Youth Services

Currently the Rotary Club of Karrinyup Youth Services group has a small budget to provide funding for local youth organisation volunteers, who reside or volunteer in 'our patch'. The purpose is for them to complete initial or refresher training to gain or maintain such qualifications they may require to perform their volunteer role. Audrey Repsevicius completed the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) program through Karrinyup Rotary in 2021 and serves the community as a volunteer Girl Guide Unit Leader. She used the grant to fund a required update to her First Aid qualfication. Audrey thanked the club for the support. 

As part of our Youth Service, Karrinyup Rotary again sponsored three students to attend the 2025 National Youth Science Forum (NYSF). Our 2025 students, Isobel Gomez, Joshua Polmear and Toby Iglio, all currently attend Warwick SHS. In their presentations, the students each described their experience at NYSF, an annual program, which brings together hundreds of Year 12 students from all around Australia. The program is designed to encourage young people in their passion for STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).

Youth Director Eddy Giacomel introduced our graduates from the 2025 RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) program. Mwambe and Shaun shared of their experiences of the week long course, which they attended in January, sponsored by Karrinyup Rotary. The pair spoke glowingly of a jam packed, sleep deprived week with many highlights. These included new learning experiences, the amazing diverse group of thirty nine participants, making new friendships, experiencing teamwork, public speaking and gaining a huge boost to their self-confidence.

Do you know a young person, who would benefit from RYPEN (Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment)? This weekend camp is for 14 to 17 year olds, with a focus on “Fun with a Purpose” to develop skills around team work, communication, goal setting and problem solving. Participants are encouraged to push their boundaries and challenge themselves in a safe and supportive environment. Karrinyup Rotary will again fund this program. The next RYPEN camp is from Friday 2 – Sunday 4 May 2025. Contact Youth Director Eddy for further information.

Currently the Rotary Club of Karrinyup Youth Services group has a small budget to provide funding for local youth organisation volunteers, who reside or volunteer in 'our patch'. The purpose is for them to complete initial or refresher training to gain or maintain such qualifications they may require to perform their volunteer role. Recently, the club provided funding to local Girl Guide leader Hannah Woodward on the completion of a Remote Area First Aid qualification. Hannah needed this to retain her certification to run overnight hiking expeditions.

The Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) program offers young men and women between the ages of 18 and 25 years an opportunity to attend a residential seminar designed to develop their leadership skills. RC Karrinyup sponsored two worthy participants to the 2025 RYLA program held recently. Shaun Giacomel and Mambwe Nsanje seen here with club members Eddy and Nchima. Shaun and Mambwe will present an account of their experience to members at the club meeting on 11 March.

The Karrinyup Rotary Youth Service team has again established a ‘Back to School 2025’ humanitarian grant to assist children of Ukrainian Displaced Persons living in Western Australia. Its purpose is to help cover the expenses of funding their back-to-school requirements for 2025. Limited funds are available for families to apply for a humanitarian grant of $200 for local children, who have settled here after fleeing the war in Ukraine. To be eligible, they must have and submit the 786 or 866 visa that applies to DP’s from Ukraine. Please read instructions on the second page carefully. Email only the first page to karrinyuprotary@gmail.com.

Youth Service Director Eddy Giacomel introduced Tynuka Reed, a Karrinyup Rotary participant in the September 2024 Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment (RYPEN). Our 2024-2025 Rotary Youth Exchange student Viki Herczegh, who also completed the program needed, no introduction. This program is for Year 10 students, who have leadership potential and demonstrate other positive personal attributes, who are actively involved in the community. In thanking the club, the students spoke positively about their experience saying that they had gained new skills to help them grow in confidence.

In this week's update, Viki told us all about her adventures during the school holidays. These included: a trip to the zoo, where she decided her favourite animal was the numbat, a day at the Royal Show with friends, a visit to the beach, attending Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment (RYPEN) camp, a Rotary Youth Exchange briefing weekend and an outing with her host parents to the King's Park - The Trees Speak. She was most impressed by this event, which portrayed some amazing visuals.

Rotary Youth Exchange Coordinator Trish Lynch introduced our 2024-2025 Inbound Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE) student Viki, from Austria. Viki has been an active member of our club since her arrival in Perth in late July. Our students' presentations, where they describe themselves and their home country, are always most interesting and Viki's presentation was outstanding. It was lovely to have her host families, District Placement Officer, our 2025 RYE Outbound student Ellen and Mandurah District's Inbound RYE student Eliane from Switzerland join us for the evening.

In her second update to the club, Viki shared how she has now made a few friends at school. She particularly enjoyed the sports carnival day, as she doesn't have anything like this in her Austrian school. While she did not excel at the sporting activities, she had fun participating with her friends. She has now moved to her second host family. She thanked Eddy for taking her to a Toastmaster's Meeting, where she was challenged to give an impromptu two minute speech. 

The RC Karrinyup was delighted this week to welcome 2024 - 2025 Inbound Rotary Youth Exchange student Viki from Austria. While Viki has been in Perth a few weeks now, this was her first formal opportunity to meet club members at a meeting. She told us that she has been to King's Park and to the beach and attended a briefing weekend for RYE Inbound students. She is attending at Warwick SHS and has already helped out volunteering at the Stirling Farmers Market.

Youth Service team member Geoff Inman introduced Adam Yappo and Maya Yarran, who were Karrinyup Rotary's participants in the May 2024 Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment (RYPEN). This program is for Year 10 students, who have leadership potential, demonstrate other positive personal attributes, who are community minded and are actively involved in the community. In thanking the club, the students spoke positively about their experience saying that they had gained new skills to help them in their roles as leaders at the Edmund Rice Centre. Applications for the next RYPEN camp in September are now open. Contact Youth Director Eddy for more information.

Karrinyup Rotary has a long history of Rotary Youth Exchange and is excitedly looking forward to meeting our second Inbound exchange student since COVID terminated the program in 2020. At the end of July, we will welcome 15-year-old Viki from Austria. During the year she will stay with four different host families. Her first family wil be Kay and Peter Durrant. She will attend Warwick SHS. Her hobbies are volleyball, tennis, guitar, reading, drawing and crafts. She has also expressed an interest in cooking, swimming, surfing and sailing. Club members are encouraged to invite her for meals and/or to participate in family outings, most especially during the early weeks, when she has yet to make friends. In this way, she can get to know us better. Contact her mentor Trish Lynch to organise.

As part of our Youth Service, Karrinyup Rotary again sponsored two students to attend the 2024 National Youth Science Forum (NYSF). Eddy Giacomel introduced our 2024 students Daniel Stait from Warwick SHS and Purva Patel from Churchlands SHS. In their presentations, the students each described their experience at NYSF, an annual program which brings together hundreds of Year 12 students from all around Australia. The program is designed to encourage young people in their passion for STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).

In 2018, our club sponsored Caleb from Warwick SHS to participate in the National Youth Science Forum (NYSF) program. From there he continued to excel, becoming Dux at WSHS and during his university studies was selected to spend a month in Israel, working alongside PhD students at the Weizmann Institute. Caleb updated the club at the end of his first university year. He has now been named 2024 WA Rhodes Scholar. Well done Caleb - we are very happy to have been just a tiny part of your journey!

Karrinyup Rotary Youth Services has set aside funds for financial assistance for young people from families in need to attend Girl Guides, Scouts or similar pursuits (other than sports). The scholarship will cover the annual fees to be a member and participate in a youth development activity. Western Australia resident children aged 5 to 18 years participating, or wishing to participate in approved activities, whose parents/guardian have a Health Care/Pension Concession Card or members of Ukrainian refugee families are eligible.

Karrinyup Rotary's 2023-2024 Rotary Youth Exchange Inbound student from Poland, Karolina has now been with us for six months. She gave an extended report telling us it has been a lot of fun and how much she has learned. Her time has been filled with amazing people, new homes, new adventures and new amazing friends for life. There have been so many firsts, including surfing lessons, Christms away from home, a selfie with a quokka and loads of photos to record her experiences. Check out the pdf of her presentation.

Youth Director Trish Lynch introduced new District 9423 RYLA and RYPEN Chair, Ian Ball (RC Como), who addressed the club on the benefits and operation of the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) and Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment (RYPEN). Ian explained how the programs will work going forward following the merge of the two districts to Rotary WA. Karrinyup Rotary has long been a supporter of both programs and this year had three participants in the RYPEN program. We also directed funding support towards the RYLA camp, when our participant was unable to attend.

Currently the Rotary Club of Karrinyup Youth Services group has a small budget to provide funding for local youth organisation volunteers, who reside or volunteer in 'our patch'. The purpose is for them to complete initial or refresher training to gain or maintain such qualifications as Senior First Aid, Mental Health First Aid or Bronze Medallion, that they may require to perform their volunteer role.

 In addition the club supports participants in the following programs:

• Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE)
• Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA)
• Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment (RYPEN)