Joburg East Rotary to celebrate 50 years of giving back
Key focus areas include supporting education and helping vulnerable mothers and children.
The Rotary Club of Johannesburg East will commemorate the 50th anniversary of its charter in Bedfordview on March 18.
Also read: Rotary Club of Bedfordview donates to South African Guide-Dogs Association
The club will celebrate its 50-year commitment to ‘service above self’ as Rotarians have dedicated their time and energy to worthwhile community causes.
Also read: Rotary lends a hand
“We are celebrating the dedication of all the past and present Rotarians to meeting the needs of the local community over the years,” said Joburg East club president Maggie Huni.
“We are extending a warm invitation to all Rotarians, past Rotary presidents, past exchange students and friends of Rotary to attend the anniversary celebration.”
Over the years, Joburg East Rotarians have raised funds to support numerous local charities including World Vision, Khanyisa Outreach, Uitkoms Home for Girls, Bienvenu Shelter, Mandeville Centre for the Physically Disabled, Rose of Hope Crèche in the Denver informal settlement, and Alma Primary School in Limpopo.
“World Vision has been a beneficiary of our club since the 90s. We support one child through the programme and we are rewarded with school reports and a thank-you card every December,” said Genie Wright, secretary of Joburg East.
Khanyisa Outreach Skills Development Project, established in 1992 by Rotarians Marion and Alastair Brown, teaches skills to vulnerable women and children and Joburg East has supported the project with sewing materials and equipment.
In 2013, three flushing toilets and a septic tank were installed at the Rose of Hope Crèche in the Denver informal settlement, and food and clothing were also donated to the crèche, which is a day care centre for 30 small children. This was made possible through a partnership between Joburg East Rotary, two Australian Rotary clubs and another in the United States.
With the support of Holtzminden Rotary Club in Germany, a gas stove was donated to Uitkoms Girls Home in 2010, and the home also receives clothing, shoes and linen from Rotary, as well as a monthly supply of meat from a local butcher.
More than 25 young adults have been mentored by Joburg East Rotarians and selected to travel overseas after matric on the Rotary Youth Exchange Programme – either for a full year, or on the six-week short-term programme.
The biggest project the club has undertaken is the building of the Keurboom Interim Cancer Home in Main Street, Belgravia.
Here, cancer patients from out of town are accommodated during the weeks when they have daily chemo or radiation treatment at city hospitals.
The official 50th anniversary celebration will include a three-course buffet lunch at Belgravia Bowling Club on Florence Avenue in Bedfordview.
Email club secretary Genie Wright at genie.wright78@gmail.com for further information.
For more news and interesting articles, like Joburg East Express on Facebook or follow us on Twitter
Email joburgeast@caxton.co.za
