Sulaiman Patel
21 November 2007
Port Louis — "All of us in Rotary know that we are a part of something larger than ourselves. We know that Rotary is an organisation that transcends the boundaries of religion, language and culture.
We know that it is a force for peace, goodwill and fellowship. Rotarians' involvement in Rotary is made up primarily of club meetings, community projects and international work through partnership." Wilfrid J. Wilkinson - President Rotary International.
Throughout Mauritius and Rodrigues, can be seen the tangible evidence of the commitment of the fourteen Rotary clubs and the Rotaract and Interact clubs towards a philosophy that has guided dozens of community leaders to invest resources of time, energy and money to raise the bar on the ability to change lives through their support to humanitarian, health and educational programmes. In many cases, these projects have allowed for a better future for the less fortunate members of our society.
On the other hand, the Rotary service bug has instilled the desire to keep the legacy going and has spread to young professionals aged between 18 and 30 and to teenagers at school. The existing Rotaract and Interact clubs give them a wonderful opportunity to make new friends, learn about the importance of helping less fortunate members of society and bring a different perspective and energy to keep a service organisation vibrant. In future articles we will highlight the activities of the Rotary, Rotaract and Interact Clubs which have really made a difference.
Rotary Club of Grand Bay
In the present article, we will emphasise on the activities of the 25 members of the Rotary Club of Grand Bay, chartered 26 years ago. Their postulate: Provide the best humanitarian services to the elderly and needy, help improve the daily life of people and impart the best professional advice to youth people.
Throughout these years, the Club has undertaken and realised various projects which have benefited the local community. Amongst many others are the following: A parking for private cars, bus shelters, children's playgrounds, community centres, a dispensary, contributions to projects initiated by non-governmental and governmental organisations, sponsoring of a children's ward at the SSR hospital, cleaning up of the lagoon at Mont Choisy public beach, lunches for elderly people and the sponsoring of private schools for primary education drop-outs.
Fancy Fairs, charity walks and marathons are regularly organised for fund-raising purposes and to create awareness of community needs. In collaboration with other national and international partners, the Club has also undertaken other important community projects such as the construction of a building for the re-habilitation of ex-prisoners and their re-insertion in society, a pre-primary school and a "Maison Familiale Rurale" (MFR) for primary schools drop-outs.
The International Careers Guidance and Educational Fair
In 1994, the Rotary Club of Grand Bay initiated the Careers Guidance Fair which has become its star yearly event. It started in a classroom, became a regional event, and then progressed to national and today a much awaited international event. Currently the Club's main annual main, it is known as the International Careers Guidance and Educational Fair and provides secondary school leavers with information to further their studies overseas or in Mauritius.
Each year sATELees the number of participating national and international universities and schools grow, now up to 85, including representatives of Embassies and High Commissions of some participating countries. All the funds generated by fund-raising projects help the Club finance the various humanitarian and community projects undertaken during the Rotary year. The Club and its members also contribute to the Rotary Foundation every year and help in the fight against polio, hunger, famine, illiteracy and other humanitarian projects initiated by Rotary International.
For the current Rotary year, the club has earmarked support for several micro and women's projects arising from demands from the community, support to various associations caring for the handicapped, setting up of public libraries, literacy programs, the organisation of the International Careers Guidance and Educational Fair, the setting up of a new Maison Familiale Rurale and sponsoring of youngsters at St Gabriel Technical School, as well as international and co-funding projects with Madagascar and Reunion. During the Rotary year, different speakers are invited to club meetings to talk on various projects which might be considered for future support.
The RC of Grand Bay also sponsors the Rotaract Club of Petit Raffray and the Interact Club of Northfields School. These young adult and student clubs are very active themselves and also participate in the activities of the RC of Grand Bay.
Jumble Sale of the Rotary Club of Port-Louis
The Rotary Club of Port-Louis organised its fund raising jumble sale in support of the Rivière Noire Primary School breakfast project on the 10th of November at Winners Camp Levieux, Roches Brunes. It met with great success. Donations were very generous and the crowd of week-end shoppers looking for good opportunities took back home loads of useful items for the family.
Twinning with the Rotary Club of Saint Denis Doyen - Reunion Island. The Rotary Club of Port-Louis welcomed a delegation from Reunion Island for the signing of the twinning agreement which took place on Wednesday 14th November during the Club's weekly meeting. The objectives of the twinning are among others to foster friendship between Rotarians of the two Clubs and countries and to establish a long term relationship which will lead to the realisation of new projects.
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