Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Travelling Scot tells teens about survival on streets
Tim Dennis: lives in Land Cruiser (JOE BRYKSA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS)
A Scot and his plush rat mascot rolled into Winnipeg Wednesday to raise awareness about street kids.
Tim Dennis sold his farm and left Scotland in May 2008 driving a customized Toyota Land Cruiser -- complete with a freezer, shower, pull-out storage drawers, a tent on the roof and solar panels on the hood to power the extra equipment.
Wednesday, he was at Macdonald Youth Services to speak to young people about what he is doing.
"I was a bit of a troubled youth myself because of my dyslexia," said Dennis, 35. "I was so disruptive I had to be removed from my school. I wanted to do something significant for other youth, so I am doing this."
Dennis represents Street Kids International, an organization founded in Canada with chapters in 60 countries. He has already travelled through Europe, Russia and Japan, and is now crossing Canada.
He calls his expedition Rambling Rat because he started it during the Chinese Year of the Rat and because of his plush rat mascot named Dylan.
Dennis said when he sets his truck up to camp out at a local school or shelter, he shows young people the basics of what is needed to survive. He also encourages students in schools to do fundraising for street kids.
"My needs -- food, shelter and water -- are the needs everyone needs," he said. "Any form of youth helping youth worldwide is a design for a greater and more prosperous world to live in for all."
Leila Dance, a spokeswoman for Macdonald Youth Services, said Dennis's trip is an opportunity for the youth the organization helps to hear from someone who has been through a similar experience.
"It will show them they can rise above," Dance said. "There's also an education part because he's educating people about the services that are out there... This is an amazing opportunity."
To follow Dennis's progress, go to www.ramblingrat.com
kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition March 12, 2009 A6
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