Pupils tell of excellent RYLA experience

TWO local senior school pupils have told Cowdenbeath Rotary Club of their 'unforgettable and life enhancing experiences' created as a result of their attending a week long Rotary Youth Leadership Awards ( RYLA) Course in the Cairngorms. 

Declan (16), from Lochgelly, attends Lochgelly High School, and Jay (also 16), from Kelty, is a pupil of Beath High School.

Both told club members on Thursday, how the course during the summer helped them to develop leadership skills through several challenging activities.

Declan and Jay undertook teamwork exercises, outdoor activities such as rock climbing and mountain hiking, and working in teams to solve problems. 

Declan said that the course had enabled him 'to realise the values of leadership, resilience, communication and team work' 

The course had taught him not to give-up doing something simply because he was not successful at his first attempt.

Jay, who had not long started at Beath High School before going on the RYLA Course, said that the experience had helped him to 'build my confidence, discover my potential and helped me to try to show an example in my own life'. 

Both youths said that they had made life-long friends with other attendees as a result of going on the course.

Jay and Declan emphasised that they would happily be ambassadors to younger pupils at their schools and in so doing  stress the benefits of applying for and if selected  participating in the course.>

Craig Bennet, president of Cowdenbeath Rotary Club, said: " It was indeed a privilege for club members to hear how Declan and Jay had benefited from going on the RYLA Course. 

“We at Cowdenbeath Rotary Club hope that they will be able to pass on the values they have learned to other pupils at their schools and to other youths in their communities 

“Listening to what Declan and Jay had to say of their experience on the course reinforces the views of Cowdenbeath Rotarians to continue to support RYLA. We also thank both Beath and Lochgelly High Schools for the assistance they give Cowdenbeath Rotary Club with RYLA and other local matters besides".