Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1997-03-12, Page 8PAGE 8. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12,1997 Local youth travels to Haiti By Janice Becker Citizen staff For one local youth, a mission trip to Haiti instilled in him an appreciation for what those in Canada have. Kurt Lentz witnessed bribes at the border to allow visitors to obtain their luggage, an illegal $200 tax on school books, clothes and shoes and voodoo temples which they were warned to stay away from. Though the differences were startling, Lentz said the mission trip, through the Church of God in Blyth, was definitely a great idea. Aside from getting out of school for two weeks, Lentz, five other youths and three adults travelled to Haiti for the first two weeks of February to help build a hospital. Along with the physical job of laying the blocks, Lentz said they also visited local high schools to talk about Canada. “Actually, they asked a lot about the politics in their own country,” said Lentz. “They have no television, no media E. Wawanosh talks permits The summing up of some of last year's revenues and expenses was discussed by East Wawanosh coun­ cil at the Feb. 4 meeting. In detailing building permits issued during 1996, Chief Building Official (CBO) Grant Anger told council: 13 residential permits were issued for a total of value $608,304; 14 farm permits for $171,500 and four commercial for $110,400. Three demolition per­ mits were also issued. The statement of remuneration was accepted for all councillors. Reeve Don Schultz claimed $4,015; Councillor James Camp­ bell, $2,765; Councillor James Hunter, $1,980 Councillor Fred Meier, $3,470.53, including $790.53 for convention expenses and Councillor Murray Scott, $2,770. The 1997 budget for the Blyth Fire Area Board was approved at $71,000. East Wawanosh Twp.'s share is $14,310. The report from Tom Pridham of R.J. Bumside and Associates Ltd., Orangeville, for Purdon Drainage Works, was accepted by council. Consideration and reading of the report will take place on March. 3, at 3 p.m. Payment of $19,098 for munici­ pal insurance from Jardine OME Insurance Company was approved. A request from John and Agnes Wharton of Part Lot 36, Cone. 4, to renew the temporary zoning for a mobile home for three years was accepted by council. CBO Anger was authorized to attend the Concrete Manure Stor­ age and Design course in Wood- stock, April 14. Clerk-Treasurer Winona Thompson was authorized to attend a Municipal Elections seminar in Benmiller, March 7. Harry Brydges was reappointed as dog counter. Dog fees are $20 per dog and $90 per kennel. Council approved a $400 grant to the Auburn Hall. Council supported a letter from Grey Twp. which stated the pro­ posed 25 per cent taxation rate for farm land penalized municipalities and the interests of agriculture. Support was given to a resolution from the Town of Keppel request­ ing teachers be made an essential service so as to eliminate strikes. and no hydro. The lucky ones may have a radio.” “They have 800 kids in one tiny school. They are squeezed in with Grade 10 to 12 in one class. There are no rooms. They are divided by blackboards. I don’t know where they get the money, but the kids all wear uniforms to school.” Lentz was also involved in a medical mission which involved hiking up a mountain to a hut made with palm leaves. The team saw 500 patients in seven hours. Lentz had the opportunity to administer some general antibiotics and inter­ act with the children. “They loved to play with my watch,” he said. (The watch is a common North American style which beeps.) Lentz also hired a donkey ride with some gum. In learning about the Caribbean island, Lentz met a Baptist mis­ sionary who had been working in Haiti for 50 years. Having started at 21 with one small building, he now I I school ■ The transition from school to work is never easy. But help is available. Youth Internship Canada |Y1C) provides young Canadians with on-the-job experience and the chance to develop skills in a field that interests them. For example, the Youth Entrepreneurship component of YIC can help young people who are interested in establishing their own business. ■ Create your own job. Be an entrepreneur. The First Nations and Inuit Youth Business Program offers mentoring and financial support to youth living on reserves or in recognized communities who are interested in starting their own business. ■ Out of school and unemployed? Start a day care, adopt a park or run a recycling program in your community. Youth Service Canada lets you gam valuable work experience, earn some money and help your community while working with other young people and local business or community associations. 1*1 has 300 churches, hospitals and greenhouses, said Lentz. He rejuve­ nated the much of the land after the destruction caused by the common practice of burning the land after a crop was taken off. It was not the right method for Haiti, Lentz learned. Lentz also described seeing young children with circle scars on their foreheads, apparently a brand indicating ownership to a particular witch doctor. “I thought those things were just in the movies,” he said. “It was Mardi Gras while we were there and we heard voodoo drums almost every night.” Quickly answering that he would definitely like to go back to Haiti, Lentz was hesitant about suggest­ ing others go there. “It was a real eyeopener. The sights and smells (of Haiti) are everywhere, as soon as you get off the plane. It is almost repulsive. Complete poverty and sickness are everywhere. We have it pretty good here.” Young Canadians know that education, continuous skills development and meaningful work experience are absolutely essential to get a good start in today's job market. The Government of Canada is addressing these issues through the Youth Employment Strategy which offers a range of programs to assist young people... ■ You've got your degree. Now you need hands-on experience. Science Horizons places recent university graduates with experienced scientists and program managers for up to a year, allowing them to work on cutting-edge research in the fields of agriculture, environment, heritage, marine and oceanic research, natural resources, engineering and new technology. ■ Earn while you learn. Here's your chance to design an Internet web page, develop or upgrade computer skills and hone your promotional abilities. The Community Access Program Youth Employment Project, run by Industry Canada, introduces unemployed or underemployed youth to Internet technology, while putting their rural communities on-line. CAP will provide up to 5,000 rural communities with access to the information highway by 1998. For more information on these and other youth programs call the Government of Canada Youth Info Line at 1-800-935-5555 or visit the new youth web site at http://www.youth.gc.ca Government of Canada Gouvernement du Canada Time out Kurt Lentz takes a break from helping at the medical mission, during his trip to Haiti, to chat with a local girl. Scholarships Agriculture is a high-tech industry. And it needs highly trained people to keep it moving forward. The Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada National Scholarships program assists students in pursuing advanced degrees in a broad range of science disciplines related to agricul­ ture and agri-food. Eligible fields of study include botany, animal sciences, microbiology, agricultural engineering, veterinary medicine, agricultural economics, information technology and others.