Vacoas Club held a Joint meeting with The Albion Club. Meeting held at the Jet Ranch, it was an evening of sharing and fellowship and further strengthening of the links between the Club. The Presidents reviewed their respective projects. They also welcomed the family gathering and fellowship that characterises and strengthens the Rotary family.

To celebrate the Vocational Month, The Club engaged in another project- The Vocational Award has been instituted to recognize professional who have distinguished themselves in the field of public service. This year the Club honoured the Staff of the Radiotherapy Department of the Candos Hospital, the biggest hospital in the island. The Club is involved in a major project for the Radiotherapy department, the extension of the Outpatient Department to the tune of about One million rupees that is almost in its completion phase. This project gave us the opportunity to asses and understand the contribution of this department and to come to the decision of honouring the staff members. Health care being free in Mauritius, there seems to be a lot of expectations and demands on the hospital service which very few people are really aware of. Recognising the hospital staff is a way of expressing our gratitude as civil society for the contribution of highly committed professionals that often goes unnoticed. The Award giving ceremony was attended by the Health and Quality of life Minister, Honourable Jeetah who personally thanked the Club for its initiative.

Vocation Service
Reading in primary schools-

Joint project Rotary Club of Vacoas, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Western Australia and the Australian High Commissions, Mauritius

Past President Om Varma, Chairman, Vocational Service - 4 October, 2005

Pr Shiamdas Appannah, Rotary Club of Vacoas, in the classroom

The Rotary Club of Vacoas sponsored a Reading Project held in association with the Australian High Commission and the Edith Cowan University, Perth, Western Australia.

A half day reading to our children in primary schools in the region of Vacoas, marks the beginning of a series of project geared towards the Rotary International Theme, Literacy. The first of the projects, to kick start a series of projects geared towards enhancing literacy in our primary schools consisted of reading sessions held simultaneously in four different schools. It involved 22 trainees from Edith Cowan University who are at present carrying on their teaching practice in Mauritian Schools. The schools involved were all in the Vacoas region: Reunion Government School, Quinze Cantons Government School, Henrietta Government School and Glen-Park R.C.A School.

After a demonstration of reading in small groups, the Australian students donated about 20 books to each school, which the schools will use to carry on the project further with other students.     

High Commissioner of Australia, Ian Mcconville takes an active part in the project      

The presence of the Edith Cowan Tutors, Janet Fellows and Belinda Nelson, the Australian High Commissioner, Ian Mcconville and Rotarians was highly appreciated by all the schools.

Other projects have been planned with the Edith Cowan University which include a donation of books and sponsorship of a Teacher to Australia by the Club. Watch out for more news soon.

Adoption of Dining Hall of Balgobeen Sewa Ashram by the Rotary Club of Vacoas

The Rotary Club of Vacoas adopts the Dining Hall of the Balgobeen Sewa Ashram. at St Paul. On this auspicious day of Diwali celebration, the adoption was carried out in the presence of Mr Peertum, the President of the Arya Samaj, which is the owner of the Ashram, and other members of the Arya Samaj. This home for the old and homeless have inmates of all religious faith. Members from the Club of Vacoas already offerd their services as doctors, and seeks to further strengthen the collaboration through other similar activities.


 
On that occasion donations were made to the Ashram and al the inmates of the Ashram, amounting to some 50 inmates. These inmates need the consideration of the community and members of the Club took this as an opportunity to extend their warmth and friendship to them. The inmates also include a few who had previously distinguished themselves as professionals. It was comforting to see how they had been able to integrate themselves as a community and lived in a very comfortable and equally supportive environment.

The Charity walk was help on Sunday 17 July as scheduled.

Hon Sheila Bapoo, Minister for Social Security and a number of organisations, Scouts Association of Mauritius, SOS Children Village,  and people joined in to express their solidarity to the Club and to the children suffering from Muscular Dystrophy.

President Le Meng How Onsiong for 2007-2008

Pr Lee Meng How Onsiong with DG Randhir Ramloll (2006-07) at Induction dinner on 30 June, 2007.

President Lee Meng How Onsiong takes over the lead of the Club from Immediate Past President Jugdis Bundhoo.

Read the speech of our new president in our Bulletin No.1- see section on Club Bulkletin in our Download Section or access directly from the Bulletin section above.

Interview Skills Seminar for University Leavers

Thursday 23 March, 2006

The third Edition of the Interview Skills Seminar was held at the University of Mauritius on Thursday 23 April, 2006 and was attended by Students in their final year of Undergraduate Education at the University of Mauritius. This seminar is intended to give students hints on on how to face interviews, the expectations of employers in a variety of sectors such as tourism, financial services and the teaching profession. The speakers laid emphasis on the changing nature of work today and the necessity to develop a professional attitude right from the start.

This project offers one of the rare occasions where students, aspiring to join the world of work, get an opportunity to obtain firsthand information from professionals in the key sectors of the Mauritian economy. The resource persons were Akshar Maherally, Manager, International Financial Services Limited,  Ashih Ramgoolam - HR Manager, Su Lin Ong (Mrs) - Partner DCDMC, Accenture. Om Varma, Associate Professor, Mauritius Institute of Education. The presentations are available for download.

Rotary Club of Vacoas campaigns for more awareness on AIDS among secondary school students

The Rotary Club of Vacoas held a seminar on "Aids awareness and its prevention for Secondary school students" on February, 6, 2005. Organized by the Community Service under the Chairmanship of Past President Rajah Bhageerutty, it was attended by about 500 students from three State and Private secondary schools.

The speakers, Dr Poonoosamy and Dr Croochia, from the Aids Unit of the Ministry of Health & Quality of Life, spoke on the extent of the disease in Mauritius and drew attention of youngsters to the growing incidence of HIV aids among principally people addicted to heroine who make an abusive use of syringes. There is also a tendency to tempt school children into use of drugs through provision of free drugs which soon becomes very expensive and also leads the drug addict to a very high risk of exposure to AIDS. They drew attention to the long and difficult treatment that drug addicts have to undergo in order to get out of addiction and urged students to be more assertive and cautious when faced with doubtful situations. They also drew attention attention to the risks of unprotected sex which could have drastic consequence for the person.

The effort of the Rotary Club of Vacoas in this direction dates back to 1993.It was the first organization to hold a seminar on AIDS for secondary school students and this effort has been sustained every since. The Ministry of Education would wish that such initiatives are carried out at national level, an option that the Club seeks to consider seriously for a near future. The event was held at the Municipality of Vacoas Phoenix, and attended by the Mayor, His Worship, Mr. Hiren Jankee and Councilors of the town.

Students from 13 different countries provide testimony to International Brotherhood

Organised by the International Service of the Club, under the chairmanship of PP Prem Hurrynag, University of Mauritius and Institut Francophonie de L'entreprenariat joined in to make the celebration of the world understanding month a resounding success. Students were from a diversity of countries: Norway, USA, India, South Africa, France,Tchad, Comoros, Guinee Equitoriale, Burkina Faso, Benin, Congo, Seychelles, Rodrigues. It was an opportunity to discover each other, build friendship and bridges between people who had stayed in Mauritius for over a year, yet had never had the opportunity to know each other so well until Rotary brought them together.

We chose a yet undiscovered corner. Not too far away from Grand Bassin, the Jet ranch is a resort that testifies to what Mauritius can offer as eco tourism which our guest discovered for the first time. It was equally an opportunity for Rotarians and their family members to get together and socialise with all the international students who offered us a glimpse of the folklore.