The Sandton Rotary Club is hoping to start a new district in Sandton Central, in order to encourage more people in the area to give back.
Rotary International is a worldwide network of people who are involved in charitable events encompassing various initiatives which the rotary is involved in, including providing healthcare and education opportunities to the less fortunate. However, members are encouraged to suggest initiatives which are close to their hearts.
Beata Gelderbloem, a member of the club, said not only has the club given her the opportunity to give back to the community but has allowed her to grow her skills as a leader.
“One of the objectives of our new club is for the membership to be reflective of the society in which we operate. Rotary membership is open to all ethnicities, cultures, religions, races, education levels, sexual orientation and political affiliations. We want to foster this kind of inclusion as it builds our capacity to serve our communities,” explained Gelderbloem.
David Grant, a district governor for the Rotary Club, said he hopes a Sandton Central district will encourage a lot of the business people in the area to become involved in the club. “There is a huge pool of potential members and those members could bring a wide range of skills. A club in this part of the world would be highly effective in running projects that would be in the interest of the communities.
“We have a very rich section of society around Sandton and we have a very poor section of the community just a stone’s throw away so it is in the interests of everyone to help bring the underprivileged into the economic spectrum.”
The club embraces the exchange of ideas to decide upon new projects and assist those in need. Grant added that as Sandton is a business hub with a lot of business people and entrepreneurs, it would be the ideal opportunity for them to impart their skills on other potential entrepreneurs.
The club intends to meet every Friday afternoon, between 1pm and 2pm at the Sandton Public Library. However, as the club is still just beginning, suggestions are welcomed for other potential meeting times.
Details: For more information about the Sandton Rotary Club contact David Grant on davidgrant@iburst.co.za
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