At our Rotary club meeting of the 21st September 2017 we were delighted to be given a presentation by a young lady who we sponsored to take part in the Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) course held at a scout camp in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire.
Ione was a shy, quiet and reserved 16 year old when Club members Mike Robb and Paul Helliwell picked her up on a very wet Saturday morning in July to take her to the course. Ione was involved in a number of community related activities prior to the course and was a very deserving candidate for our club to provide sponsorship for her to attend the 2017 course.
Ione's presentation to our club was her way of telling us what a real difference the course had made to her, as a person, to her future in the real world of work and life in general.
She gave an insight into the daily life and activities the course offers and what she gained from each of the activities.
It was very clear from Ione's presentation and confident delivery that she had come a long way as a result of the course.
Ione gave the club her heartfelt thanks, expressing her appreciation for our sponsorship which allowed her to take part in an experience she will never forget.
At the end of her presentation, Ione was presented with her course completion certificate by our club president, Neil Kirkham. The presentation to the sponsoring Rotary club is the final task all RYLA candidates must do to complete the course.
So what is RYLA?
RYLA is a leadership development course that aims to help 16-18 year old young people realise their leadership potential, through a mix of indoor and outdoor activities to develop them as an individual, as a team member and as a leader of a team in a safe and enjoyable environment.
Every year we try as a club to sponsor a young person to take part in what is possibly one of the most rewarding experiences a young person can have.
An example of feedback from another past candidate that, it is fair to say, sums up Ione's experience too "Despite any insecurities or fears, a course like RYLA changes your heart, mind, soul and body for life"
If you know of a potential young leader from the Horbury and Ossett area that would benefit from and would like to attend a course like this and who will be aged 16 or 17 around the end of July or beginning of August 2018 then they should contact the Horbury and Ossett Phoenix Rotary club Paul Helliwell by email:
More information can be obtained from the RYLA District 1040 Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ryla1040/