Once again The Rotary Club of Oban is supporting
youngsters going abroad in their gap year to broaden their experience against a
background of assisting the education of children in developing countries. On
this occasion it is Hazel Smith, who has completed her final year at Oban High
School and is currently in Chile under the auspices of the Project Trust
programme where she is assisting the teaching of English at a local level in
that country. Those selected under the Project Trust initiative, which is based
on the island of Coll, are required to raise £6,200 towards the cost of their
year away and Oban Rotary are pleased to contribute £300 as part of its Youth
Services Programme.
Our picture shows Hazel on the left, who will go on to further education after her "gap year", with some of her charges in a village in Chile.
The Project Trust, which is based on the island of Coll, supports youngsters during their gap year to broaden their experience by going overseas to mainly developing countries where they can assist educational needs at a local level.
Each student has to raise £6,200 to cover their costs and 17 year old Alex Hardie, who attended Oban High School is seen here receiving a cheque for £500 from Oban Rotary President Iain Mac Intyre towards his fund raising. Alex is to spend his gap year in China teaching English.
Also in the picture is Past President Ken Oxland.
Oban Rotary is renowned for its support of local youth development.
Catriona Mackenzie, who is currently a student at Oban High School, was recently selected by Project Trust to go overseas on leaving school to teach English to under privileged children in Thailand.
The Project Trust, which is based on Coll, selects youngsters to go overseas for up to 12 months to broaden their experience prior to going on to further education and/or full time employment.
Catriona is now fund raising to cover her costs of £6,200 and she is seen here receiving a cheque for £500 from Oban Rotary President Tommy McQuade towards her target.
This support from Oban Rotary is part of the club's Youth Services initiatives.
Young Megan Evans from Oban completes her collage education in May and shortly thereafter she will travel to Chile where she will teach English to under privileged children in that country. Megan is one of around 300 volunteers selected by the Project Trust annually to deliver assistance in teaching, social care and outward bound courses in poorer countries all with the aim of improving the well being of children.
The Project Trust is based on Coll. Each volunteer has to raise their own funding which in Megan's case is £6,200 and she is well on her way to achieving this.
Megan is seen here receiving £500 from the Rotary Club of Oban towards her costs which underpins the Club's support for local youth orientated activities.
Oban Rotary is represented here by Past President Ken Oxland and Junior Vice President Douglas Small.
The Project Trust is an Educational Gap Year Charity sending approximately 300 school leavers overseas each year as volunteers in teaching, social care and outward bound projects across Africa, Asia and he Americas.
The Project Trust is based on the island of Coll and volunteers support disadvantaged children and adults in these continents.
The photograph shows Oban girl Kiera Donn who is currently providing social care support to children in a children's home just outside Cape Town in South Africa. Oban Rotary provided £200 towards Kiera's funding costs.