FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
ROTARY CLUBS OF SINT MAARTEN HOLD ROTARY YOUTH LEADERSHIP AWARDS
90 Young Sint Maarten Leaders Participate
 
PHILIPSBURG, SINT MAARTEN – May 19, 2024 – On Saturday, May 18, 2024, the Rotary Clubs of Sint Maarten joined together to host an intensive day of youth leadership training at the University of St. Martin. According to the area Assistant Governor, Elisa L. Lake, "This type of leadership training is known in the world of Rotary as the 'Rotary Youth Leadership Awards' or simply RYLA.  More than 90 young Sint Maarten leaders participated from various schools, school based and community based service clubs, like Interact Clubs and Leo Clubs.  Training and exercises were delivered by local Rotarians and local leaders in the areas of leadership, building self esteem, conflict resolution, mental wellbeing, community service, budgeting, public speaking, creating a resume and interview skills".
 
At the end of the day-long event, each participant received a RYLA Certificate of Participation and each participant was pinned with a Rotary RYLA pin after attesting to uphold all the responsibilities of being a young community leader with the new skills they acquired during the training sessions.  The new RYLA graduates were pinned by Past Rotary District Governor Louis Wever, Past Assistant Governor Marcellia Henry, Past Assistant Governor James Ferris, Assistant Governor Elisa L. Lake, President of the Rotary Club of Sint Maarten, Jeffrey "Dr. Soc" Sochrin, President of the Rotary Club St. Maarten Mid-Isle, Yvette Hart, President of the Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunrise, Valda Hazel and President of the Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunset, Kimberley Duzong.
 
Speakers for the day included the President of Parliament, the Honorable Sarah Wescot-Williams, Marcellia Henry, Semona Morton, Rolando Tobias, Jaida Nisbett, Jeffrey "Dr. Soc" Sochrin, Jean-Thierry Arnell, Franklyn Salomons, Malcom Jacques, Adelena Chandler and Dr. Tameka Lambert.  This RYLA event was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Sint Maarten, the Rotary Club of St. Maarten Mid-Isle, the Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunrise, the Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunset, Computech, Domino's St. Maarten, Carl's & Sons with numerous volunteers all contributing to make the day a success.
 
For more information about the Rotary Clubs of St. Maarten, please contact the Rotary Club of St. Maarten Press Officer at: pressrotarysxm@gmail.com.
 
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