Service Pillar Report

Service 2020 got off to a good start with many of our usual projects such as our weekly collection of sandwiches and fruit for Capricorn Primary and collection of bread tags for Bread Tags for Wheelchairs. We also held our traditional marshmallow easter egg drive. Our main service initiative for Term 1 centered around supporting women who were survivors of gender based violence. We collected hygiene products such as soap, toothpaste and pads. The initial plan had been to make hygiene packs to be distributed to Sisters Incorporated and the senior learners at Capricorn. However, the early closing of school meant there was not enough time to make the packs and it was decided that it was more important to ensure the items reached the recipients. Our maintenance team delivered the donations on the day school closed. The response to the challenge was fantastic and the theme well timed with the increasing need due to lockdown. In addition, we hosted a civvies day and raised R13 307 for Sisters Incorporated.

The plans for the rest of 2020 had to be significantly adjusted and we moved our focus to getting as many people involved as possible, as such, we introduced Service Thursdays. Each week we raised awareness about various ways individuals and families could give back to the community. We highlighted simple and easy actions that could make a difference with information about where you can donate or volunteer. The emphasis was on providing a platform of ideas which encouraged everyone to do what they can. We supported Marimba Jam’s You for Youth Campaign, Wool for Wonders, dried groceries and jars of hope for Where Rainbows Meet and other worthwhile initiatives.

While many of our service societies like computer and tuckshop monitors had no way of operating, many of our groups found innovative ways to serve.

Interact continued to be the community service backbone of the service pillar. They worked closely with Rotary and the Sisanda Fundation. During the lockdown period they collaborated with Where Rainbows Meet. They held a stay-at-home soup kitchen and donated soup and other food stuffs through this organisation who work in Vryground.

They also initiated contact with other clubs and started a partnership with an Interact club in Italy. In addition Kelly Blake attended online meetings of Interactive Quarantine which is a group on Instagram with Interact Societies worldwide. Kelly Blake did an Instagram live with an Interactor from Israel, where she shared experiences of lockdown in SA, and what lockdown has been for us personally and any advice she could offer.

THE EMPHASIS WAS ON PROVIDING A PLATFORM OF IDEAS WHICH ENCOURAGED EVERYONE TO DO WHAT THEY CAN.

SERVICE Once learners were back on campus Interact continued with their partnership with Where Rainbows Meet and asked for Service Thursdays to put out the call for ingredients for soup and clothing to assist the organisation. They also handed over 180kg of jam which was donated by Alan Makinson to Where Rainbows Meet. A very welcome and needed donation.

Kelly Blake was acknowledged for her dedication and service by Wynberg Rotary. They awarded her a certificate of excellence for her commitment to Interact and Rotary and for living their motto of “Service above Self”. Interact received a Gold award for the President’s Citation. This is something they have been working towards.

Interact also started an online tutoring programme with St. Michaels Home for Girls. Learners from all grades assisted in filling in the gaps due to school closure. Sessions were held via zoom. They also teamed up with Sisanda Fundaytion to partake in the initiative called Storytime, where volunteers read stories to children from a variety of different children’s homes.

Environment Society also had a busy year. They were awarded Green Flag status from WESSA. CTEET continued their funding for our outreach projects. They planted a veggie garden at Southfield Primary and continued to monitor it. They also held a camp, completed a waste audit of eight municipal school bins, did a Muizenberg Beach Clean Up and donated vegetables from their garden to the Wynberg Night Haven. Enviro club girls were given veggie seeds at the beginning of September to plant and care for. Once ready, these were planted in the schools vegetable garden.

Peer Guides continued with their Big Sister Little Sister programme with learners from the Girls’ Junior school. When lockdown prevented them from meeting face to face they used technology to send messages to their little sisters. They made a video in lockdown to show their support of their peers.

Tech Team had a busy first term and sprang back into action when the teachers returned before on-site schooling started to assist with the running of workshops and meetings.

Special mention must be made of the Textbook Team who spent countless hours behind the scenes fixing, covering and ensuring that our books last as long as possible and that every student has the books they need. Mrs Jenny Paverd

CTEET CONTINUED THEIR FUNDING FOR OUR OUTREACH PROJECTS. THEY PLANTED A VEGGIE GARDEN AT SOUTHFIELD PRIMARY AND CONTINUED TO MONITOR IT.

Launching “Service Thursdays!”

During the National Lockdown members of our Service Pillar, in their efforts to support the broader community in a space where distancing reduces opportunities to work together, have launched “Service Thursday.” Every Thursday members of this pillar posted their ideas of how we, as individuals or families, can get involved. A Winning Interact Club!

Wynberg Girls’ High School Interact Club was awarded the prestigious Rotary Citation Award. Kelly Blake, WGHS Interact President, is very grateful to the members of the WGHS Interact club and gives thanks to the Rotary Club of Wynberg for helping them achieve this prestigious award.

Lockdown Soup Kitchens

As the Covid-19 pandemic began to show its devastating effects on the less fortunate communities, the WGHS Interact Society launched their very first “stay at home” soup kitchen where learners in the club could sign up to make soup and have it collected by a member of the organisation who has the necessary permits to drive around during lockdown.

SPORTS MATRIC