THE Rotary Club of Durban recently visited Eden College as the school’s Interact Club announced their 2023 committee on March 28.
According to the immediate past president of the Rotary Club, John Johnston-Webber, Interact Clubs form part of Rotary International and are school-based, essentially for pupils in grades 10 and 11.
“Interact, which is short for International Action, are clubs that are community-orientated and give school pupils an opportunity to serve society in various ways,” said Johnston-Webber Immediate, who is also the Rotarian advisor to Eden College Interact Club.
“There are many Interact Clubs throughout the world, and they consist of some 360 000 Interactors. Being registered with Rotary International in the United States of America gives each club access to any other club in the world where communication and joint projects can be undertaken,” he said.
“Eden College Interact functions under the auspices of the Rotary Club of Durban, which will celebrate its hundredth anniversary in January 2025,” said Johnston-Webber.
Incoming President has big plans
Grade 11 learner Vongai Mubaiwa was announced as the 2023 Interact Club president. “When I was announced as the Ineract Club president, I was in shock, but at the same time, I was very excited to take on the role. My brother was the Interact Club president in his Grade 11 year, so this is something I’ve wanted for a long time,” said Mubaiwa. Mubaiwa said her aim as president is to give back. “My goal for this coming year as president is to help the people of South Africa.”
2022 President reflects on a charitable year
Speaking at the ceremony, former Interact Club president Andiswa Cele said that 2022 was another active year for the Interact Rotary Club. “The Interact Committee of 2022 have certainly grown through the many challenges of tackling various service projects. As a result of these projects, the committee has continued to build relationships both in school and our surrounding community. It has been rewarding to watch and be a part of the self-development and growth of each Interact member. We, as a committee, are forever grateful for this empowering experience,” said Cele.
Cele says that the Interact Club started 2022 with a new project. “The Mugs and Marshmallow Campaign was designed by the Robin Hood Foundation, in the hopes of giving children and grandparents an exciting Easter holiday. As Interact, we donated decorated mugs fi lled with Easter eggs which painted a smile on the faces of many children.” The Interact Club has several projects they are involved in. “Each term, we strive to deliver sandwiches to the Salvation Army Soup Kitchen where Interactors, college staff and students donate food items that are used to make sandwiches to feed the hungry. We have also facilitated the South African National Blood Service, in the collection of much-needed blood for medical emergencies.”
Cele went on to say that, every year, the committee supports the Nelson Mandela Winter Blanket Drive, in the hope of keeping those in need warm, in honour of Nelson Mandela’s vision for South Africa. “We have also created new projects such as the Winter Flood Drive, where Interactors folded and packed clothes, and donated shoes as well as linen to help with the recovery of the victims of the infamous KZN fl oods. We have implemented innovative ways of raising funds for diff erent organisations, such as creating the Beaded Bracelets project, where Interactors made colourful bracelets that were sold to raise funds for Thalitha Children’s Trust, which is an organisation that helps provide a loving, stable environment for abandoned babies and children. We’ve held raffl es to raise funds for our guest speakers and Smart Service Dogs and collaborated with our very own Eco Club to better our environment. We also donated to various organisations, such as the St Philomena’s Children’s Home and the Cansa Association of South Africa, and we participated in the National Santa Shoebox Project,” said Cele.
“We would like to thank our mentors. It was their vision, commitment and stoic determination that ensured that we, the Interact Committee of 2022, got the job done successfully,” concluded Cele.
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