Five fearless JCI Edinburgh volunteers are preparing to brave broken glass [this month] to raise over £1200 for the Barnardo’s Caern Project and the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS).

The JCI Edinburgh team will be taking part in this summer’s Glasswalk Challenge at Edinburgh Zoo, where 30 courageous souls will walk barefoot over 20ft of broken glass. Before attempting the glass walk, each individual must raise at least £150 sponsorship and attend an evening of training at the Zoo.

JCI Edinburgh is part of Junior Chamber International, the worldwide personal development organisation for business people in their 20s and 30s. It holds numerous social and fundraising events throughout the year and offers a stimulating range of activities to enable members to develop communication, presentation, leadership, project management, networking and business skills.

Simone Medonos, JCI Edinburgh Communities and Environmental Director, is one of the members who will be taking on the Glasswalk Challenge.

She says: “I’m quite nervous but I’m looking forward to challenging myself and I want to prove that I can do it. I don’t think the 20ft will seem quite so far if there are lots of people to cheer us on so I hope lots of our members will be there on the night to support us. It’s all for two really good causes so we have all been working hard to collect sponsorship.”

In 2009, JCI Edinburgh volunteers conquered the Zoo’s sponsored fire walk to raise over £1000 for the RZSS. This year’s team are hoping to raise at least £1200 with proceeds split equally between Barnardo’s and the RZSS.

The RZSS is a charity devoted to the conservation of animals and their habitats. It owns Edinburgh Zoo and the Highland Wildlife Park, home to over 1000 animals. The charity supports conservation and research project across the globe, runs education initiatives for visitors and schools, and receives no direct government funding.

The Barnardo’s Caern Project is JCI Edinburgh’s nominated charity for 2010 and the organisation has raised over £2000 for the cause through their successful Burns supper and quiz night events. The Caern Project provides short-term residential breaks in Edinburgh and support at home, to children and young people with a profound learning disability and who may also have severe physical and emotional problems.

Kenneth Logan, JCI Edinburgh President, explains why the organisation nominated the charity:

“We are a local organisation so wanted to choose a local charity and the Caern Project is responsible for a lot of valuable work in our community. Charity fundraising is very important to JCI Edinburgh and we believe that we can make a bigger difference overall by focusing all of our efforts on one incredibly worthy cause.”

Funds raised for the Caern Project could be used in a variety of ways including: outings for the 35 children and young people, specialist toys for children with disabilities, specialist sleep counsellors or gardening materials for the sensory garden at Caern House.

For an annual fee of £80, JCI members can access a wide-ranging programme of events, training and social opportunities. A voluntary organisation, JCI also has a long history of charitable work and fundraising. Recent local projects have seen members volunteer at the Grassmarket Mission, a drop-in service, helping to cook meals free of charge for those who need it most, as well as regular blood donor events.

For more information about this and other JCI events, please visit http://www.jciedinburgh.org.uk or email JCI Edinburgh President Kenneth Logan.

Tuesday 25 May 2010 :: 6 pm – 8.30pm :: Water of Leith Visitor Centre, 24 Lanark Road, Edinburgh, EH1 41T

Edinburgh’s young business people are preparing to get wet and muddy in the Water of Leith this Tuesday and it’s all in the name of conservation.

Up to 30 members of JCI Edinburgh are expected to turn out for the organisation’s first Water of Leith clean up. Volunteers will be pulling on wellies and waders and getting in the water to clean up litter and debris. They will also be removing invasive and non-native plants such as Himalayan Balsam in order to allow the natural habitat to thrive.

The event has been organised in conjunction with the Water of Leith Conservation Trust and the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment. The clean-up will take place both in the river and along the walkway near the Water of Leith Visitor Centre.
JCI Edinburgh is part of Junior Chamber International, the worldwide personal development organisation for business people in their 20s and 30s. It offers a stimulating range of activities to enable members to develop communication, presentation, leadership, project management, networking and business skills.

Simone Medonos, JCI Edinburgh’s Communities and Environment Director, says: “This is a great way to make a difference to the community and get involved in some real conservation. It is our first environmental event but we are planning similar activities later in the year, including tree planting and beach clean ups along the east coast.”

She adds: “JCI’s personal development and training opportunities are incredibly valuable at a time when many businesses are cutting back on budgets in these areas. Our membership comes from a diverse range of backgrounds so an event like the Water of Leith clean up is a brilliant way to meet new people and learn about areas you might never come across at work.”

For an annual fee of £80, JCI members can access a wide-ranging programme of events, training and social opportunities. A voluntary organisation, JCI also has a long history of charitable work and fundraising. Recent projects have seen members volunteer at the Grassmarket Mission, a drop-in service, producing meals free of charge for those who need it most, as well as regular blood donor events.

In 2010, JCI Edinburgh is committing its resources to fund raising for the Barnardo’s Caern Project, a local charity providing short-term residential breaks and support at home, to children and young people with a profound learning disability and who may also have severe physical and emotional problems.

To register for the event, please email simone_medonos@jciedinburgh.org.uk. For more information about this and other JCI events, please visit http://www.jciedinburgh.org.uk or contact JCI Edinburgh President Kenneth Logan.