Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - May 19, 2004, Winnipeg, Manitoba W 10 Winnipeg Neighbours Winnipeg free press wednesday May 19, 2004 Force Fosters global friendships by Michael Marshall Gillian Grodzik gets a Rush just think ing about three Summers ago when she participated in the summer work stud Dent Exchange program which sent her to Quebec for six weeks. A i done to want to sound Over dramatic a starts the 19-year-old, a but when i got Back i seriously wanted to speak Grodzik was one of hundreds of eng Lish and French teenage students from across the country who take part in the federally funded cultural Exchange program every year. The program works by having students who primarily speak English Swap places with Peers from francophone communities in Quebec giving both parties a Complete culturally immersed experience. This year Over 1,200 students will take part in the program including several students from Winnipeg. A i took French immersion in school a says Grodzik a but when i got Back from the Exchange program i was so bilingual. I could easily hold a conversation in French and i knew a lot of the Slang. It was it can Only be a Good thing that the enthusiastic Grodzik is now one of four coordinators in Winnipeg who Are responsible for recruiting students to take part in this years program which is set to run from july 5 to aug. 13. In the Winnipeg North St. Paul Federr Al Riding it is up to Eric Sagenes to find seven teens to go live in a francophone Community this summer. He says pitching the idea to Prospect Tive students is fairly simple. A its the experience of a lifetime and one of the Best things you can do As a student a says Sagenes who adds that students not Only get to travel and live in a francophone Community in Eastern Canada for free they also get a Job so actually come Home with some Money. A they work for non profit organizations such As Day Camps a says Sagenes. The coordinator a work does no tend when he has found seven suitable teens for the program. He also has to find jobs and set up weekend activities for the francophone students who will be arriving Here for the summer. On the employment Side of things organizations such As Winnipeg hard Vest the downtown Biz and the Myca Are All on the radar screen As potential employers. And the program is Ideal for Particio Pating organizations because they done to have to pay a Penny for the Benet fit of having an eager student working for them Sagenes adds. Grodzik remembers How much she enjoyed working at a Day care Centre in Victoriaville when she participated in the program in 2001. A i got to hang out with kids All Day and i did no to really have any intimidate ing Bosses. It was just people having fun a she says. Grodzik adds that her co workers Only knew a few words of English so she was Able to really dive into her French. A they really speak English mostly just the bad words a she laughs. Currently the program is in the recruitment phase which Means Sagenes and his counterparts Are actively searching for students to take part in the program. The criteria for participation is fairly straightforward students have to be 16 or 17 and returning to school in the fall. For More information or to apply for the summer work student Exchange program visit . By Paul Turenne t Here a a lot More to visiting a country than seeing its most famous tourist attractions while staying at the Holiday inn. Friendship Force an International organization that arranges Home stay exchanges Between its worldwide club members understands this and Aims to promote intercultural Friendship and disc covery through these exchanges. Members of the Friendship Force of Manitoba recently returned from a trip to Australia and new zealand and the group is now preparing to Host visitors from new zealand and Georgia this summer. Barbara main the president of the 65�member Friendship Force of Manitoba said its the Only Way to travel. A you can travel with a tour group and you can see the history but you done to get the personal touch. When you re with Friendship Force you re not looking in the window you re passing through the doorway a she said. Clare and Esther Mckenty a couple from East St. Paul for whom the recent trip Down under was their first with Friendship Force said they Felt instantly welcomed in the Homes of their hosts. A it was fabulous. They treated us like family a said Clare. A we Felt very much at Home. We re constantly amazed at How similar other people Are to us a said Esther who went on to theorize As to Why perfect strangers could be so comfortable with one another instantly. A i think part of it is the people who join Friendship Force Are people who Are open to meeting new people and Are interested in the world and the people in it a she said. The following is a list of Volunteer opportunities in the Winnipeg area. If you Are interested in any of the following place ments or others not listed Here please Contact the Volunteer Centre at 204 477�5180 to make an appointment or visit the Exchange Voe web site at skills Canada Manitoba is holding their Competition event from May 25 to 30 at the convention Centre and need volunteers for a variety of tasks. Flexible shifts training provided. Call Lori at 475-9500. Synchro swim Manitoba will be holding a Competition from May 28 to 30 at the pan am Pool and need volunteers for a variety of positions. Call Bonnie at 897-1713 Ore mail . Do Arcy a . Animal Rescue Centre in St. James needs Kennel attendants to help clean kennels feed and visit with animals and do general maintenance. Training provided. Call Denise at 888-2266. Military family resource Centre in St. James is looking for a Library coordinator to develop and implement a Library pro Gram for their Day care Centre. They need someone who can undertake the initial the organization was started in 1977 by former . President Jimmy Carter As a Way to promote understanding Between citizens of the world. There Are now More than 350 clubs in 56 countries. The clubs sometimes get together to go on trips. Main has been on trips with Friendship Force of Edmonton and members of the Hamilton and Niagara clubs in Ontario joined the Manitoban on their trip to Australia and new zealand in february and March. Its now time for the Manitoban to reciprocate although indirectly. The exchanges Are not direct in that the Host clubs done to necessarily visit the cities of the people they just hosted. The clubs Are basically a huge network of friends and trips Are arranged wherever and whenever. The group that is visiting Winnipeg from new zealand next month for setup of the Library and on going co Ordie nation management. Call Nicole at 833�2500 ext. 4507. Canadian cancer society is looking for volunteers for their relay for life june 4 at red River exhibition Park. Volunteer opportunities include event setup entertainment co ordination food services and registration. Call Susan at 786-0615 to Volunteer. Lyric theatre at Assiniboine Park needs stage hands for performances this summer. Must be agile and in Good physical Condit Tion. Also looking for Young people to assist with pass the hat on performance nights. To shirts will be provided. Call Peter at 888-5466 ext. 21. Age & Opportunity offers the following Volunteer opportunities. Receptionist required for downtown office on wednesdays from 9 . To 1 . A senior living in fort Rouge would like a visitor who would be willing to go for coff fee. A gentleman living in St. James would like someone to take him on outings. A senior living in St. James would like someone to go for walks during the sum Mer months and another who likes to play example is from South Taranski not the same group from Nelson that hosted the canadians. Another group from Lake Hartwell Georgia will visit the City in August. Club members say showing visitors around your Home town gives you a diff Ferent perspective on it. A some people say a what a there to see in Winnipeg what Are you going to do with them for a whole week a but there slots to do. I myself have seen things in be never taken the time to see before a said main. In september 2005, Winnipeg will Host the Canadian conference of Friendship Force which will bring together All 16 clubs in Canada. For More information on Friendship Force visit . Cards As Well As going for walks. . A senior living in the Wolseley area of the City close to mands Creek would enjoy a visit from someone who shares her interest in cockatiels and budgies. Call Dianne at 956-6440. jazz Winnipeg needs volunteers for a Varia Ety of tasks prior to and during the june 17 to 27 festival. Positions include poster distribution hospitality merchandising office assistance photography Security site managers stage Crew Ushers cleanup Crew. Call Alissa at 989-4657. society for Manitoban with disabilities requires volunteers to assist with the four on four shoot a no score Street hockey event. Join the Manitoba Moose and easter seals to help at this fundraising event june 5. Minimum 3-hour time commitment is necessary. Volunteers Are needed to assist with the 24 hour relay run for kids for March of dimes easter seals. Call Catherine at 975-3013 or email clee�sikorski@smd.mb.ca�. Winnipeg International children a festival june 10 to 13 at the Forks needs volunteers for a variety of positions. Call Jennifer at 958-4749 or email ;