Lunchtime Meeting - 12.45pm - Speaker Jenny England GRSP

Since 1999 the Rotary Club of Wrexham Erddig has sponsored students to participate in the Georgia Rotary Student Programme (USA).   Every year up to 70 students from all over the world are accepted into the scheme and thanks to the massive generosity of Rotarians in the state of Georgia, USA, the cost of their food, accommodation and college fees are fully paid. The students just have to meet the cost of their flights, insurance and spending money.

Rotarian Philip Squires from Wrexham Erddig Rotary initiated the club's involvement back in 1999 and says "GRSP has provided this unique opportunity for young people from around the world since 1947. Each year, over 60 students meet initially and spend two days getting to know each other, before joining their respective college or university. This is a great experience for these young people thanks to the generosity of our fellow Rotarians in Georgia, USA".

Each student has a host family in Georgia to look after them throughout their stay. One of the ideals of Rotary is to promote world peace and understanding. This scheme, started by Rotarians in Georgia, USA, in 1946 just after the Second World War, exemplifies those aims. This is not an exchange scholarship although a number of countries do reciprocate in a small way.

The 3 students sponsored by Wrexham Erdigg in 2011-2012 included Jenny England.  Jenny attended Clayton State University and was sponsored by the Rotary Clubs of Henry County and Clayton County.

After her year in Georgia, Jenny has just completed her first year's studies in Zoology at the University of Nottingham. Her hobbies include swimming, outdoor activities, horse riding, acting and singing.

Today, Jenny will visit out Club and talk about her year in Georgia, the benefits the Georgia Youth Exchange brought her and her recent fundraising project taking part in the University of Nottingham's Kilimanjaro Legacy for Hope For Children.

Hope for Children (HOPE) provides crucial support to children who really need it. No effort is too big, no need is too small. HOPE works in 10 countries across Africa, Asia and Europe. It was founded with a very specific ethos; to keep costs low, ensuring that public donations go directly to the children it helps.

Registered Charity Number 1041258