Rotary

Rotary motto: Service Above Self

Aren’t those wonderful words to live by? Underpinned by Rotary’s core values of fellowship, integrity, diversity, service and leadership they clearly work, too, because the Rotary Club of White River, having chartered in May 1956, celebrated its 60^th birthday last year. And reading the club’s list of projects it appears this is one ‘pensioner’ that has no intention of slowing down anytime soon!

Rotary is a worldwide service organisation which has grown from simple beginnings in the early 1900’s to over 34 000 clubs in 200 countries and a global membership of about 1.2 million. The Club has a strong focus on serving the community, which means they are kept busy running various fundraisers to raise money to carry out their projects.

Their diverse projects include:

• Camp Quality – a yearly camp held for children suffering from, or who have suffered from, cancer. It is held on the premises of Uplands, and relies on the generosity of the White River and Lowveld community who donate generously towards the daily activities.
• Books in Homes – started off as a small literacy project and has grown into an international project.
• Masoyi Special Care Centre – a special place run by Lucy Ngobeni. It caters for up to 50 mentally and physically challenged children.
• Kruger Park outing for Senior Citizens – a much anticipated annual day trip to the Kruger Park.
• Christmas parties – gifts, donated by Uplands Prep children, are distributed to various orphanages.
• Educational Trust Fund – assists with tertiary education.

Many more projects have taken place or are on the go. Some projects have reached completion while others take the place of small donations rather than physical involvement. To give the reader some idea of the variety, Rotary has taken on water projects, distribution of TOMS shoes, hospice, Millennium Home of Hope, Rustig Old Age Home, blanket distribution, bursary towards Flamboyant School and others.

Rotary believes in the value of teaching their values early in life, and to this end the Rotary Youth Exchange gives high school children a chance to spend time overseas, an enriching experience. Rotary White River also has three Interact Clubs under their auspices: Uplands, Penryn and Fundinjobo schools.

The Club meets once a week to discuss projects but mostly to enjoy fellowship amongst like-minded people with a strong sense of civic responsibility.

Contact
Phone: Hitesh Motiram. (President) 072 222 6523
E-mail: hitesh@soft.co.za
www.rotarywhiteriver.co.za