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12 - PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, June 8, 1999 "Scugog"s Community Newspaper of Choice" Local woman finds hope among poverty of Guyana By Heather McCrae Port Perry Star To live and work in one of the poorest coun- tries in the Western Hemisphere can be, at the best of times, a har- rowing experience. But 19-year-old Amanda Robinson of Greenbank found the three months she volun- teered her work and ser- vices with Youth Challenge International in Guyana very moving and exhilarating. After Haiti, Guyana is considered to be the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Although it's a nation with tremendous natur- al and mineral resources, productive agricultural lands and vast amounts of timber, the country is suffering from high debt and a per capita income that is among the lowest in the world. Ms Robinson was one of a group of 50 Canadians and 10 Australians who volun- teered their work and services building a 240- foot bridge across swampland to provide children safe access to school. She also helped hold workshops dealing with AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases for teachers; community health work- ers and parents. "It was an amazing experience, being inte- grated into the commu- nity, though it meant a big lifestyle change," she said. Directory of Coming Events Weekly 'Casino Rama Bus Trip weekly runs for $5 per per- son and pick up at Scugog Memorial Public Library. Lunch tickets "offered by Casino Rama. Call now and reserve your seat 905-986- 0315. Williamson Special Care Transit. Wheelchair accessible. ' Blackstock Women' S Institute Aerobics Gentle - Mondays - 1 p.m. - Blackstock United Church; Tuesdays - Low Impact - 7:30 p.m. - Blackstock United Church; Thursdays - Low Impact - 7:30 p.m. Nestleton Hall. Call 986-4280. Gentle Aerobics Gentle Aerobics for older adults, Mondays and/or Thursdays - 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., Masonic Hall, Port Perry. New members wel- come. Mary 905-655-5917. Weight Watchers Blackstock on Thursdays, 7:30 p.m. For more informa- tion call Janice at 986-5126. Tal-Bo classes Tuesday & Thursday 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. and 8-9 p.m. - Durham Gymnastics Academy. Call Kim 985- 0864. Every Thursday Heart to Heart - A spiritual & physical (Fae.Bo) workout for women starting May 27 from 10-11:15 a.m. Victory Christian Centre, 593 Alma St., Port Perry. 985-1346 or 655-3407. Thursday, June 10 ist Port Perry Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Venturers, Rovers registration for all new registrants 6-8 p.m. Kinsmen Hall. Info. call Ellen - 985-8047. Friday, June 11 Pork Barbecue - Yelverton United Church - pork chops & ribs - 4:30 p.m. Adults: $10; children under 12 - $5 & preschool - free. Sunday, June 13 & 20 Firearm Licence Course - 2 days. Test only on June 20. Call John 985-8884 days or 985-2771 evenings. Sunday, June 13 Decoration Service for the Hillman & Kendall Cemeteries in Utica United Church - 2 p.m. Speaker: Rev. Jack Griffen. Special music. Sunday, June 13 Cartwright Union Cemetery Decoration Day Service, 2 p.m. - Rev. David Shearman, guest speaker. Sunday, June 13 Musicale (variety show) 7:30 p.m. at Head Church, Scugog Shores Museum. Sunday, June 20 Musicale (variety show) 7:30 p.m. at Head Church, Scugog Shores Museum. Saturday, June 26 Free Admission - Two For The Show & DJ Pete Kneale, Scugog Arena, Sponsored by the Fields of Dreams. Coming Evenls sponsored by... SIGNS PBOAT NUMBERS #FOR SALE | 1575 HWY. 7A PORT PERRY SIGNS PMAGNETIC SIGNS MVEHICLE LETTERING we also do 135.078 WINDOW TINTING WIT (How, OFFICE, Ts Ap May 31/99 "085.5277 Accommodations were pretty basic. All the vol- unteers slept outside in hammocks, and did not have the luxury of run- ning water or hydro. But the warmth of the people in the community more than made up for the lack of physical com- forts. Living on a diet that consisted mostly of veg- etables, beans, chow mein and "channa", a dish of chickpeas, garlic and onions. Most of the food is spiced with curry. Ms Robinson had some dislikes, but the thing she hated the most was the tarantula nest in the outhouse: "The spiders were the thing I disliked the most." In a country stricken with poverty the people are on the whole happy, said Ms Robinson. "Because they don't know what we generally take for granted, they don't know what they are missing," she said. One of Ms Robinson's most striking experi- ences was when a moth- er cried helplessly in her arms about her sick child. "Her baby daughter had been having seizures since Christmas and the doctors could not give her much hope," she recalled. "That I found to be very sad." Now home, Ms Robinson is giving talks to groups that helped sponsor her trip. Last week she was the guest speaker at the Greenbank UCW. She has no regrets she put her schooling on hold while she volun- teered with YCI. "I probably learned more in Guyana that I would have at school," she says. Over the next year she plans to work and get her OAC chemistry at night school before applying to nursing at university. "After graduation I hope to return to Guyana and put my nursing skills to work." [_ SCUGOG FINANCIAL | NIUY (OND (0 e Annual Rates © GIC RRSP 5.00% 5.35% 5.50% 5.50% 5.70% Rates subject to change without notice "Serving Scugog For Over 15 Years" 250 Queen Street, Port Perry ¢ 985-3832 (next to Shoppers Drug Mart) Treat Dad to Haugen's Famous Breakfast Buffet on FATHER'S DAY, Sunday, June 20, 8:30am to 11: 30pm (Hwy. 12 at 7A in Manchester) ~} 7, 95 for % " plus taxes incluaes juice & coffee or tea $5395 lus taxes Children 10 and under Enter Dad's name in Haugen's Draw for a Portable Dad's Rootbeer BBQ o Collectible Wooden Crate of Dad's Rootbeer Regular breakfast will not be served - sorry for any inconvenience this may cause. Amanda Robinson has returned home to Greenbank after three months in Guyana, where she carried out community work. Tues.-Sat. 9:30 - 5:30 or by appt. Pe Le) 25, Port Perry, J €r of Queen @ Mackey & Bailey Barrister & Solicitor Saturday Morning by appointment Mon.-Fri. 436-7600 Sat.am. 985-7391 Lake Scugog Lumber Building Oshawa Rd., Port Perry Stonemoor Day Care Centres Inc. 399 Queen Street, Port Perry 985-0800) Openings now available for all ages girontimoor Registration accepted for all ages 0 ing qu year round Open 6:30am to 6:00pm Call Karen for more info 985-0300