Humanitarian projects chime with students

Huanui College students who have put up their hands to be part of an Interact club focused on local and international humanitarian projects. Photo / Peter Smith

A group of enthusiastic and talented Northland students keen to make a difference through local and international humanitarian projects have plenty of ideas on the radar.

Forty-five students from Whangarei's Huanui College have officially formed an Interact club and were presented with a club charter from Rotary 9910 District Governor Peter Garnett.

Interact is Rotary International's service club for 12 to 18 year olds. It has a membership of more than 250,000 worldwide.

Huanui College teacher and community service co-ordinator Ashlee Cebalo said the members had already started collecting toys to donate to Whangarei Hospital and are starting to organise a project around donating library books in conjunction with the Rotary club in the Solomon Islands.

"It's a great opportunity for leadership for the students, particularly the seniors who are looking to further their skills in preparation for prefect, and head prefect roles," she said.

The school also ran a community service programme where students must donate at least two hours of their time to a community charity or organisation.

The students were enthusiastic about the club and from the first meeting and had plenty of ideas to contribute to the community, she said.

Whangarei City Rotary Club president Tara Thompson said by sponsoring the Huanui College students Rotary had invested in young leaders who were keen to do good in the community.

"We are honoured to be part of an innovative and progressive programme that engages all members young and old.

"It's also an opportunity to share knowledge and experiences for generations to come."

The incoming president, John Sadler, said the youth were a great club with members who were enthusiastic and had talent to service the community.

"That's a wonderful aspiration for these young leaders to have," he said.