Stories

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With our ever-changing world, right now is the perfect time to let your patriotism show.  More and more people are expressing interest in supporting local and showing their pride in being Canadian.

Our Outbound Youth Exchange student Eden Heckrodt in Brazil has sent a couple of letters outlining some of her recent experiences.
 
 
 
In  late November, she moved to a new host family, and is now living with a Japanese Brazilian family of four. She has a new brother and sister!
After making a presentation to our club last July, the Days for Girls Kamloops Chapter requested monetary support for a proposed trip to Costa Rica  to distribute Days for Girls kits to women and girls in marginalized communities. Our club donated $2,500 to support the group's endeavours. In November, we received a warm thank you for that support. Following are pictures and a portion of the thank-you letter sent by Director Terry-Lynn Stone. 
 

 
 
 
The Salmon Arm Rotary Clubs'  Inbound Youth Exchange student is Karen Taboada Santos who comes to us from 
the state of Chiapas in southern Mexico.  Recently she gave a presentation about her home and family to our club. 
 
Our Youth Exchange student Eden Heckrodt arrived in Brasil in late August. Since then she has had many adventures. She has started school, met many new friends, helped her exchange sister prepare for an exchange to Turkey, tried lots of new foods, and spent a couple of weekends at a beach house in the jungle!
Started in 1984, Project Amigo is an organization based in Colima, Mexico whose mission it is to  empower disadvantaged and marginalized children  to achieve their highest potential.  By offering comprehensive scholarships for formal education, school supplies, access to educational assistance centers, homework clubs, enrichment activities and healthcare services not otherwise available to them, it is committed to ending poverty through education, one child at a time. Our club is one of 12 in BC to sponsor students. There are currently 220 high school students (grades 7-12) in the program. 
The cost of attending junior high and high school are beyond the means of many rural families. Without scholarships, schooling for the youth served by Project Amigo would end at sixth grade, and they would begin working in menial, low-paying jobs. In the above photo, Jesus, a former student sponsored by our club, holds one of some new computers that Project Amigo had acquired. Jesus is 3rd from the left at the back of the group. 
The Guatemala Literacy Project is a network of individual Rotarians and the nonprofit Cooperative for Education dedicated to improving education for underserved students in Guatemala.  Since 1997, over 800 clubs around the world have participated in the GLP. Guatemala has one of the most extreme combinations of poverty, illiteracy and inequality. 4 out of 5 indigenous Guatemalans live in poverty and 1 in 3 cannot not read or write. 
 
Sarah Sigurdson introduced Salmon Arm Mayor Alan Harrison who presented a City update:
 
The City - the main thrust is diversity and collaboration:
  • Population increased an average 2%/year over the past 5 years
  • Infrastructure is the prime concern
  • Unique in its development of collaboration with non-profit organizations to benefit the city
News
Recently, Kelly DeMille, a volunteer with the Shuswap Hospice & Palliative Care Resource Centre came to speak to us.  The Centre provides a variety of programs and services to families throughout the Shuswap region. They provide thoughtful care to those suffering with terminal illnesses, and those living with life- limiting illness. For families, they offer compassion and understanding, along with help with bereavement following the death of a loved one. Kathy spoke about the phases and where they are at with building a Hospice Centre for the Salmon Arm area.
 
Our Rotry Exchange student has arrived to start the school year she will spend with us in Salmon Arm.  All three Rotary Clubs welcome Karen, who is from Ixtapa in Mexico.
 
Last weekend was the Youth Exchange Orientation held at Camp Gifford on Deer Lake, Washington. There, inbound exchange students were welcomed by host clubs from Districts 5060 and 5080, including our own Karen, who is from Ixtapa, Mexico. There was also a review of returning outbound students from 2023-2024 (they're the ones with all those badges on their jackets).
 
 
Now finished and open to the public. No charge for using this newly rubberized track.
 
Perfect for hot summer days and cold winter days alike!
 
 

Join us at a Meeting

Mondays at 12:00 Noon at the GreenSpace located at First Community!

450 Okanagan Ave E, Salmon Arm, BC V1E 1H6   (See Map).

Speakers
Rob Hislop
May 05, 2025
Disability Savings Plan
Barbara Raynor
May 12, 2025
Salmon Arm History
Daryl Archuk
Jun 02, 2025
Vina Mazatlan
Henry Schnell
Jun 09, 2025
Shuswap Photo Arts Club