Affiliated to Rotary International, school Interact Clubs are well-known for their philanthropic character. At Victoria Park, the Interact Club holds a special place in her plethora of clubs and societies.
From the beginning, this year’s Board, an amalgamation of the Senior and Junior Interact Boards, has worked together tremendously, and practiced and achieved, their motto of “Service Above Self.” It was decided to amalgamate the two service clubs, as they were basically doing the same thing, i.e. working towards achieving happiness in the greater community.
At the end of 2009 the Interact Board visited our Walmer Township creche Iletha, where cake and presents were handed out to nearly 100 children, to celebrate Christmas. The presents having been donated by the VP pupils.
2010 has been an exciting year for Interact and has included many activities. This year’s Valentine’s Ball theme was “Mardi Gras”. The hall was decorated beautifully and the night was a great success. Other activities we were involved in, were street collections, selling pancakes, the on- going sleeping bag drives and the annual Granny & Grandpa’s tea. We also collected clothes for ‘ Winter Wooly Week’, and ran the Xmas groceries campaign for our non- academic staff. We also held numerous ‘civvies days’ to raise money for various charities.
We spent a special afternoon at Munro Kirk Home for the Aged, where our pupils put on an impromptu concert for a very captive audience and came away with vivid memories of a big difference made in a very short time.
This year, Interact held a ‘spray-a-thon’ in aid of Cancer research, where pupils paid R5 to have their hair sprayed. The school was challenged by Miss Kohne to raise an amount of money. On the successful raising of which she would shave her head. I am proud to say, the Victorians rose to the challenge and Miss Kohne had her hair shaved off in front of the school in assembly. All the proceeds went to the Cancer Foundation.
With the aid of Caleigh Strimling and the Junior Service Club, as it was previously known, we were able to raise a substantial amount of money. This year we had the wonderful opportunity to donate an amount of R20 000 to the South African Guide Dogs Association. It was an awesome feeling and a privilege, to hand the money over. It will be used to train two puppies to become guide dogs, thus making a difference in two people’s lives..
It has been a privilege to serve as President on the Interact Board. I would like to thank my Board for all their input, and for always being willing to give of themselves. I wish the 2010/ 2011 Board all the best for a very successful Interact year. May they continue to uphold the high principles of Rotary, and Interact.
KIRSTY JOUBERT
