Rotary Club of Wynberg, Cape Town SA
A member of Rotary International
The annual end of year party for the Rotary Club Wynberg is always special. Gifts are distributed – and swopped, to the dismay of some unfortunates – , the meal is good, talking laughing and general good cheer is shared by all.
This year, however was special. We celebrated one outstanding achievement – a Paul Harris – and inducted our latest member. Continue reading “An Induction and Paul Harris to end the year”
On Wednesday November 6, Wynberg Rotary Club handed out 450 bursaries to children from primary schools and one high school in Grassy Park and Retreat.
The bursaries are funded by two sponsors in Norway Oddemarka Junior School and Haugaland College, who raise money through their Solidarity Day, when all the students go out and work for a day. The project was started in Grassy Park 14 years ago to help two primary schools with funding for computer equipment and books. The project, facilitated by Wynberg Rotary Club through the Norwegian Liaison Committee (NLC), has gone from strength to strength and now includes Montagu’s Gift, Perivale, Lotus River, Die Duine, Stephen Road primary schools and Fairmount High School. Over the 14 years, this school project has raised approximately R4 million.
This was a special occasion for the recipients, the donor schools and Wynberg Rotary Club. For the first time all 42 teachers (including the principal) from Oddemarka visited South Africa, and Cape Town. They were joined by 4 scholars and two teachers from Haugaland, albeit in a separate tour party.
The week of 4 to 10 November was hectic for all the visitors. They toured the Western Cape, from Cape Point, through the wine routes, to Game Farms, Robben Island and Tablemountain. They stopped off at the Aquarium, the Waterfront, and Greenmarket square.
In their travels the party performed three very important functions: the reason for the visit.
In the evening of Wednesday 6th November, the whole group joined the Norwegian Liaison Committee and members of Wynberg Rotary Club at Hyde Park Primary to hand out the bursaries. It was a fantastic evening, enjoyed by all, especially the children.
On Thursday 7th November the party split up into 6 groups, each travelling with a member of Wynberg Rotary to a different school. There they spent two hours getting to know, and be known by, the principal, staff and in many cases enthusiastic learners.
Finally on the evening of the 7th the tour party joined Wynberg Rotary at Palms Guest House for their weekly meeting. It was a convivial evening, a few speeches, a good meal, much talking and making of friends.
On behalf of Wynberg Rotary Club we thank all members of Oddemarka and Haugaland, both staff and learners, for this fantastic, gift they brought to our Cape Town learners. We hope they took back many pleasant memories.
Even by the generally high standards of the meetings at Wynberg Rotary Club, the meeting of Thursday 10th October was exceptional.
The club was proud to induct two new members:- Graham Gavin and Dirk du Plessis. Graham was previously a Rotarian at Mount Edgecombe in Natal (and Umgeni before that) but has now moved to the Cape. After visiting a number of clubs Graham and Dirk joined WRC due to our commitment, and our vibe. We welcome them both.
Our speaker for the evening covered a controversial topic in South Africa – refugees. Kathryn Hoeflich, the Director at the Cape Town Refugee Centre – told us about the plight of refugees in this country (and others). South Africa is the one country in Africa that has signed the UNHRC declaration on refugees ‘without reservation’, but unfortunately our actions belie our words. Our treatment of refugees, including the xenophobic violence, is far removed from the ideals as defined by the UNHRC, and agreed by our government.
Kathryn also told us that contrary to all we read, South Africa is not overrun by by refugees or asylum seekers. WE have approximately 65000 refugees, and about 250 000 asylum seekers at present.
Our final event for the evening was a presentation by Ambassadorial Scholar Sarah Yousuf who returns to the USA on Tuesday. During her time here Sarah has become part of the lives of many Rotarians, and by the rumours we hear, of many other South Africans. We wish her well and will miss her.
The Rotary Club Wynberg is proud to announce the Induction of their latest member on 19th July:- Justin Schonegevel. After many years at Wynberg Rotaract, Justin finally made the leap.
Not a club for timewasting, Justin is already deeply involved in research on Literacy for various projects we are hoping to become involved in.
This years Rotaract Conference wwas held at Windstone in the Langebaan Area on the 10th August 2013. This was President Karen’s first ever Rotaract conference.
Karen, Jackie, Biffy, Sarah and John flew there and back for the day and then they were still expected to do a rally Continue reading “Rotaract Conference”
