Through this annual program Toronto Eglinton Rotary Club can sponsor a High school student to travel to the Nation's capital for four days. Thus, a select group of young Canadians from across Canada assemble in Ottawa to gain a better understanding of our country. Through meeting with political leaders, senior officials and others, they learn a great deal about the workings of our democratic institutions. Through meeting one another and having discussions among themselves they learn to appreciate the diversity of Canada and the privileges and responsibilities of citizenship. The program is set-up and designed by the Rotary Club of Ottawa. Clubs are asked to nominate and sponsor one student each.

Brush-a-mania is a not-for-profit program designed for children from Junior Kindergarten to grade 6 to promote good oral health. Each participating school holds an assembly during the month of April, where a dentist and a Rotarian come into the school and provide the children with an interactive, entertaining presentation about proper dental care. Each assembly concludes with a Brush-off, where all participants brush their teeth simultaneously for 3 minutes. (Participation in the Brush-off is at the discretion of the Principal.) Each participant receives a complimentary dental health kit. Rotary members assemble the kits and provide all of the supplies required to run the program. Our Club has provided funds to print information booklets that are put in the giveaway package.

The Cabbagetown Youth Centre (CYC) was formed in 1972 by volunteers, providing social and recreational programs for youth in the eastern inner city core of Toronto. The Centre responds to need for preventative services in a community with one of the highest youth crime rates in Metro Toronto. Since inception the Cnetre has gradually expanded programs from just social activities and sports to learning skills including ESL and computer classes for children, youth and adults. Today the Centre provides services and programs from three permanent locations as well as a summer camp program in Goderich Ontario. Our Club has provided funding to refurbish facilities and develop new initiatives to support After School, and computer Programs.

Camp Enterprise, was created by the Rotary Club of Kansas City, Mo., USA, in 1977, since then it has spread to over 125 clubs from California to Texas, and across the border to Ontario, Canada. The annual weekend camp introduces selected high school students to entrepreneurship and ethics. Participants typically compete in groups to create the best business plan and head outdoors for team-building games.  "Last year, we even had a Camp Enterprise alumni event," said Linda Caruso, a member of the Rotary Club of Houston, in an interview with local public radio station KUHF after her club's 21st annual Camp Enterprise in April. She says one person who came back is now in biomedical sales. "He talked with the kids about how the camp really gave him the confidence to start a business of his own."

Card is an organization that is dedicated to improving the lives of children and adults with cognitive, physical and/or emotional disability through quality therapeutic riding programs. The benefits of riding for those with disabilities have been recognized for over 3,000 years.  Today, therapeutic riding and other safe, purposeful and supervised interaction with horses are medically recognized to benefit children and adults.

Public Speaking, Debating, Essay Writing, Film Making and Reading The Toronto Eglinton Club has a rich history of supporting the development of communications skills in young people. Our Club is always on the lookout for new and different ways of assisting young people to develop their communication skills. Five initiatives we have supported include: Assisting with The Toronto High School Public Speaking Competition Sponsoring members of The National Junior Debating Team to travel to the World Championships Setting up, adjudicating and providing prizes for the Branksome Hall Helen Grigor Essay Writing Competition Providing funding for University of Toronto School to travel to Africa to make a documentary film on the impact of AIDS on their African counterparts and providing funding for the PACT Film making camp, which is part of a restorative justice program for youth who have fallen on the wrong side of the law.

Camp Amik through which we provide a book a week to underprivileged youngsters in Northern First Nations communities. Books are donated on behalf of our luncheon speakers.

Toronto Eglinton Rotary Club has been a proud sponsor of DYS for over five years. DYS supports and encourages youth to navigate safely through the teen years, often a turbulent time in a young person's life, and grow into confident, productive adults. To make that happen, they provide programs wherever and however they are needed; at home, at school and in the community. They have different programs to help their clients and their families get back on track. They connect with youth from all walks of life and provide help for almost any issue they are struggling with. Their goal is to help youth and their families cope through difficult times, develop new skills and forge a path for promising futures. They operate many programs: including counselling, a group home, a day treatment program, in school programs, a queer youth program, an art gallery, a youth centre and residential case management for teens with complex special needs. When appropriate DYS also refers clients to programs operated by other organizations like: employment training, alternative schools and social skill groups. Additionally, DYS acts as a single point of entry into residential services in the Greater Toronto Area for children and youth with mental health issues or complex special needs. This comprehensive interaction gives DYS a unique overview of the city's residential programs, which in turn enables DYS to work closely with community planners and government funders to advocate and plan better services on behalf of the youth and families of Toronto. Whether DYS is advocating, or providing services on a one-to-one basis, their involvement is rooted in compassion and integrity. On a day to day basis this means responding to clients in a timely manner, developing an individual plan with each client, solving problems creatively and building relationships founded on trust. In 2012 they will provide over 2,000 youths with counselling and care and perhaps just as importantly, with hope.

The Club has supported Healthy Beginnings since it's inception as a District 7070 Millennium project. The focus of our efforts and resources has been on early child development, from preconception to six years of age.

Forest Hill Collegiate Interact Club

For 2012 the Toronto Eglinton Rotary Club plans to sponsor an Interact Club at Forest Hill Collegiate. Interact is Rotary International's service club for young people ages 12 to 18. Interact clubs are sponsored by individual Rotary clubs, which provide support and guidance, but they are self-governing and self-supporting. Club membership varies greatly. Clubs can be single gender or mixed, large or small. They can draw from the student body of a single school or from two or more schools in the same community. Each year, Interact clubs complete at least two community service projects, one of which furthers international understanding and goodwill. Through these efforts, Interactors develop a network of friendships with local and overseas clubs and learn the importance of:

• Developing leadership skills and personal integrity
• Demonstrating helpfulness and respect for others
• Understanding the value of individual responsibility and hard work
• Advancing international understanding and goodwill

As one of the most significant and fastest-growing programs of Rotary service, with more than 10,700 clubs in 109 countries and geographical areas, Interact has become a worldwide phenomenon. Almost 200,000 young people are involved in Interact.

Jarvis Collegiate Institute

We have forged a strong relationship with this great Toronto High School. We have provided funding for a variety of special programs, including:

• Special key note speakers at school assemblies.
• The UJAAMA club's diversity and black history week initiatives
• Sending deserving grade nine students, who were financially challenged, to participate Queen's Universities E=MC2 residential science program
• Organizing the Argos SAS leadership development program for the school

Monarch Park Collegiate

We have supported Monarch Park's innovative international development credit program approved by the Toronto District School board, which is linked to the 'Free the Children' program. We have also engaged members of the resurrected football team in the Toronto Argos SAS 'All STARS' programs.

Northern Secondary School's Jacquie Scroggie – Rotary Citizenship Award

At convocation each fall a bursary of $400 and plaque is awarded to an exemplary graduating student who has demonstrated great citizenship. The award is made in honour of Jackie Scroggie who was both Principal at Northern and President of the Toronto Eglinton Rotary Club. Jacquie remains a very active member of the Club.

Student Invitations to Lunch

Three times a year, when we have distinguished speakers addressing the Club at lunch , our President and Youth Committee invite a table full of students from a selected local high school to come and particiapte.

Each year bursaries are awarded in the memory of Dr. Robert McClure. The purpose of the bursary fund is to provide financial assistance to students from the Third World and Canada's aboriginal peoples, who wish to pursue a career in the health care field in their own countries.

As a surgeon, The late Dr. McClure - a former member of the Toronto Eglinton Rotary Club - was keenly aware of the drastic shortage of medical professionals and support staff in Third World countries. It was Dr. McClure's wish that bursaries be awarded to educate nurses, medical technologists, paramedics, physicians and surgeons. Preference is given to students pursuing studies within the Third World, but when it is not possible; recipients can study elsewhere, and must return their homelands on graduation. The fund has been used to train medical students in India, Pakistan, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh. The fund has recently assisted aboriginal Canadians, some pursuing careers in midwifery and one in dentistry.

Oolagen is an accredited mental health centre that helps Toronto youth and their families. Highly-respected for the work it does, Oolagen serves as a University of Toronto teaching facility and is long-term partners with the Toronto District School Board, the Children's Aid Society, Catholic Children's Aid, Ministry of Children and Youth Services, as well as other children's mental health agencies and community groups. Common issues they help youth deal with include physical and sexual abuse, school issues, violence, issues of grief and death, family conflict, separation and divorce, alcohol and drug misuse, depression, eating disorders, sexuality and suicidal and self-harming behaviours. There are a number of programs to meet client needs. These include: A counselling service for youth and families,; a Walk-in Clinic; residential programs; school-based mental health programs; counselling drop-in programs;; a Wraparound program that helps young mothers 'at risk' to obtain and maintain stable housing; two Wraparound programs that prevent child welfare clients from being admitted into care All services provided by Oolagen are free of charge. Our Club has provided financial support to Oolagen for the purchase of special equipment.

Toronto Eglinton Rotary Club has been a proud sponsor of day and residential camps for deaf students for almost ten years. The Ontario Camp for the Deaf is located on over 400 acres between two lakes just north of Parry Sound. We typically sponsor 4-6 campers a year, who come from families who do not have the resources to send their children to camp. Without camp, and in the absence of the school environment these children would be very isolated, with limited opportunity to communicate with other children over the summer months. Here is a quote from one camper we sent.

"learning to be a leader at OCD is special because everyone can use ASL.Last year the Rotary Club helped me and my big deaf sister go to the camp and this year you helped me and my little hearing sister go to camp. We are lucky!"

A restorative justice program developed by two Rotarians from the Toronto Parkdale Club in 1995. PACT Urban Peace Program is dedicated to helping at-risk youth and building peace and hope in our urban communities in partnership with the courts and schools. PACT believes it is the community's responsibility to provide the best programs at the earliest stages to bring out young people's potential as human beings.

The PACT Urban Peace Program is an award-winning registered Canadian charity that builds peace in urban communities through empowering, supporting and encouraging youth to reach their full potential in life. PACT has helped thousands of at-risk youth. It provides GTA courts, schools and youth a step-by-step action plan to positive change through the following pillars:

• • LifeSkills-based community service;
• • Lifeplan Coaching for higher-risk youth
• • Integrated after-school programming for youth

PACT is almost entirely privately funded, through businesses, foundations, service clubs and individuals. The Toronto Eglinton Club has been a financial supporter of PACT. Several club members have become more actively involved and participated in PACT mediation and Life Coaching training.

The Club provides funding for this special inner city tennis program that services thousands of children each summer. The program promotes health, physical and moral well-being among needy or disadvantaged children by providing skills development programs. The summer tennis camps, are offered free-of-charge, at 12 locations across Toronto. The camps are strongly supported by the Toronto Lawn Tennis Club, (where we conduct our weekly luncheons). We have also provided the Tibor Grigor – Rotary Tennis trophy to Toronto Lawn Tennis Club, which is awarded to the winning team at the Toronto Lawn's annual Calcutta, which is one the major fundraising event for the Philpott Foundation.

Each year the Toronto Eglinton Club sends one or two young people aged 19 – 22 to The Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) program . RYLA offers Rotarians a special opportunity to take part in developing qualities of leadership and good citizenship among exceptional young people. RYLA is a life-changing one-week, all expenses paid, leadership training program.

The District 7070 RYLA program, "Leadership Begins With Me", provides an opportunity for the participants to get to know themselves better and to cultivate the respect and trust of others. Participants are able to identify their own leadership skills and determine ways to make more effective use of their resources. Their enthusiasm and technique is brought back to the community from which the participants were sponsored, and thus impacts on the young people being influenced by these youthful leaders. RYLA introduces a large number of young people and their families to the Rotary ideals of service each year. It helps bridge the communication gap between the generations and helps improve relationships among youth groups, families and the community. RYLA complements all other Rotary youth activities.
The objectives of RYLA are to:

• encourage and assist selected youth leaders and potential leaders in methods of responsible and effective voluntary youth leadership by providing them with an unforgettable, indelible training experience;
• encourage continued and stronger leadership of youth by youth;
• publicly recognize the high qualities of many young people who are rendering service to their communities as youth leaders; and further demonstrate Rotary's respect and concern for youth.

The Award enables the winner to live for one week (from Sunday, May 13, 2012, to Friday May 18th, 2012) on campus (at Loyalist College in Belleville) and to attend a leadership training course, all expenses paid by the sponsoring Rotary club. The Program involves discussions on many aspects of youth; simulated games designed as a stimulating series of "learning by doing" experiences; small group discussions on the thinking and ideas which arise as a result of the lectures and simulations; an opportunity to discuss individual and group issues and concerns; structured recreational activities; leisure activities and fellowship; and, organization, operation and participation in several committees - recreation, entertainment, daily newspaper, etc.

Selection Criteria

The RYLA program requires selflessness, self-awareness and previously exhibited leadership qualities. In order to benefit from the lectures, activities and tasks, participants need the ability to communicate effectively and to work well with other young men and women. Candidates who are 19 to 22 years of age and who meet the remaining criteria have a much better opportunity for a successful week. Candidates who have completed at least 4 years of secondary schooling will be better prepared to understand and apply the lessons which occur daily. The principles of adult education are assumed and applied. Therefore a degree of academic maturity is required

Rotary District 7070, in conjunction with the Toronto Argonauts set up the Service Above Self (SAS ) Program to provide insight and guidance with respect to what 'Service above Self' really means and equip participants with the mindset and toolset to demonstrate their understanding through personal leadership and action. Thus far over 2,000 high school students have participated in the program. The Toronto Eglinton Rotary Club has been actively involved over the last two years and supported students from Jarvis and Monarch Collegiate Institute.

SAS has been designed around three elements: character, excellence, and service. Led by Orlando Bowen, former Toronto Argonauts Linebacker and Executive Director for the One Voice One Team (S.W.O.L.E Leadership program), participants are put through an interactive leadership training camp consisting of:

• Transportation to and from the stadium.
• Game day uniform - Official SAS All-Stars T-Shirt.
• A motivational speech given by Orlando focused on the importance of the moral obligation we have to serve others through our passions and gifts as well as being a catalyst for positive change for those around us.
• A pre-game field tour where participants were able to meet Toronto Argonauts Players and Cheerleaders.
• Premium game tickets were they watched the Argos take on their competition

Toronto Youth Development is an organization designed to assist and foster Toronto's inner city youth in order to help reduce High School dropout rates, community violence and next generation poverty. The Academic and Sports Enrichment (ASE) programs are offered after school and through summer camp. The program's proven system, enables underprivileged youth to rise from their present environment and attain self worth, confidence and leadership traits. Toronto Youth Development is a registered charitable organization created in 1995. Programs offer 4 key components including:

• 1.Academic: Assistance in order to graduate high school and enter post secondary
• 2.Character Development: Providing proper formation that lasts a lifetime
• 3.Leadership: Building future leaders of tomorrow – Not followers
• 4.Sports: Keeping youth & children fit to reduce child obesity in society.

This major project was the brainchild of Club member George Heinzman and saw the partnering of The Rotary Club of Toronto Eglinton with Bell Mobility, Motorola, The Toronto District School Board and York University. The project studuied the positive impact of the use of two-way text messaging on deaf high school students who cannot use phones. The reason for the study was students who are profoundly deaf learn ASL (American Sign Language). Most of them learn very little English. We "Graduate" them from high school with a "Certificate of attendance" and an average English proficiencylevel of grade 4. You need about grade 9 to make effective use of closed captioning. This lack of proficiency means they are cut off from much of the world that hearing people take for granted news, radio, TV, and school announcements on P.A. systems. Often the parents don't know enough ASL to include them in decisions. The children know they are being discussed but not what is being discussed. The parents make the decisions for their children and the result is that the kids do not develop the mental muscle to make their own decisions. This leaves them socially delayed - often by 4 to 8 years. The research project provided two-way text messaging services to deaf students and enabled significantly improved skills in the following areas: keyboarding, English, decision-making, coping, planning, alternative awareness and analysis, independence.

TAKE A GROUP OF VULNERABLE YOUTH FROM THE INNER CITY, BRING THEM TO A SCHOOL IN THE MIDDLE OF A FOREST, PROVIDE THEM WITH RESPECT AND OPPORTUNITY AND THEY WILL BECOME A PART OF THE COMMUNITY. SO BEGINS A FOUR-YEAR JOURNEY…In 1992, the idea seemed simple. If you could take urban kids who are struggling to deal with issues related to adolescence and give them a place to develop roots in a setting that makes them feel like family, then they will find their wings and the confidence to make good life decisions reaching far beyond the safety-net of Trails…A place that makes a big impact on a few kids, rather than a small impact on a lot of kids. A place where kids feel physically and emotionally safe. A place where kids can develop practical skills, relevant knowledge and self-confidence to steady them through their tough teenage years. A place that emphasizes prevention rather than rehabilitation. A place rooted in the outdoors,that teaches skills relevant to their life in the city thus challenging and equipping vulnerable youth from inner city Toronto to become contributing members of their communities. The Toronto Eglinton Rotary spent three years collecting $150,000 in cash and providing $100,000 in items and materials to build the right learning environment through the design construction and furbishing of a new Central Lodge. Today two of our members remain actively involved with the program.

Who Is NOBODY? Is a literacy based character education program that is flexible and user-friendly for Grade 1 – 12. Programs are self-running and reusable supporting all Character Education initiatives. Each classroom receives a kit that creates real life experiences, so students naturally exercise all the Character Attributes, including: respect, perseverance, optimism, courage, empathy, honesty, responsibility, fairness, Initiative, and Integrity. All four strands of literacy are exercised through the ready-to-go program, including: Reading, Writing, Oral and Visual Communication and Media Literacy. Teachers love Who Is NOBODY? because the program achieves all the above every year as they reuse this reusable program but it is different every year - because their students are different every year! All programs are easy, fun and DVD Implemented. Rotary Clubs have donated kits across Ontario and Canada because of the shared goals, including: Service Above Self, Preventing Youth at Risk and Literacy. Thus far our Club has set up five programs in elementary schools across the GTA.

Youth Exchange Program:

Rotary is well known for the Youth Exchange Program. The Club has long history of running youth exchange programs which sees our club identifying and sending an 'outbound', student to another country to study for a year in exchange for an 'inbound' student who the Club hosts. For over 75 years, students and host families have broadened their horizons through Rotary Youth Exchange. More than 80 countries and over 8,000 students each year participate in the program, which is administered at the regional level by Rotary districts and at the local level by Rotary clubs.

In recent years, due to the Club's demographics it has become increasingly difficult to find suitable hosts for a one year exchange program, so we have begun to encourage and support a wide range of travel service programs. These programs are usually two to four weeks in duration and identified by the participants who apply for bursaries from the club, which cover anywhere from 30-50% of the cost of the program. The programs must provide international travel, learning and service work opportunities for participants. The students must apply for the bursary, meet with the Youth Committee and make a presentation to the Club upon their return. A listing of some of the programs our bursary students have participated in follows. (Please note these programs are not Rotary Programs)

Canada World Youth

Canada World Youth (CWY) is a world leader in developing international educational programs for young people aged 15 to 35. A non-profit organization, CWY is dedicated to enriching the lives of young people that have a desire to become informed and active global citizens. CWY programs are designed to help youth experience the world for themselves, learn about other cultures and diverse Canadian communities while developing leadership and communication skills. Canada World Youth's mission is to increase the ability of people, and especially youth, to participate actively in the development of just, harmonious, and sustainable societies. The CWY program advocates learning by doing, a model in which young volunteers learn by getting involved in communities in Canada and in another country. CWY uses a unique and innovative bilateral core program model that offers a two-part program, with one phase in Canada and the other in another country. This is one of the most original aspects of the CWY model because it provides a perspective on how people live in both countries and fosters true dialogue between partners in the South and in the North.

Cosmic Volunteers

Cosmic Volunteers offers volunteer programs abroad in 15 countries in Africa, Asia, and South America. Volunteer programs include teaching English, working orphanages, assisting with health care, home construction, journalism, HIV/AIDS, wildlife conservation and more.

Cross Cultural Solutions

Cross Cultural Solutions' Volunteer Abroad programs are short-term international volunteer experience, designed with flexibility and individual attention in mind so participants' needs and interests can be met while ensuring that time spent is effectively contributing to a positive impact on the community. Volunteer Abroad is available in 12 countries, Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Morocco, Peru, Russia, South Africa, Tanzania and Thailand. You can choose when you go: Volunteer Abroad start dates are available year-round. Choose how long you stay: Volunteer Abroad is available from 2-12 weeks. Only have one week? Consider Insight Abroad. Local staff determine your Volunteer Abroad placement through an evaluation of your personal skills and interests and matches it with the immediate needs of the community. There are a variety of volunteer placements available, where you will work side-by-side with local people in orphanages and child care centers, schools, health clinics and hospitals, homes for the elderly, centers for people with disabilities, and other community organizations.

Free the Children & Me to We 'Leaders Today'

Experience international development first-hand by visiting Free The Children projects overseas. Free the Children's commitment to youth is to engage them in global development and social issues education so that they take action to make a difference. Free The Children has teamed up with its partner organization, Me to We (Leaders Today), to create an unforgettable volunteer experience for young people who want to build schools and water wells for which they have fundraised. These international volunteer and leadership experiences take place in the rural communities of Arizona-Mexico, Kenya, Ecuador, China and India. Participants build leadership skills and cultivate new friendships as they discover an incredible new culture. They return with new perspectives and more energy than ever before to get their family and friends involved in raising awareness and funds for overseas development projects through Free The Children and Me to We.

Habitat for Humanity's Global Village Volunteer Program

Experience another culture while making a difference in the lives of others. Habitat for Humanity's Global Village volunteer teams travel to exciting destinations in the United States and around the world to build homes, advocate for better living conditions and raise funds to help those in need.

ISL – International Service Learning

ISL is a socially responsible international educational NGO, ISL enlists medical and educational volunteer teams for the provision of services to under-served populations in Central and South America, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Africa. ISL provides educational opportunities for students from over a hundred universities in several countries. It is the goal of ISL to partner student and professional teams from developed countries with service opportunities in developing countries. This is accomplished by offering educational opportunities on a contractual basis to both educational institutions and individual students. The resulting financial resources are used to fund teams serving in various countries. In so doing, ISL provides annual employment for over a hundred individuals in developing countries. These jobs range from full-time employment to part-time contracts. ISL employs medical professionals and providers of services such as transportation, translation, guides and logistics (food, housing, etc.).

Unite for Sight

Unite for Sight prides itself on offering an unparalleled global health volunteer abroad experience for our Global Impact Fellows, coupled with the highest quality healthcare delivery programs with our partners. Global Impact Fellows receive a Certificate in Global Health & Program Delivery, and they are nurtured and encouraged to apply their global health delivery skills to become new leaders in global health. Global Impact Fellow volunteers come from very diverse backgrounds, including those interested in public health, medicine, international development, social entrepreneurship, and the social sciences. While volunteering abroad, Global Impact Fellows support and learn from the partner clinics' talented medical professionals who are social entrepreneurs addressing complex global health issues. Global Impact Fellows gain a comprehensive understanding about the complexities and realities of global health, social entrepreneurship, and international development.

University of Toronto Occupational Therapist Students

A group of five student occupational therapists at the University of Toronto were given a travel grant of $500 to assist them to complete their third clinical fieldwork placement at Comprehensive Community Based Rehabilitation in Tanzania and Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, and Immortelle Pre-Vocational Centre in Port of Spain, Trinidad. During this placement, they worked with a range of clients to enable participation in meaningful activities and support the development of functional skills to promote independence.

Youth Challenge International

YCI engages with youth and communities across the world to address local development issues. With over 20 years of youth development experience, YCI's programs are a safe and unique opportunity for volunteer individuals and groups to participate in youth development programming overseas. By combining the energy and skills of youth volunteers with local youth and partners, YCI provides volunteers with the opportunity to contribute to innovative programming while developing personal and professional skills. Volunteers work with local partners and youth on community-driven projects in four integrated programming sectors: livelihoods, leadership, health and environment. YCI offers a range of core programs for students, groups and professionals to engage in global youth development programming including:

• Youth Ambassadors -Three to 12-week projects for individuals ages 18 and up who are interested in participating in grassroots youth development programming.
• Youth Discovery - One to four-week projects for individuals aged 18-30 who are interested in shorter-term options to work on environmental initiatives and community based infrastructure projects.
• Youth Innovators - Four to five-week programs for volunteers with previous overseas experience and expertise in one of YCI's

Each year the University of Wisconsin hosts The World Affairs Seminar. This one week seminar is the vision of Rotarian Dr. Dale Brock, whose passion was bringing about better understanding of world problems among a select group of young people from around the globe. He imagined and built WAS to study current issues. In the course of this study, the WAS provides opportunities for participants to discuss issues with other young people from around the world. Emphasis is on promoting better understanding of the causes of international conflict with the idea that if the causes are understood, problems are more likely to be solved peacefully. The World Affairs Seminar (WAS) is a unique interactive educational program for high school students. The week-long experience is held in June and provides an opportunity for international students from a variety of backgrounds to discuss issues in a non-threatening environment. They experience new and different ideas and viewpoints brought forward by their colleagues and by world renowned experts. In small and large groups students discuss information and ideas and put their new knowledge to use. Through public policy simulations they work through the complex interactions of different countries, corporations and organizations to develop their own policy initiative. The university setting provides a college-like experience, including use of the residence halls and campus dining. Throughout the week students have time for recreational activities which bring greater awareness and understanding of the world around them. Critical thinking, negotiation skills and the process of learning about new friends from around the world are all part of this incredible experience. Our Club attempts to send a student to WAS each year.