via Zoom, it's not quite like being there, but the commute is fast.
Editor: Scott Vetter, Assistant Editor: Rosemary Parker, Photographer: Robin Spencer
Annual Bursary Awards
One of our favourite meetings is when we award our annual bursaries to deserving High School students. It is always inspiring to hear how much they have achieved and of their positive and caring outlook on life.
The bursaries are $500 each to help offset post-secondary education expenses. The Rotary Club of Ottawa South provides one to each of six local high schools, who chose a student who has shown a dedication to their schooling, extra-curricular activities and reflects the Rotary ideal of Service Above Self. The recipients are always very deserving.
Jeanine Parker chaired the committee this year, many thanks for looking after all the logistics involved, and in be such a wonderful Master of Ceremonies for our Zoom meeting.
And thanks to David Oliver for leading the meeting with heartfelt and respectful words of sorrow regarding the remains of 215 Indigenous children found at a former Indian residential school in Kamloops.
2021 RCOS Bursary Recipients
MIMI NGUYEN
St. Joseph High School
Mimi will be pursuing bio-med at the University of Ottawa.
NEEL PATEL
St. Francis Xavier High School
Neel will be pursuing computer engineering at Carleton University.
BENI RUTIMIRWA
Ridgemont High School
Bene will be pursuing nursing to become a nurse practitioner.
EMAN BASIL
Brookfield High School
Eman will be pursuing pharmacology at the University of Ottawa.
MAX SHEWCHENKO
Hillcrest High School
Max will be pursuing business administration at the University of Ottawa.
MENNAH NASR
St. Patrick's High School
Mennah will be pursuing nursing at the University of Ottawa.
President's Update - Joan Hunter
The Banff-Ledbury Community House is an organization that we assist with backpacks and school supplies every year. Most recently a number of members in the Club donated $50 to $100 dollars in support of a “Kits for Kids” program that the centre established to provide solo and family activities promoting healthy play. These kits include balls, skipping ropes, marbles, badminton sets, boomerangs and sunscreen.
On May 12th Rotary Ottawa South made a presentation to “100 Men Who Care” where we described our back to school program that supports clients of the Salvation Army and the Banff-Ledbury Community House. To date $1700 has been donated to our Club following the presentation.
On June 3rd, we will be presenting $500 bursaries to students in five area high schools. In July a bursary will also be given to a student selected by the Banff-Ledbury Community House.
Work has been initiated on two fundraising initiatives for later in the year; a “COVID” golf tournament to be held in September at the Emerald Links Golf Course with money raised being donated in support of youth mental health, and the sale of Happy Goat coffee with money raised being used for a variety of activities. More details will be forthcoming.
On June 19th the Somali Hope Academy Foundation will be hosting a virtual gala. A member of our Club, Moe Elmi, established the foundation and has built a school in rural Somalia which provides free high quality education to boys and girls. There are currently 750 students attending, about a 50-50 mix of girls and boys. There is a major milestone this year - the first high school graduating class and a number of the students have already been admitted to universities. $80,000 CAD is needed every year to operate the school including the salaries of 21 teachers. This money is raised largely from the gala. More information will be forwarded to Club Presidents. Because of the ongoing political situation in Somalia there is no Rotary presence so while Rotarians can support the school through donations it is not possible to apply for a Rotary grant.
Through our own members donations and donations from other Clubs in the District we have also this year been able to continue sponsoring 20 girls at a school in Birera, Uganda.
Since we have not been meeting in person, several members of the Club have donated the money they would have paid for meals in support of specific projects or more generally and this has kept our service account in the black while allowing us to continue with certain activities like the bursaries.
