A gendered first

Girls Only Community Based Interact Club:

The Rotary Club of Colombo North, chartered in 1967 and has a history of youth service, sponsoring four Interact Clubs and two Rotaract Clubs, marked yet another milestone with the introduction of the Girls Only Community based Interact Club. Earlier the Club introduced Sri Lanka's first corporate Interact Club -Rotaract Club of Singer Sri Lanka.

Interact clubs are sponsored by Rotary clubs and the success of the former, often depends on the commitment of the latter, with Rotary members supporting the Interact club as sponsors, guides and mentors. Rotarians often work side-by-side with Interact members to serve local schools and communities.

Past President Rtn. Marshad Barry who has been youth service chairman of Rotary Club of Colombo North for the past 10 years, said at the Charter installation ceremony, "It is not easy to form such clubs without the support of members of the Rotary Club of Colombo North and I am proud to be part of this Club where all Rotarians work as a team to achieve excellence" President of the Rotary Club Ivo Goonetilleke said he was happy to introduce a Club charted by Rotary International.

The Rotary International Statement of Conduct for Working with Youth stated that Rotary International strove to create and maintain a safe environment for youth who participate in Rotary activities. Rotarians, spouses, partners and volunteers must safeguard children and young people they come in contact with and protect them from physical, sexual, and emotional abuse.

The Girls Only Community Based Interact Club will be headed by Int. Abigail Schokman as Charter President of the Club and Int. Mithara Silva as Charter Secretary.

Text and Pics: Ruzaik Farook

Abigail Schokman, Charter President of the Club and Int. Mithara Silva, Charter Secretary are in the centre.