Local school learner prepares to take France by storm
Sipping exotic tea infusions while strolling the cobbled streets that once inspired authors like Yvonne Chauffin has long been a dream for Brentwood Park's Gina Lourens.
That dream is now closer to reality, as the Benoni High Grade 11 learner has been selected to take part in Rotary International's prestigious Youth Exchange Programme.
The programme will see the 17-year-old spend her matric year in the multicultural city of Lille, France.
Seated in a sunny corner of her home, Gina straightens her blazer and launches into an enthusiastic explanation of how her journey with Rotary began.
'I became a member of our school's Interact Club at the beginning of high school,' said Gina.
'Through my experience, I have realised that being of service to others is the greatest gift you can give. Navigating the teenage years, we often become disconnected from the challenges others face, but those challenges remain, no matter how much we try to turn a blind eye.'
Running her fingers across the cover of the latest addition to her Franz Kafka collection, Gina reflects on how her time with Interact has shaped her.
She speaks passionately about how Rotary has had a profound impact not only on the global community but also on her personal growth.
'Connection — that is all anyone needs. We all want to feel seen, heard, and acknowledged for our unique traits.'
Gina is one of only four Southern African Interact members selected for the year-long exchange. She says she is humbled and thrilled by the opportunity.
'I cannot wait to start this incredible journey. I've been given the opportunity to immerse myself in a new culture and a clean slate — a chance to introduce myself as real, raw, and authentic.'
Host family needed
However, Gina's dreams of walking in Kafka's footsteps hinge on one critical requirement: a host family in South Africa for her Italian counterpart, who is due to arrive in August.
'Due to the Northern Hemisphere academic calendar, the Italian student must be hosted until mid-2026,' she explained, a flicker of anxiety crossing her face.
'If we cannot secure a host family, my own exchange, scheduled to begin in January, cannot go ahead.'
Hosting can be for the full duration of the exchange or shared between several vetted host families over an agreed period.
'The aim is to give the exchange student a fully immersive local experience and opportunities to engage with their peers,' Gina said.
'Safety and comfort are paramount. Hosts must provide balanced meals, a safe and comfortable place to stay, and transport to and from school and school-related events.'
Hosting is voluntary and comes with no financial remuneration. However, Rotary International provides students with a monthly allowance to cover necessities and some experience costs.
Quoting Kafka, Gina added: 'Youth is happy because it has the ability to see beauty. Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old.'
With that same spirit of optimism, she makes a heartfelt appeal to the Benoni community to help her and her fellow Interact member make their dreams come true.
'This is an opportunity that doesn't come knocking for everyone. I hope someone in our city, full of dedicated Rotarians, will open their home to a youth who is following in their footsteps,' she said.
'Thanks to their dedication, teens like me are stepping up to be of service and letting the movement's ethos guide us into the future.'
For more information about the Youth Exchange Programme or to sign up as a host, visit youthexchange.co.za or click the direct link: https://yehub.net/cgi-bin/ZA0_get.cgi?pgid=aphf1
Also Read: Here's what's happening in and around Boksburg
Also Read: Boksburg High honours longest-serving teacher
At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
18 hours ago
- The Citizen
Local school learner prepares to take France by storm
Sipping exotic tea infusions while strolling the cobbled streets that once inspired authors like Yvonne Chauffin has long been a dream for Brentwood Park's Gina Lourens. That dream is now closer to reality, as the Benoni High Grade 11 learner has been selected to take part in Rotary International's prestigious Youth Exchange Programme. The programme will see the 17-year-old spend her matric year in the multicultural city of Lille, France. Seated in a sunny corner of her home, Gina straightens her blazer and launches into an enthusiastic explanation of how her journey with Rotary began. 'I became a member of our school's Interact Club at the beginning of high school,' said Gina. 'Through my experience, I have realised that being of service to others is the greatest gift you can give. Navigating the teenage years, we often become disconnected from the challenges others face, but those challenges remain, no matter how much we try to turn a blind eye.' Running her fingers across the cover of the latest addition to her Franz Kafka collection, Gina reflects on how her time with Interact has shaped her. She speaks passionately about how Rotary has had a profound impact not only on the global community but also on her personal growth. 'Connection — that is all anyone needs. We all want to feel seen, heard, and acknowledged for our unique traits.' Gina is one of only four Southern African Interact members selected for the year-long exchange. She says she is humbled and thrilled by the opportunity. 'I cannot wait to start this incredible journey. I've been given the opportunity to immerse myself in a new culture and a clean slate — a chance to introduce myself as real, raw, and authentic.' Host family needed However, Gina's dreams of walking in Kafka's footsteps hinge on one critical requirement: a host family in South Africa for her Italian counterpart, who is due to arrive in August. 'Due to the Northern Hemisphere academic calendar, the Italian student must be hosted until mid-2026,' she explained, a flicker of anxiety crossing her face. 'If we cannot secure a host family, my own exchange, scheduled to begin in January, cannot go ahead.' Hosting can be for the full duration of the exchange or shared between several vetted host families over an agreed period. 'The aim is to give the exchange student a fully immersive local experience and opportunities to engage with their peers,' Gina said. 'Safety and comfort are paramount. Hosts must provide balanced meals, a safe and comfortable place to stay, and transport to and from school and school-related events.' Hosting is voluntary and comes with no financial remuneration. However, Rotary International provides students with a monthly allowance to cover necessities and some experience costs. Quoting Kafka, Gina added: 'Youth is happy because it has the ability to see beauty. Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old.' With that same spirit of optimism, she makes a heartfelt appeal to the Benoni community to help her and her fellow Interact member make their dreams come true. 'This is an opportunity that doesn't come knocking for everyone. I hope someone in our city, full of dedicated Rotarians, will open their home to a youth who is following in their footsteps,' she said. 'Thanks to their dedication, teens like me are stepping up to be of service and letting the movement's ethos guide us into the future.' For more information about the Youth Exchange Programme or to sign up as a host, visit or click the direct link: Also Read: Here's what's happening in and around Boksburg Also Read: Boksburg High honours longest-serving teacher At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
TimesLIVE
3 days ago
- TimesLIVE
Anglicans mourn death of former bishop of KZN Dino Gabriel
The Anglican Church is mourning the death of former bishop of Natal Dino Gabriel at the weekend. Gabriel died at Netcare Parklands Hospital in Overport on Saturday. The Italian moved to South Africa in 1987 and over the years endeared himself to many due to his proficiency in isiZulu. In 1992 Gabriel married Nobelungu. Tensions within the clergy forced Gabriel to resign in 2019 as head of the church before his retirement in September 2020. His retirement came before a synod, a meeting of high-ranking clergymen every three years. At the time Gabriel was reported to say his resignation stemmed from threats, character assassination and racists remarks over his leadership style. The archbishop of the church, Thabo Makgoba, said the early retirement stemmed from 'financial pressures'. Anglican Diocese of Natal Bishop Nkosinathi Ndwandwe confirmed Gabriel's death on Sunday. 'Please pray for Mrs Nobelungu Gabriel and the family at this time of grief. Our heartfelt condolences to the Gabriel family. May he rise in glory,' said Ndwandwe. The Denis Hurley Centre in Durban also paid tribute to Gabriel on Saturday. It said Gabriel came to South Africa from Italy as a catholic priest and a Consolata missionary and later became an Anglican bishop in Zululand and then in Natal. The centre credited Gabriel for his frequent visits, including his most recent in March, where he often conversed with homeless guests in isiZulu. A memorial will be held at the Durban Exhibition Centre on Friday.
eNCA
09-06-2025
- eNCA
Bust attributed to Donatello splits Slovakia
A bust attributed to Renaissance master Donatello has re-emerged in Slovakia after falling into obscurity following World War II, but the country's nationalist government has sparked anger by stowing it away in a ministry building. The sculpture of Italian noblewoman Cecilia Gonzaga spent centuries in a manor house in central Slovakia, whose owners, the noble Csaky family, left it behind when they fled the advancing World War II front in 1945. Moved about and ultimately forgotten in the aftermath, it was sitting in a depository at the Spis Museum in the eastern town of Levoca when art historian Marta Herucova stumbled across it. The bust had been marked "unknown author". But Herucova noticed the base was inscribed with the words: "Ceciliae Gonzagae opvs Donatelli" (Cecilia Gonzaga, a work by Donatello). If confirmed, it would be only the eighth artwork signed by the Italian Renaissance sculptor to be discovered worldwide. Herucova made the find in 2019, but it was only announced in February -- surprising the country. "Who would expect an original Donatello to appear in Slovakia?" former museum director Maria Novotna told AFP. But the bust is now a subject of controversy. Nationalist Culture Minister Martina Simkovicova decided to remove it from the museum and bring it to an unknown location in late May, citing security concerns. The move dismayed critics and art historians, who say the bust needs expert conservation and research to confirm if it is really by Donatello (1386-1466). - 'Second expropriation' - A group of cultural sector representatives including Count Moritz Csaky has meanwhile lobbied for the bust to go on display. Csaky said in a statement on Monday that his family did not make any claim for restitution but cautioned "against individual artefacts becoming the plaything of power-political or commercial speculations". "I hope that the bust will not become the victim of a second expropriation and will once again find a dignified and honourable place in the Spis Museum," he added. AFP | JOE KLAMAR The bust has an epic backstory. After the Csaky family fled, Soviet troops looted their house, which then became a juvenile detention centre for girls after the communist government took over what was then Czechoslovakia in 1948. The girls played with the bust and even defined its eyes with blue pen, said Peter Cizmar, the son of a former guardian. In 1975, artwork still surviving at the centre was moved to the nearby Spis Museum. Attributed to an unknown 19th-century artist, the bust "was put in a depository and had not left it since", said former director Novotna, an art historian. Novotna was in charge of the museum catalogue as a young woman, and now regrets she did not have time to research the item as she was swamped with work. - Dinner companion - In 2019, Herucova was working on the museum's 19th-century collection when she found the piece. "The bust just came up," she said. After noticing the inscription, she started in-depth research. She suspected forgery, but the material, details and inscription were all too telling, she said. "Even artists who made Renaissance-style busts never signed them in the name of the original author," Herucova told AFP. She wrote about the finding in the French art history magazine Revue de l'Art, waiting for someone to contest the bust's origin -- which has not happened. Herucova also contacted Csaky, who had no clear recollection of its origin either, as his family left for Vienna when he was 11. But he did recall seeing the bust on a porch where the family dined in summer. "He said there used to be two original Gothic statues next to it, which are also in the museum today," Herucova said. - 'Safe and protected' - Herucova also contacted Italian art history professor Francesco Caglioti, who voiced doubt about the authorship but declined to elaborate. She is now pinning hopes on research in cooperation with foreign institutions. But for now, the bust is hidden away. Simkovicova, the culture minister who ordered it be moved with the help of a police commando, said it was "now safe and protected". Police chief Jana Maskarova later said the bust was at an interior ministry centre in Topolcianky, central Slovakia. Simkovicova promised to display the bust when "conditions are favourable". Herucova hopes the ministry will not try to revamp the bust, which should retain its patina, she said. "It's supposed to go to a professional place where they know how to do lab analyses."
