ROTARIANS around the world have been known to live by the words, ‘service above self’, for decades.
This proved true when clubs, spanning thousands of kilometres across the Earth, joined forces and resourses to assist the Tongaat tornado and Cape flood victims.
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Rotary Club of Umhlanga president Vanessa Champion said that just over R500 000 was raised for both causes, and aid was handed out to the tornado victims since the natural disaster took place at the beginning of June, leaving thousands of people displaced and properties damaged.
So far, R41 383 has been received in donations from clubs and the public, $25 000 (about R455 000) from Rotary International, which will be split between the projects in the Eastern Cape and Tornado Fund, and R35 000 from the district fund.
“It was late in the afternoon on June 3 when Rotarians at Rotary Club Polokwane were getting ready for the club’s meeting, and messages began flooding in on their cellphones indicating the devastation of a tornado that had ripped through the Tongaat/Seatides area. They made the decision to do what Rotarians do – service above self,” she said.
“The chairperson-elect for club foundation phase, Vinesh Devchander, on behalf of Rotary Club Polokwane, charted the way forward in forming a bridge of communication and help to the tornado-affected areas via any rotary club willing to partner in this joint venture,” she said.
Not even 24 hours had passed when Devchander made contact with the president-elect of the Rotary Club of Umhlanga, Craig Cohan Arjoona, and forged a working relationship.
A few hours later, local funding came through from the two rotary clubs amounting to R10 000.
“Cohan worked tirelessly and became the boots on the ground – the proverbial eyes and ears of this joint operation – ensuring that the immediate needs of victims were being assessed and rallied to the rest of the team so that relief work could begin in earnest,” said Champion.
Cooked meals for the community had been provided by various organisations, but the issue was that they had no means of preparing their own meals.
Rotarians then got together and purchased 50 gas stoves with additional gas cylinders which were handed over to affected people in Tongaat.
“This alleviated the plight of the people so affected by the tornado. Other immediate projects involving the collection and distribution of bottled potable water, clothing and the like were implemented, which occurred simultaneously with constant communication between the Rotarians and first responders,” she added.
“The joint operation teams between the two clubs guarded them against being bogged down with bureaucratic red tape and placed service, above all, first,” she said.
The Rotarians will continue to support the flood victims and are encouraging people to follow the Rotary Club of Umhlanga on Facebook and the Rotary Club of Polokwane.
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