Local “Canada World Youth” volunteer faces daunting task

Luke Maloney is the first youth from Arden to be selected to participate in one of Canada World Youth's international educational programs.

Canada World Youth (CWY) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization. Since its creation 37 years ago, 31,000 young people between the ages of
17 and 24 have had the opportunity to live and work as volunteers in overseas communities as well as in Canada. Youth from all regions of Canada and more than 65 countries have participated in CWY programs.

Luke's exchange will run for a period of six months starting in September, 2009. The first three months will take place in Somoto, Nicaragua, Central America, where he and other CWY volunteers will team up with local youth, live with local families and work on community-based projects. Then he and his Canadian and Nicaraguan partners will travel to Prince Albert
Saskatchewan for a further three months where they will be involved as volunteers in a community-oriented work project.

Luke is 19-years-old. He was born and raised in Arden, graduated with honours from Sharbot Lake High School in 2007 and has just finished his 2nd year at the University of Ottawa. He says he applied to Canada World Youth "so that he could participate as a volunteer in this organization's international educational program." He chose this program for its community-based projects and because he is "interested in sharing this enriching experience with other young people from Canada and abroad."

Luke will be returning to Ottawa in March 2010 to continue with his studies when he will also give a slide show and a talk about his experiences.

Like other CWY volunteers, Luke Maloney needs to raise $2,500 so that the organization can give more young people the chance to participate in its
programs in future years. Luke has been given the deadline of July 30 to raise the entire sum, a daunting task for a small community like Arden.

He is in the process of contacting a number of organizations and individuals in his community, informing them of his participation in the Canada World Youth program, and is looking to the public for support as well. (Donations should be made out to Canada World Youth and sent to Luke Maloney c/o P.O. Box 76, Arden, ON K0H 1B0)

For more information, please contact Luke Maloney at 613-335-2763 in Arden (weekends) or 613-782-6100, ext 6197, or lmalo011@uottawa.ca.