Winchester Rotarians are this week hosting a group of Brazilian environmentalists on a fact finding mission to find out about environmental projects around the city. They visited the Itchen Navigation restoration and meeting academics from the University of Winchester Environmental Sciences department on Thursday 13th October and before leaving on Friday met Winchester MP Steve Brine at the Hampshire Record Office.
Steve said: "I vividly recall watching reports of illegal felling in the Brazilian rainforest as a schoolboy and it really affected me. It was this which sparked my interest in environmental issues and looking back, which set me on a course that would lead to Westminster. It is a real thrill therefore, to welcome this group to Winchester and I would thank the Rotary for making this visit possible."
The Group Study Exchange Programme is a unique cultural and vocational exchange opportunity for young business and professional persons in their initial years of professional life. The programme is designed to develop professional and leadership skills among young adults so that they can address the needs of their communities in an increasingly global workplace.
So far the team, who come the most southerly region of Brazil, have visited Portsmouth, the Isle of Wight, Swanage, Guernsey and Basingstoke on their one month visit to Rotary's Wessex District, and after attending its annual Conference in Eastbourne will be visiting further environmental projects in Bournemouth and Southampton.
Pictured; Team members meet Steve in Winchester on Friday 14th October