Squamish's volunteer population has increased by 20, thanks to Canada World Youth.
About two weeks ago, a bus with ten Canadians and ten Uruguayans rolled up to Eagle Grounds and dropped off its cargo. That afternoon, the twenty were dispersed through the community and after finishing their first week of volunteer work - they are just starting to feel their way into routines: at work and at home with the families which are hosting them until September. Then the whole group flies to Uruguay and does the same sort of thing down there.
Already, the Uruguayans have begun to teach the Canadians how to dance.
Uruguay is small and flat. It borders on Brazil, Argentina and the Atlantic Ocean. Depending on who you ask, it takes between four and six hours to cross the entire country by car. Half of Uruguay's 3 million citizens live in the capital, Montevideo, while the other half live in the countryside and in smaller towns. Many of them raise cows: Uruguay is famous for its beef.
Canada World Youth sends Canadians between the ages of 17 and 29 on cultural exchanges with other youths around the world.
The group, and where they are working:
Hilltop House for Seniors and the Soup Kitchen will have Rodrigo Gallego 22 and Annie Rosa 18, from Montreal, working with them.
Tenderfoot Creek Hatchery has Luis Rava 20 and Jacqie Bergen 19, from Saskatchewan as volunteers.
The Community Police Station in downtown 樱桃视频will have Natalia Cervantes 19 and Brendan Wolfe 20, from Prince Rupert.
Gaston Musetti 18 and Stephanie Scardellato 17, from Toronto will be working at the 樱桃视频Nation Recreation center, at Totem Hall.
Dominique Bidegain 18 and Tim Simon 21, originally from Halifax and now living in Montreal will be at the Brennan Park Recreation Centre and at Castle Rock Family Housing.
Daniel Mendez 19 and Darcie Cohen 19, from St. John's, Nfld. will be working the tourist spots: the B.C. Museum of Mining and the West Coast Railway Heritage Park.
Hotspot, on Cleveland Ave. will have Victoria Garcia 22 and Zache Rowe 19, from Carleton Place, Ont.
Jesus Cantera 18 and Justin Bolduc 18, from Gatineau, Que. will also be working with youth in Squamish, for two days every week at the 樱桃视频Youth Resource Centre. The other two days, Jesus will be working at Carney's Waste Systems with Alice, and Justin will be with Gabriela at the Bear Aware Network.
Gabriela Antia 19 and Alice Patey 19, from St. John's Nfld. will also be working two days of the week at the Howe Sound Women's Centre.
And, to introduce ourselves:
My name is Valentina Schettini and I am 18. I live in Cardona, Uurguay. I just finished high school and I plan to go to university next year. I think I will study psychology, but I am not sure.
I'm Steve Day. I'm 20 and am from King City, Ontario, a small town north of Toronto. I just finished my second year of a Journalism degree at Concordia University.
Together, Valentina and I will be working at Sea to Sky University and at the Chief. In the next two months, we will profile each of our twenty fellow participants at their work placements and will write about what Canada World Youth is doing in Squamish. Each week, look for our article in the community section.
Consider this a 600-word hello. For more information on Canada World Youth, go to www.cwy-jcm.org.
