The term of office of the president of Rotary Club Grahamstown, Harry Rama, has drawn to a close. Former National Arts Festival director Lynette Marais will take over the reigns from him.
The term of office of the president of Rotary Club Grahamstown, Harry Rama, has drawn to a close. Former National Arts Festival director Lynette Marais will take over the reigns from him.
Rotary serves to uplift the community with programmes which focus on education, health, poverty alleviation, provision of clean water and child mortality. Rama says, “It was a tough term because of the economic recession so fundraising procedures were lean and difficult.”
However the club managed to provide funds for many projects- sourcing and supplying equipment through fundraising, sponsors and matching grants from Rotary clubs worldwide. These have a combined market value of R1.5 million.
The projects include providing school equipment for schools such as Archie Mbolekwa Higher Primary and George Dickerson Primary School; life saving oxygen concentrators for old age homes and hospitals; school bursaries; a project which supplied nappies to impoverished infants and provision of over 90 weelchairs for the disabled and frail in children’s and old age homes in Grahamstown.
The club also co-funded two palliative wards for adults and children at Settler’s Hospital and St John’s Eyecare, which supplies eyewear for the needy, came forward to provide treatment for people in need.
Rotary are busy completing a computer lab at Graeme College and the club is keen on drawing the greater youth of Grahamstown by supporting RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Academy)
This programme will focus on advancing leadership skills of Grahamstown youth and Rotaract at Rhodes and Scifest."These projects attract the youth from a district stretching from Lesotho to the coast”, says Rama. The club comprises of a diverse membership and urges the community to rise up and take note: ”So as to ask those in power how to lead the community to a better living of peace, loving and caregiving”, says Rama.
"We have a tough year ahead, but in [Marais] we have a tough organiser who will lead Rotary into the future and continue with Rotary International’s motto of ‘service above self’".
