The H.J. Cody Interact Club, along with the Rotary Club of Sylvan Lake and other partners, continues to support global charities.
Members of the local Interact Club, along with Rotarian’s and local 4-H Club members, gave up their most recent Saturday to provide on integral opportunity for young women in Uganda to go to school. The project consisted of volunteers sewing feminine hygiene pads which will be delivered to the African country and distributed to young women allowing them to attend school during times of menstruation.
“What we are doing is we are sewing feminine hygiene pads,” Grade 11 Interact member, Everett Jeffries said. “We will send those to Uganda because girls there are typically not allowed to go to school during that time of the month. It’s a way for us students to learn skills and it benefits others globally.”
This sewing project in Sylvan Lake will allow girls across the world the opportunity to attend school.
“You are changing women’s lives,” Local volunteer Mary Hillman said. “You wouldn’t believe how you are received when you go there and hand out the kits. You can tell you’ve made a difference.”
Hillman has previously worked on this project, which falls under the umbrella charity Days for Girls International.
The project not only helps women around the world, it also allows for Lakers of any age who possess a volunteer spirit to get together and create vital networks of giving.
“I find it fascinating how many people are wanting to do projects like this,” Interact Coordinator and H.J. Cody teacher, Alanna Routhier said. “It’s amazing. It has been great having the inter-age grouping within Rotary. They now have such positive role models for their entire lives - great, hardworking and conscientious people.”
Sylvan Lake Rotary Club Chair Marla Mahar also sees this as a vital opportunity for their members.
“It’s something that’s really easy to engage our members with,” she said. “It’s a need we don’t have to think about and take for granted - how much easier it is to be a woman here in Canada.”
Mahar added, Interact students often inspireher. “You might have moments where you feel a little burned out as a volunteer and then you come here and the Interact students have boundless energy. It is really inspiring,” she explained.
Jeffries was excited to see the support from Rotary and other community groups.
“It’s crazy, all the Rotary Clubs throughout Alberta have sent us everything we need for supplies,” he said. “We’re so lucky to live where we are - so we want to make life better for others.”
Routhier added Free the Children has provided support for this project and that a special guest speaker will be coming to speak to students at H.J. Cody on February 9 from the organization.
reporter@sylvanlakenews.com