Rotary trains young leaders for tomorrow
Sixty two young people with high potential last week attended the annual Rotary Youth Leadership camp at goldminer, B2Gold’s Education Centre at its Otjikoto mine near Othjiwarongo. The grade 9 and 10 learners came from schools in the Khomas, Erongo and Otjozondjupa regions.
The learners are already trailblazers in their school community and have been identified by Rotary Namibia for further skills development to become Namibia’s leaders of tomorrow.
An integral part of the Rotary Youth Leadership camp is the Challenge Plus youth leadership programme presented by well-known UK facilitator Scott Hurd. Learners also engaged in a myriad of leadership exercises from public speaking to team building and sports. To expose the young scholars to the business environment, tours were undertaken to the mine itself and the Otjiwarongo Crocodile Farm. Motivational speakers included B2Gold’s Managing Director Mark Dawe and various members of Rotary and Rotaract in Namibia.
“We have been privileged to work with a group of creative and inspired kids who are geared to take charge of their lives and pursue positions of responsibility,” said organiser Marybeth Gallagher of the Auas Rotary Club. “The enthusiasm of the kids and facilitators and the world-class venue made this one of the best youth leadership camps ever.”
“Rotary Namibia is profoundly thankful to the B2Gold team for their generous sponsorship of this important activity and their commitment to the RYLA programme,” commented Taffy Chirunda, the Youth Committee Chair for the Rotary Club Windhoek. “It is in holding hands with visionary companies like B2Gold that we can achieve our Namibian dream in which no one is left behind. B2Gold has truly lived up to Rotary International’s motto of Service Above Self.”
The Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is a leadership programme run by Rotary Clubs around the world. Young people between 13 and 30 are invited to attend a seminar, camp or workshop to develop practical leadership skills.
