Rotaract Club: Nurturing the heart to serve

Young people killing each other, robbing innocent victims, or starting a riot here and there. This is what we read in the news these days, the most recent of which is when members of a street gang sportily killed a young lady for her mobile phone.

This makes us wonder what the future of our country would be if our youth continue to subscribe to selfish and violent ideals. But as the adage goes: “Every cloud has a silver lining.”

The Rotaract movement celebrated its 40th year last month. An organization of young men and women ages 18 to 30, they are dedicated to serving the community and develop themselves through professional and leadership development projects.

First formed as a community youth project of Rotary clubs in the early 60’s it caught the attention of 1967-1968 Rotary International (RI) president, Luther H. Hodges catapulting the youth organization into an international phenomena. Every Rotary club worldwide wanted to sponsor their own university youth organization to form a local Rotaract Club, now there are 7,300 clubs in more than 150 countries with members numbering to around 145,000 worldwide.

“The Rotaract clubs have five avenues of service,” said Rail Letigio, marketing head of Assirius Philippines and president of the Rotaract Club of Cebu South. “We focus our projects on these five avenues, namely: community service, club service, professional development, international service, and of course finance,” he said.

 Having been a member of a Rotaract Club since his university years, Letigio said that the Rotaract program has helped him nurture his confidence and leadership skills, as well as his passion to serve others specially the less fortunate. “Seeing the faces of small children shine when you give them a gift, food, or make them blow a cake when all their life they have not celebrated their birthday is a reward in itself,” he said.

However, the Rotaract Club does not limit itself to charitable causes. The club also initiates projects that aim to strengthen the friendship and camaraderie of the members as well as to develop the whole being of each member. “One time we had the Wine Night Stand project, a fund-raising wine tasting event. It was a success and we were able to raise enough money to fund our other projects. We also enjoyed each other’s company,” Letigio bared.

Letigio also said that since the District Organization where the Rotaract Club of Cebu South belongs is active in the creation of new clubs and the strengthening of existing clubs, members of different clubs are encouraged to interact with other clubs. “We don’t limit ourselves with our club, we also go to other clubs and do joint projects with them, even with clubs outside the country,” Letigio said.

“Wherever you go there is always a Rotaract Club and they are very happy to accommodate you and entertain you. That is the Rotaract culture,” said Letigio.

For more information on the Rotaract Club visit http://profiles.friendster.com/32796095.