Barochan Cross
The members of Gryffe Valley have especially been pleased to have been regularly involved with local youth and have sponsored District Euroscola representatives in both 2002 and 2003. In addition each year the club has given a Personal Initiative Award (PIA) towards allowing a student to spend up to a year abroad doing vocational and voluntary work – recent recipients have been to Chile, Sri Lanka and Malawi; all have returned to the Club to describe their experiences. For the first time in 2002 the club participated in the Sports Aid programme sponsoring a local athlete.
In
2001 we had our first experience of hosting a Group Study Exchange (GSE) Team.
We enjoyed the group from Tasmania so much that we repeated the experience
by hosting the 2002 team from Sydney. GSE is a regular exercise in the World
of Rotary. On this occasion, the Sydney Team comprised the Team Leader (a
Rotarian), accompanied by two Secondary School Teachers, a Care Worker and
a Policeman all in the early part of their chosen careers. They spent four
weeks in the West of Scotland where they are able to experience work practices
at first hand, as well having the opportunity to learn about our history and
culture. It is a most rewarding experience for both hosts and guests and their
visit included attending the District’s Annual Conference in Fort William.
