This year, 2009, has been a very exciting one for interact. Our activities have included the Valentine’s Ball, many Street Collections for a variety of charities, “Sleeping Bag” Drives and the Grannies’ Tea. We the Interact Board have come to realise that Interact stands for more than entertainment, donations, charity work and having a cup of tea with our lovely Grannies and Grandpas. Interact makes people feel good and changes their lives for the better. Interact’s members believe that the impossible should be done immediately and that “service above self” is all important.

2009 has been a year of changes. Interact and Junioract have amalgamated in the belief that “together we can achieve more”. We took on a new project called the “Tree of Joy”, which enables Victorians to donate  Christmas presents for children resident at one or more local children’s homes.

Our usual projects such as Street Collections, Winter Woolly Week, Uncle Jumbo’s and making Sleeping Bags to donate to homeless people have been a great success.

It has been a privilege and an honour to serve the Interact Society and I hope the Interactors of 2010 will take the society to even greater heights.

Mahatma Ghandi once said “become the change you want to see in the world”. This is why all Interactors practice their motto of “Service Above Self”. By helping others we hope to change their situations and every little positive change helps to change the world.

Gini Mavovana

My year as president has truly opened my eyes. I had the chance to work with an amazing group of people, our interact board 2007-2008. We were more than just a team we were like a family and Mrs. Russell always welcomed us with love and advice.

Our year was very successful and we really had a great time. We won the Uncle Jumbo’s Trophy again which came as no surprise thanks to our learners’ enthusiastic VP spirit. We helped out at the arts festival and did free kids face painting which was lots of fun and added to the festivities of the weekend. Interact also held its annual Christmas party at the Walmer crèche bringing smiles to the children’s faces.

Our biggest event which is the annual valentine’s ball went off amazingly, despite the drapers arriving with the wrong colour drapes. We had lots of fun and were proud of our interact team.

Interact, along with the school, once again supported winter woolly week and everyone united to bring anything from blankets to socks. Interact’s biggest project and my personal favourite was the making of sleeping bags for street children. VP really supported us with the task and we had very successful workshops where we made about 80 sleeping bags out of newspapers and strong plastic.

Interact’s ‘service above self’ motto came alive in the hearts of the interact board 2007-2008 and I will surely miss them and all the Monday meetings. I hope they have an even better year in 2009 and I wish the new board and junior act the best of luck.

Justine Weddell

Interact President 2007/2008

The Interact Board 2006-2007 has served an incredible year under the leadership of Robyn Zieseniss and Cingean Watson. The board consisted of 16 grade 11 and 12 learners. Interact Club members were encouraged to serve the community by doing street collections and other activities. The board was welcomed at the Induction Dinner. Our planning camp was held in St Francis where we decided what our main projects for the year would be.

Our first project was to raise funds by selling flowers and stickers on Spring Day. The teachers were all given a flower to show our appreciation for all their hard work.

We held a ‘Grannies Tea’ for the grannies and grandpas of Buffelsfontein Old Age Home. A new and exciting interactive programme was used which had the grannies clapping, laughing and having loads of fun. We had singers, poets and musicians; even our teachers got involved! At the end of the afternoon the grannies each received a ‘goodie bag’ witch contained a face cloth, a small soap and a wonderful little poem to inspire them for the new year.

We held a Christmas Party for the little children of Walmer Crèche. Father Christmas visited and handed out presents. The children enjoyed cake and party packs. The little ones had so much fun! We also collected food for our non-academic staff, who work so hard at keeping our school clean and tidy. We were able to hand over two boxes of groceries to each of them.

Interactors helped out at Uncle Jumbo’s Christmas Party. Children are entertained by the wonderful characters from Noddy and each get a present from Father Christmas. Interacters worked as clowns and played with the children. Two of our board members, Cingean Watson and Wessel Oosthuizen, starred in the lead roles of Noddy and Big Ears. Thanks to those who gave up of their holiday time.

The Valentine’s Dance which had the theme of ‘Chicago’. It was a great success as everyone dressed the part and looked stunning! We managed to raise R4500. This was donated to needy community organizations.

The Heart Foundation approached us to take part in their ‘Wear Red Day’. We were pleased to hand over R2000 to them. Winter Woolly Week was well supported and the learners donated warm clothing and blankets. These were distributed to those who are exposed to the cold. Easter was celebrated with the children of Walmer Creche. We handed over sweets, chips, crayons and colouring sheets to keep them entertained. We enjoyed playing and singing with them and were pleased to see the changes brought about by Interact over the years.

“Help starts at home” became Interacts’ new policy this year as some members of the V.P family needed help and Interact came to their aid to help make their lives a little easier.

Isithembiso, a home for abandoned and abused children’ was visited and given a donation. The Interactors held and fed the babies. We became aware of the plight of Ithemba Special Care Centre, a school for the mentally challenged and handicapped. We visited and played with the children and came to love their wonderful personalities. We donated R2000 worth of physiotherapy equipment to them. We helped the Quest School of Autism by donating interactive games and educational toys for their children..

I have loved every moment and would like to give special thanks to Mrs. Russell and Mr. Jansen who have supported me. Thank you to the board for making this year a memorable one. Thank you to all the Victorians, who in true V.P spirit, gave to our community.

To the board of 2007-2008, may your year be full of love and success.
Robyn Zieseniss
(President)