What’s that saying? Teamwork makes the dream work! Well, our next $10,000 Local Give story is a wonderful example of exactly that!
As a Biology teacher at Rutland Senior Secondary School in Kelowna, Yvonne Cowan has always been a leader. Known as a self-proclaimed ‘ideas person’, Yvonne has always loved to coordinate, organize and encourage others to help make shared dreams a reality. So, when she heard about $10,000 Local Give while picking up a latte at her favourite coffee shop, she knew she wanted to get involved.
“I’m very passionate about the environment and helping to sustain wildlife,” began Yvonne. “Personally and professionally, I am concerned about the destruction of ecosystems and habitats worldwide. I know that with the right resources and the right teams, we could make a difference in our community.”
One area of particular interest for Yvonne is the plight of bats in North America who are struggling to survive harsh climates and the various fungal infections associated with different regions. “Dangerous diseases such as White Nose Syndrome are killing millions of bats per year, and we want to make sure that our Okanagan bats have a fighting chance to survive if and when the fungus reaches BC.”
How did Yvonne create her own wave of local good?
Knowing the harsh reality bats face in today’s world, Yvonne went into problem-solving mode where she dreamed up the idea of ‘bat boxes’ — a safe space for bats to use for shelter and hibernation during the colder months.
Armed with her great idea and $100 from Interior Savings, Yvonne had the tools to make her dream a reality — all except for the team of people to put the idea into action. Knowing she couldn’t do it alone, she reached out to the Boy Scouts of Kelowna to help. “Local Give was just the motivation the boys needed to get started. The plans were thoroughly researched by the Scouts to ensure the boxes were appropriate for bats in the Okanagan. They really look amazing!”
For Yvonne, knowing the bats would be protected during the colder months was incredible, but being able to provide an educational opportunity to the Scouts was really the cherry on top.
“As a teacher, I wholeheartedly believe that it’s important to involve young people in making a difference for wildlife,” concluded Yvonne. “They need to know that we all have the power to give and effect positive change in the world. Most of the time it begins with one small act, and no act is too small.”Well said, Yvonne! A big thank you to Yvonne and the Boy Scouts of Kelowna for giving us all an opportunity to learn more about wildlife in our community, and showing us that truly, teamwork does make the dream work!