Visit to E-scape Youth Cafe

On 17^th August, Hawick's Rotarians visited Escape Youth Cafe at their base in Havelock Street. The party were given a tour of the premises by leaders Sian Snowdon and Andrew Shields, and by young leaders and Escape members Asha, Allie, Isla, Naomi and Rhea. The young people explained very clearly and fully what went on at the centre and a video was shown of the very varied activities which were part of Escape's Summer Programme. The sum of £650, the proceeds of Hawick Rotary's Coffee Morning in May had been given to Escape to help with the funding of that programme.

Speaking on behalf of the Rotary members, President Ron Smith thanked Sian, Andrew and the girls and told them that they had been much impressed by what they had seen. The scale of the operation – 300 registered members with perhaps sixty attending at a time - and the wide variety of the activities on offer, said much for the dedication of both the senior and junior leaders.

Sian spoke of the constant search for funding and Ron asked her to keep up a link with Rotary who might be able to identify possibilities within Rotary International.

Rotarians then returned to Mansfield House Hotel for their meal and further conversation.

Lend With Care lead Linden Warburton reported that three new loans had been made during July, to a manufacturing business in Ecuador, a sewing business in Pakistan and to a farmer in Thailand. A further three loans were then agreed to a vegetable and cattle farmer in Vietnam, a hairdressing and beauty salon in Pakistan and a coffee and animal farmer in Ecuador. This Lend With Care activity is a great favourite with Hawick Rotarians and has been very successful over a long period of years. Members feel that they can contribute in a small way to the success of small businesses widely across the world, and it is well worth noting that only in two cases have the entrepreneurs been unable to repay the loans.