“Everything that is done in the world is done by hope”
Martin Luther
Supporting Young People
Rotary "Young Writer" Competition August 2021
Rotary has long been a supporter and helper of young people and organises competitions in the UK to help them achieve success in many skills.
The Rotary club of Woking District has long supported this programme particularly in the areas of Youth speaks (public speaking) and Young musician.
During this last Rotary year Youth programme has been badly hit by the pandemic and the lockdowns. All the Youth competitions which involve contact have not been run. The main one affecting the Rotary club of Woking District was the cancellation of Youth Speaks where we have achieved a lot of success over the years.
So with only limited competitions to choose from, the club decided to try Young Writer.
Young Writer was divided into three categories; Junior, Intermediate and Senior. The theme was “My happiest day”; it could be prose or a poem with a maximum of 500 words. 88 entries were received many from Gordons school.
Judged by a two writers and a poet, the top three in each category from the Woking round were awarded vouchers and certificates. The winners progressed to Rotary District semi-finals and finals. The standard was very high. Isabelle Depoix from Gordons school won senior section (14-17) and her entry was forward to the National Rotary final with all the best entries from around the country. She did not win the National final but was sent a certificate in recognition of her excellent writing.
Peter Kleyn, organiser and head judge, from Woking District Rotary Club said “We are really pleased to have organised this event this year, through my liaison with the head of English at Gordons, they were so grateful for this opportunity saying the children really valued the good news that this competition gave. I am personally thrilled by this as an author myself we may have set this talented teenager along a career path and maybe to fame and fortune as well. This is something we are very proud about within Rotary.”
The picture is of Isabelle with the District trophy and certificate; she won a book token as well.
Assisting Young People in many ways
Woking District Rotary funds, organises and supports many types of activities to encourage and develop young people in Woking.
Let's Read Ltd helps to improve the literacy of young people in the Woking area in two main ways. By giving free books to the pupils at 13 of the schools in Woking. Over the past 12 years they have given over 35,000 books. Pupils receive a book of their choice each term and presently they are distributing nearly a thousand books a term.
Let's Read also provides one-to-one tuition at four of Woking's primary schools, helping about sixty pupils each year, whose schools see them as being behind in their reading skill
We provided funds to Satro a charity involved with the education of young people in science, technology, business practice and associated skills. Here a couple of youngsters are learning plumbing skills.
‘Youth Speaks’, is a Rotary debating competition, which we run at both at senior and junior level. Woking District Rotary have organised the first round of the Youth Speaks competition in Woking for many years.
Gasp, is another very worthwhile charity we decided to support. It is an accredited AQA and Laser course in basic motor mechanics and practical engineering skills for 14 to 19 year olds, providing a hands-on specialist and personalised alternative learning environment. Courses are staffed by mechanics with a maximum of six young people per project.
Our club has been involved for many years with a full on annual Rotary activity day called 'Kids Out' to provide a fun day out to challenged young people with physical or other issues. The day is enjoyed by one and all.
