Rotarians help happy campers

THE Centre for Multiculture Youth will send twenty young people on a YMCA Anglesea camp with the backing of Alfredton Rotary.

CMY Ballarat-Wimmera has received $3000 to cover accommodation, meals, transport, and activities, and an additional $1000 from a private donor.

Youth worker Meg Lee said the camp will be an important opportunity for diverse young people from across the region, including migrants and refugees, to make new friends.

“It will be beneficial for people from Ballarat to get out and connect with people from rural communities… after a period of intense social isolation in recent years,” she said.

“For those in Horsham and Nhill, Ballarat might potentially be a future destination for their career or study, so this is a chance for them to make connections in the city.

“Together they will be able to get out and explore some more of the natural environment, and their opportunities.

“These donations are making the camp viable, it’s amazing. It means we’re able to include each person that will really benefit from it, without excluding anyone.”

Alfredton Rotary member Jill Oliver pitched the idea of financially supporting the camp to her fellow Rotarians, who she said were enthusiastic to help.

“Giving regional young people a chance to connect is huge,” she said.

“Anything we can do in that space with multicultural young people is so worthwhile, so they can reach out and talk to others in the same circumstances.

“It’s great to join everyone together. We’re also trying to encourage younger people to volunteer with us.”

Ms Oliver said the club first linked up with CMY a few years ago when some young people volunteered at a barbecue.

Choosing to back the camp initiative is a chance to rekindle that relationship.

“When the boys came and helped us, we thought we should be doing more to help and work with our diverse youth, who can sometimes find it challenging to connect,” she said.

“We’re looking forward to seeing what other opportunities we can create together in the future.”

This will be the first CMY camp run since 2021, and it’s set to take place from Friday, 2 to Sunday 4 June.