Rotary Community Heroes of Hope
Introducing "Rotary Community Heroes of Hope" - a podcast dedicated to showcasing the profound impact of Rotary in District 5330 and beyond. Join us as we explore the remarkable stories of rotary heroes and initiatives that are transforming communities and creating hope around the world.
Rotary Community Heroes of Hope
Breaking Borders: How Rotary's VTT Program Builds Global Families
Genuine connection transcends language, borders, and cultural differences. This beautiful truth shines through in our conversation with Carissa and Pedro Camargo, whose story exemplifies how Rotary's Vocational Training Team (VTT) program creates lasting bonds while serving communities globally.
When a team from District 5330 traveled to Maringá, Brazil to implement mental health resilience programming, they encountered Pedro – a remarkable 19-year-old Interact member who became their unofficial translator and cultural ambassador. What began as professional exchange transformed into family, with Carissa being "officially adopted" by the Camargo family during her stay.
The relationship blossomed into continued service when the VTT team, deeply moved by Pedro's leadership, contributed funds to his Interact Club's project providing computer equipment to children at a local shelter. This initiative addresses a critical gap in Brazil's educational system by teaching essential technology skills that prepare vulnerable youth for future employment opportunities.
Perhaps most touching is Pedro's personal journey. He candidly shares how Rotary transformed him from "a pretty anxious boy, shy, and didn't really have a plan" into a confident leader making meaningful community impact. His story reminds us that service not only changes communities but also profoundly transforms those who serve.
As Governor-Elect Niren McLean reflects, "When you realize that the organization you belong to is a worldwide organization and you can truly form friendships and have impacts a world away, it's quite dramatic." This episode captures the essence of Rotary's power to create lasting change through human connection that transcends all boundaries.
Subscribe to Community Heroes of Hope and share this episode with someone who needs a reminder that serving others creates ripples of positive change far beyond what we initially imagine.
Hello and welcome to the Community. Heroes of Hope, a podcast where we shine a light on the remarkable individuals and projects in Rotary District 5330 that bring hope and change to our local and global communities. I am Judy Zelfikar, your co-host and the current District Governor of Rotary District 5330.
Speaker 2:And I'm Niren McLean, the Rotary District Governor-Elect, and I'm Niren McLean, the Rotary District Governor-Elect. Together, we're diving deep into the heart of the community service, showcasing the impact of dedication and collaboration in addressing some of the most pressing challenges our communities face.
Speaker 1:Each episode, we'll tell stories of incredible people making a difference, innovating solutions and inspiring others to take action.
Speaker 2:We'll also be giving you a behind-the-scenes look at the projects that are transforming their lives, and we'll discuss how you, too, can get involved, contribute and be part of the positive change. Whether you're a seasoned Rotarian or just looking to give back, this podcast is for you.
Speaker 1:So join us as we explore the journeys, challenges and successes of people like you who have stepped up to make a difference. Let's celebrate the spirit of community and the power of hope together.
Speaker 2:Don't forget to subscribe to the Community Heroes of Hope on your favorite podcast platform. Stay with us on this journey of inspiration and let's spread the message of hope further than ever.
Speaker 1:Thank you for tuning in. Let's get started.
Speaker 2:Governor Judy, I'm excited today to talk to Carissa and Pedro about the VTT team.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'm excited too. Carissa was one of my fellow VTT members that went down to Brazil, and we got to meet Pedro as well while we were there. So why don't we toss it to Carissa and have her tell us a little bit about who she is and how she got to know Pedro?
Speaker 3:Thank you, judy. My name is Carissa and, as mentioned, I was a part of the VTT that visited Brazil the first week of December last year and I had the absolute pleasure and honor of being hosted by Pedro's family. Pedro is my family now. I've been officially adopted by the Camargos and I'm delighted to continue our conversation and our report today. Pedro is also an active interactor in his community.
Speaker 1:Welcome. Welcome, Pedro. Why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Speaker 4:Yes, hello guys. My name is Pedro Camargo. I'm from Brazil, as you already know, and I met you guys through the VTC program. I was blessed to receive Carissa here at our humble home, and now we're a family, a family between abroad countries.
Speaker 2:That's wonderful, I tell you. The roots for District 5330, for VTTs and for Brazil goes very deep, because I remember when I was president of my club we had a VTT in from Maringá, and Gessara Perin and a few other people came up to us and had a wonderful, wonderful time, and then I was able to go to Brazil not to Maringá but to Sao Paulo for the Rotary International Convention. So I look forward to getting to Maringá and seeing some of my friends again. But this is wonderful and the long arms of the Rotary family reach out across the ocean.
Speaker 1:Absolutely.
Speaker 1:As a matter of fact, jassara was with us on this team.
Speaker 1:She was one of the individuals that helped us with our interaction and our translation when we were at the various locations, and Pedro was actually another translator that helped us navigate our way through our vocational training experience that we had down in Maringa, where we were able to visit hospitals and bring a program of mental health resilience to that area and work with students to sort of pilot that program down in that area.
Speaker 1:And while we were there and I think this is the best part about the vocational training team is not only are we exchanging ideas that's the purpose of vocational training, exchanging ideas from one district to the other but it's the relationships that we build with those that we're interacting with, those families that we stay in the homes of and the families that we make families from when we visit them. And that's really what we're talking a bit about today, because and I'm going to let Krista, I'm going to let you tell this story about why about Pedro, and you know what we worked on with him while we were there and that relationship that was built while we were there in Marigot.
Speaker 3:I'm going to try to not get emotional about it because I'm just I'm so proud of Pedro as mentioned, he was so instrumental in our programming for the week that we were there and quite unexpectedly was launched into situations where he had to be an on-the-spot translator and did a phenomenal job with that. But our entire VTT was just absolutely blown away with Pedro and his leadership and his involvement with us throughout the week that at the end of the week we asked if we could help support a service project that his Interact Club was currently working on. So I would like for Pedro to talk to us a little bit more about that and where the project stands. But we pulled together some funds to help get them across the finish line yeah.
Speaker 4:So first of all, thank you judy, thank you carissa, uh, for the, the, the good words. Uh, you guys spoke about me. I'm really glad to know. Even though my English is kind of rusty, I could translate some stuff and help you guys understand and make this exchange of ideas and experiences possible through the VTT program. So, about our project it was phenomenal.
Speaker 4:I don't know if you guys want to show the video of the moments. You guys gave us the donation to finish this project we were organizing, but we were at a reunion, it was one of the last days of the VGT program and, man, I just got so emotional that moment. It was so special to me to know that, even Like what I did there was not looking for anything in particular, right, I just wanted to train my English, help you guys understand more about our culture, and it was such a wonderful experience About the project that Carissa asked. We initially had the idea to do an intonation of musical instruments such as violins, guitars, etc. To an institution here in Maringá institution here in Maringá, but talking a little more with the to a shelter of kids called SOS, which will help them learn they're humble kids and it will help them learn more about tech stuff I don't know how to say it and prepare better to the working environment, their life in general. So we're really glad of your help and support about this project.
Speaker 3:I think it's wonderful that, because you helped us, we were in turn able to do something for you that will benefit the community, and I think that's the beauty of Rotary, right.
Speaker 2:It is the power of Rotary. It's quite extraordinary and I think that, pedro and Carissa, you were able to experience that and that's something that we'd like to really spread out to the rest of the clubs and the rest of the district because they have not had that opportunity and I've done VTTs to Haiti, et cetera as well and the impact it's truly through those kinds of international opportunities that you really get to see the power of the organization that you belong to. A lot of people get lost in the local clubs, but when you realize that the organization you belong to is a worldwide organization and you truly form friendships and can have impacts a world away, it's quite dramatic.
Speaker 1:Yes, and these unique experiences that last a lifetime. You know when you think, oh, I don't have time, that might be, you know, that might be hard on my schedule. And then, when you dive in, like our VTT team did and like Carissa did, and Pedro even taking time out of his own time at home, you know to be able to then develop lifelong friendships and relationships that will go on for years and years. Pedro, back to the impact how many kids do you think are going to be impacted by the project that you and your Interact Club were able to put together through the donations of the VTT team?
Speaker 4:of the VTT team. So about the project we aim to target about 10 children that they're going to be using the computer across the day to learn more about I don't know the words, but to educate themselves with programs, softwares and how to use a computer basically right, which is extremely important in the work environment in the school and many, many it's a. It's a subject that schools here in brazil, especially public schools, don't teach and are young. You know my generation, gen Z, the next one, one of the younger ones, we are pretty, we are much more tech-savvy. You know we are better at dealing with this kind of technology and understand what to do in different situations and being released nowadays that our generation is having a serious problem with dealing with the softwares like Word, microsoft Word, excel, powerpoint in their working environment. So the goal of this project is to help better prepare these children to the future.
Speaker 1:That's wonderful. And, pedro, may I ask how old you are?
Speaker 4:I'm 19,. A few days ago.
Speaker 1:Congratulations and happy birthday.
Speaker 4:Yeah, thank you, but unfortunately I'm going to have to leave Interact soon because of my age.
Speaker 1:But you can join Rotaract, yeah, I can.
Speaker 4:I can join B others Rotaract as well.
Speaker 1:Yeah, exactly. So, as we wrap this up, carissa, what would you say about this extended experience or part of your VTT experience?
Speaker 3:Well, I think, first of all, pedro is very humble about his English speaking skills, but I am not being modest when I say my Portuguese is not strong at all, and I think what was really? That's not true, that's not true.
Speaker 3:I tried my best to do a lingo and Pedro was a great tutor while I was there. But you know I think kindness and you know the mission of Rotary really transcends language and language barriers and I personally was just so touched by the friendships we formed, by you know, the messages that were conveyed, not only through our translators, but just being in the presence of people who genuinely are there to do good and want to do good things in the community. I mean again, pedro and his family are my adopted family now, so we're in touch pretty regularly and it's just something that I would encourage any Rotarian to explore. Any avenue of international service that could connect you with Rotarians around the world is just so enriching.
Speaker 2:And Pedro, I will officially extend an offer for you to come visit us in California.
Speaker 1:Absolutely.
Speaker 2:I think that would be.
Speaker 4:No way.
Speaker 2:I think Carissa would love that and we would too. I think Carissa would love that and we would too, and I'd love to get a chance to meet you. But it's very exciting to see the Rotary extend throughout the world and to see you, as a young man, really getting involved and helping people. That's something that's taken for granted, but it doesn't happen a lot in life, and I think that's something unique that Rotary is able to bring. So thank you for being the person you are and really extending yourself not only to Carissa and the VTT, but being a Rotarian and helping your community and change the world. That's what it's all about.
Speaker 4:Absolutely. Thank you. I'm so glad to hear that and I, I, I, I mean I wanted to know how far we are going here with the podcast. Right, I don't want to extend myself too much, but I mean I started to join Interact in a really hard and difficult time for me. You know I was a pretty anxious boy, shy, and didn't really have a plan of what to do in the future. And joining Interact, going on projects, helping people really helped me from across countries and sharing my experience, in hope this reaches someone maybe like me, like me who I was some years ago before joining AIDS.
Speaker 1:Well, we are absolutely blessed and honored to have not only spent time with you when we were in Brazil, but for you to join us today and spread this message far and wide. It is, hopefully, we'll go around the world and do exactly what you just said, which is touch somebody's heart that is in a place where they're, you know, trying to find their journey, and you're going to help them do that. So hope to see you. Maybe you will join the VTT team that's coming back this direction. It is truly an exchange, so we do go back and forth from one district to another around the world and we hope to see you soon.
Speaker 1:Thank you for joining us today. Thank you, carissa, for joining us, and we look forward to sharing this podcast with as many people around the world that we can touch. So that wraps up this episode of Heroes of Hope. We are so happy that we have an audience out there listening. We want you to subscribe, share and tell your friends about the Rotary Community Heroes of Hope, because that's how we get the word out about the impact we're having in this world.