At their joint meeting August 17, the Noon Team and the Evening Team of the Kingston North Kitsap Rotary Club learned about the Wall of Hope, created by Poulsbo Rotarian Brenda Wall.
Nigisti Gebreslassie Abreha, an Ethiopian spokesperson for Yenega Tesfa, told Rotarians about the organization, which was founded in 2001, has 67 employees, and serves 7600 Ethiopians. Its Girls and Boys Homes create a family-like structure and supplies shelter, food, and education for many children in poverty. Its daycare programs enhance single mothers' opportunities to seek training and employment. For the homeless, it supplies medical assistance, food support, "mobile school," and "mobile library," and clothing assistance. Their efforts have recently been disrupted by Covid and by civil war, despite which, the work of Yenega Tesfa continues. Info at: https://yenegetesfa.org/.
Following Abreha's presentation, the local side of Club activities kicked in, with an update from Kingston High School students about their re-formed Interact Club (Rotary in High Schools).
From left, McLean, Ariana, Genevieve, and Leighton spoke to their mission of focusing on collaborative service to the community. Their motto is students of action. While Covid essentially eliminated most student service opportunities at Kingston High, the Interact Club is once again on its feet, and recruiting new members. In partnership with the Key Club, which is supported by Kingston Kiwanis, it's preliminary plans are to engage activities like food drives, trail work, pet supply drives, and other community events.
Kingston North Kitsap Rotary Club President Jackie Baker has initiated a series of stories - as told by members - of their lives and careers. Speaking at the meeting, telling her story, was Emily Froula, the Club coordinator for Interact.
Emily is a member of the Club's Evening Team. She's a local lass, having grown up in Port Ludlow, where she sites her CPA practice. It all started - Rotary, that is - when Emily was a one year Rotary exchange student in Switzerland. As a college student she was inspired to study in Munich, Germany. Following college she taught English to young students in Hong Kong for three years, before returning to the northwest. Obviously, she is inspired by travel. She stressed how her continual interest in travel and world cultures has enriched her life and her opportunity to serve youth through Rotary.