In October 2007 the Rotary Club of Halifax North West offered to sponsor an Interact Club, for students between the ages of 14 and 18, at Halifax West High School. The principal goals of Interact clubs are the development of leadership qualities, high ethical standards, international awareness and understanding and humanitarian service through fellowship. The offer was accepted and immediately members were recruited and a Board of Directors was elected. Subsequently, the club's President and Vice President, Ryan Hogg and Lma Salman respectively, were presented a framed club Charter by Rotary International President Wilf Wilkinson at the Rotary Club's 50th. Anniversary dinner on February 19th. 2008.
The club is now in its fourth year with a Board of Directors lead by President Peter Cho. It has become an active, imaginative and creative group of some 30 young persons committed to implementing local and international community service projects. Since the founding of the club they have been encouraged and guided by a dedicated teacher, Ms. Nicole Symond-White who in May 2010 was selected to be a member of a month long Rotary sponsored Group Study Exchange team to Australia.
The club’s projects have included a Christmas dinner for orphans in Nasik, India; donations to World Vision, the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree Foundation and The Children’s Wish Foundation. Members have also distributed flyers for Meals on Wheels appealing for volunteer drivers. Last year the students raised more than $2000 in support of such projects.
The club publishes a monthly newsletter and it has embraced the electronic media for recruitment, fundraising and self promotion. The school can be proud of hosting a group of young persons whose fellowship, energy, creativity and communication skills are a fine example of lives well and fully lived
To inform fellow students and members of the public who they are and what they stand for, all Interact members are encouraged to wear at fundraising and community service events the T-shirt shown here.
Bonnie Caldarozzi
