Member Spotlight - We would like to spotlight our new Club President, Andreas Zapletal.

Andreas has written a special article on his amazing story beginning in his childhood where he received assistance from Kiwanis, to where he is now…. An amazing read!

“A child will feel capable of doing anything they can think of if they feel supported.”  - Andreas Zapletal

Kiwanis was that for me when I needed it most.

While there are many more horrifying stories than mine, I had my fair share of challenges growing up.  My mom died of cancer when I was 12.  My dad remarried shortly after, and I rebelled against the blended family.  While I didn’t drink or do drugs, my behaviour was challenging for my family, and they made the tough decision that I should move out the day after my 16th birthday.  Fortunately for me, they found Kiwanis Youth Residence, so I wasn’t out on the street fending for myself.

My first day at Kiwanis Youth Residence made me fear where I had landed.  One of the residents choked another resident to the point of blacking out, because they had walked “too loudly”.  I found out later that the attacker was high on cocaine.  I knew nothing about that - drugs were new to me as I’d been sheltered from that life until now. From there things fortunately got better, both for me and for the attacker, Ron, who I learned years later had gotten off drugs and moved back home with his mom.  Another life positively impacted by Kiwanis.