008

EHGTHS students

The Club has always had a very good relationship with the East Hills Girls Technical High School, with the students figuring in nearly every youth activity of the Club. So when the members needed to be brought up to date on the recent ROYA and RYPEN events, it wasn't surprising to find the familiar green uniforms at centre stage.

Dimity Capps

• Was recognised with a High Commendation from ROYA (Junior Award).
• Dimity, a year 10 student at the East Hills Girls Technology High School spoke about her Mission Trip to Ethiopia early in 2008. This was a hands on trip where students built a 500 metre pipeline from the river to the “All Boys Orphanage”. This saved the boys 12 trips a day to fill up the water tank at the school.
• A garden was also created for crops (squash, watermelon etc) – not only to make the orphanage self sustaining in food but also to have food to sell to help pay for teachers.
• The mission members had to attend a 10 day Boot Camp at Tewantin (run by Team Mission Australia) prior to going to Ethiopia. They were allowed 1 duffel bag containing 15kgs of gear to see them through 6 weeks in Ethiopia. There was an obstacle course they had to run every morning to help get them fit. Part of this was “The Wall”. The Wall was high and there was no ladder but they had to get over it with the help of their team members.
• The orphanage students loved to play soccer and whenever they weren’t in school or doing chores they were playing soccer. The boys also had an exercise regime every day.
• It took 17 hours to arrive at the orphanage on a packed local bus.
• As a result of the Ethiopian trip Principal Mrs Necyporuk recommended Dimity for ROYA.
• Dimity is busy fund raising for a Mission trip to Cambodia in 52 days.

Laura Sampson & Emily De Wildt

• Attended RYPEN at Springwood for 3 days from 12th to 14th September 2008.
• They both loved it though they were nervous and felt daunted when they arrived. The Rotarians and Rotaractors were very kind.
• Some of the speakers spoke about things to help the RYPEN delegates with any problems they might have – trouble at home, resumes and interviews for jobs, why some kids stuff up.
• They were put into colour groups and both Laura and Emily were in the Green Group.
• The groups did team building activities, designed banners for their group, nominated a group leader.
• The food was very good. There was a bush dance and they had heaps of fun except they had to dance with boys.
• The Rotaractors were mentors.
• Some other activities they enjoyed were:
  • Walking through the Blue Mountains
  • Trying to find out how to pry apart a frozen t-shirt without breaking it
  • Building a water tower out of bits and pieces.
  • Making up a skit for Saturday night (the Green group won this)
  • Initiative games – 10 mins at each activity
• One of the delegates was a good musician and he played his guitar while he sang.
• On the last day there was a reflection about what had been learned. It was agreed that we are fortunate in Australia.
• Laura and Emily thanked the Club for sponsoring them
• The camp was really great and life changing. We are still friends with the other delegates and hope to have a reunion soon.

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Last changed: 21:55:37 26-10-2008