Service to the community starting young

Service to the community starting young . . .

TGHS students form first Rotary Interact club in SC

Despite all the labels that people have given some youth, Timaru Girls High School is a clear example of how young people’s attitudes towards the community are changing to provide more in the way of service and support.

These words from Dave Preston, a Rotary executive from Dunedin who represents Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific countries in Rotary youth programmes, marked the inauguration this week (eds: Wednesday Aug 19) of the first Rotary affiliated club to be established in South Canterbury since 1992.

Timaru Girls High School has formed an Interact Club, Rotary International’s service club for young people aged 14 to 18, and in so doing has become the first school in South Canterbury to join the fastest-growing programme of Rotary International’s service. Worldwide, Interact clubs number more than 10,700 in 109 countries. Almost 200,000 young people are involved.

Mr Preston, a past district governor of District 9980 which includes from South Canterbury to Southland, is the Youth Resource Group Co-ordinator for the South Pacific, one of only six such co-ordinators in the world.

He said the South Canterbury community was witnessing the result of young people who are community interested.

“It's so special. You hear of so many things about youth, not all is good. But here are some wonderful representatives of youth today.”

He said Rotary would mentor Interact clubs.

“Just as they get involved in the things we do, we will get involved and help in the things they want to do.

“If they need an extra hand in any of their projects they have Rotary to call on. We will be there.

“There's no reason why every high school can't have one,” Mr Preston said.

The inauguration and the presentation of the TGHS Interact Charter at a Rotary Timaru South function was conducted by the District Governor of Rotary Lionel Wilson.

He described the occasion as “huge and very special”.

The formation of the club was facilitated by the Rotary Timaru South's Don George, TGHS principal Helen Vear and TGHS staff members Alitacia Minaar and Belinda Ewen.

Mr George, who was at the time assistant district governor, said TGHS was actively seeking ways in which it could offer more community support and service.

An Interact club was a natural fit, he said.

“Rotary recognises the potential of youth because most of us have families,” Mr George said.

Interact clubs are sponsored by individual Rotary clubs, which provide support and guidance, but they are self-governing and self-supporting.

That was a challenge welcomed by Ms Minaar who said the girls in the club had defined roles in a boardroom-type hierarchal structure but with the emphasis on service to the community not service to the dollar.

The English teacher, formerly from Cape Town, South Africa, and with experience in Interact, said the Year 9 to 13 students found a passion for the club.

“Rotary adds value for the girls.

“I called a meeting at the start of this year to gauge interest and with no real advertising or promotion I got a great response.

“The girls have shown so much commitment and passion,” Ms Minaar said.

“We voted for the board near the start of term two and the girls are still in the process of learning their responsibilities and roles as board members.”

The club has wasted no time putting their ideals into practice with service work under way at the school including working with special needs students each Tuesday and Thursday and helping ESol students (International) integrate into the school. Each club member has a buddy.

“In the first term we started helping at the Blind Centre where the girls help the blind aged to paint on a Saturday afternoon. This is ongoing as well,” Ms Minaar said.

“We have visited a resthome and a hospice so far to be of service to the patients and also had an Easter programme at the resthome.

“We also help where service is needed, for example doing waitressing duty for the hospice. We will be doing service at a kindergarten this term,” she said.

Mr Wilson said Interact gave young people the experience of doing something for the community while fostering internationalism.

“It's about creating a difference in this world, which is what Rotary stands for.”

There are just two other Interact clubs in District 9980, both in Dunedin, one at Queens High School and the other at Logan Park High School, he said.

“Timaru South Rotary Club will be providing ongoing support and guidance to the TGHS Interact Club and they know that we are all here to give them a hand with projects when required,” Mr Wilson said.

ENDS

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