This year it was Cath Kendall’s privilege to be the Young Ambassador Officer for 105M at this event. What a busy weekend it turned out to be, but thoroughly enjoyable, and Cath would encourage all Lions to try and attend one of these competitions if you want to see young people doing amazing things. Their energy and enthusiasm for volunteering knows no bounds and it is physically exhausting just to listen to their endeavours.
Once all 13 of them had arrived, Friday evening was filled with fun and games and a chance for the candidates to get to know each other, which they very quickly did, with a variety of challenges, one of which was making a free standing structure from balloons…the girls just pipped the boys with their ingenious final balloon! During the Friday evening welcome all Young Ambassadors had to draw a time for their presentation on Saturday. Ashleigh Woodall, the 105M Young Ambassador drew 11:10am, which gave her time to prepare and then an afternoon to relax and go bowling.
Ashleigh is sponsored by Marston Green Lions. Her passion is dance and how it helps people to work together as a team, learn how to co-operate and pass on skills. She works with two girls who each have their own difficulties, one with a cochlea implant and one with Downs Syndrome helping each of them access music and dance. She also organises activities to raise money for a variety of cancer charities, is on her school’s sport’s committee and teaches dance, in her own time, three times a week to underprivileged children, helping with confidence and self esteem. She is also studying for her International Baccalaureate this year, and hopes to go to University in September to study psychology.
Saturday evening saw the Young Ambassador’s Gala Dinner when they were encouraged to ‘be smart’ I think they took that to heart and presented themselves admirably.
During the evening they provided the entertainment and managed to prise over £300 from the assembled gathering of Lions and dignitaries with the raffle.
Sunday morning came and so did the award ceremony. Early attendees from 105M arrived (Pauline and Wim Hoogerwerf, Joy and Ian Haffner and DG Paul and Jackie Anstice) found the coffee making equipment, then the toilets, and then staked out their chairs in the award room.
The candidates were ready for the ceremony.
It was then time for all of the Young Ambassadors to give their three minute interview presentation which they all did with confidence. They were then followed by the Mayor of Dudley who kept to his brief of a three minute speech as well.
Finally the awards were made…Ben Ray from 105W, sponsored by Ross-on-Wye Lions Club was awarded the Shipshape award, and the magnificent trophy to take home. He will be taking his prize within the next 12 months being part of a crew of a ‘Tall Ship’ with able and disabled people.
The Young Ambassador of the 21st Century 2013 went to Adam Harris of 105I, sponsored by Bray Lions Club, for his work with Disability Advocacy, Social Inclusion, Human Rights and Mental Heath Awareness and Support. His motto for his service to others is ‘Carpe Diem’ and this young person surely does this by taking opportunities to help others whenever he can -a true inspiration and a very worthwhile winner of the award. However as we were frequently reminded all of these young people are winners and deservedly so, reminding us that we can learn a lot from looking at and listening to what they have to say.