A young Cook Islander who was part of the Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment (RYPEN) leadership programme in New Zealand says he was inspired and understood the importance of teamwork.

Tereora College student, Adison Rowe was invited by Cook Islands Rotary to attend the Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment (RYPEN) youth leadership camp for a weekend with around 76 other youths aged 16-18 including a group from American Samoa and other youths from New Zealand.

The leadership programme is designed to develop young people’s potential through a mixture of lecture style sessions and adventure-based learning and it is designed for students in their schools and for those students who need a bit of a push and a confidence boost to start achieving at their full potential.

Adison said that even though he did not attend the camp with other Cook Islanders, he was encouraged to step out and make new friends boosting his social skills.

He said the camp was not about making speeches but had a lot more to do with games that encouraged them working in teams, learning to communicate and competing against other teams in challenges, which included making a raft.

“There would be games where we would have to make a raft out of materials that they give us. Our team would get together and then make the raft as fast as we could, because the other team was racing to beat us.

“It was really just team bonding.”

He said it was the first time he had attended an upskilling camp and upon returning home he began to understand the importance of working together and communication and it did teach him to push himself when in an uncomfortable situation.

He also learnt the importance of culture after seeing his American Samoan friends present a part of their culture on the last night.

“Everyone got together in their teams and our group had the American Samoans- theirs were like a cultural chant and it taught me that our culture is also important.”

On behalf of his Cook Islands heritage, Rowe sang a Cook Islands song and he taught it to his group.

He also shared he was staying with George and Lyn Wilson where George was his mentor.

“He taught me a lot.”

Adison would like to thank the team at Rotary Rarotonga, for making this all possible, as well as everyone in New Zealand who helped along the way.

Special thanks to Ainie Kwok and all involved with NZ RYPEN and Interact, the wonderful team at Kakako Lodge, and George and Lyn Wilson for their generous hospitality and support.