Service, Fun and Fellowship!
About 9 years ago when I joined secondary school at Trinity College Nabbingo, there’s one club I knew for sure I wanted to join. The Interact Club. Indeed, I did join the Interact Club. This is because growing up, my parents, uncles and aunties, older cousins always had stories about Rotary that triggered my curiosity. Speaking of, there’s a time somebody asked for a link to my blog and in their observation noted my continued reference to my childhood and growing up past. I hadn’t even realized this to be honest but hey, it is our pasts that shape us so I guess in telling a story, our minds’ subconscious is prompted to bring it up. Anyway, back to the matter.
I enjoyed being a part of the Interact Club. The service, the fun and the fellowship. Whether it was pruning the school’s flower beds on the weekend and sparing some of my pocket money to contribute to buying mosquito nets for the sickbay, or ironing my uniform on several Saturday mornings in preparation for those much anticipated (oh yes they were!) trips to Namilyango, or the Sunday fellowships and all the norms that came with them. All of it I fully experienced and took delight and great pleasure in.
For A-level when I moved to another school, I transferred the same zeal and energy. Although the Rotary culture I found wasn’t as solid as that of my former school, I was fortunate to have found a school principle who was as passionate about Rotary as I was. So for us, the club committee which comprised of mostly also students that had formerly, like me, been in schools with very active Interact Clubs, this made our year of service easier. There’s not much we could have done in one year to bring this Interact club to the level of the ones we’d been formerly in, but during the year we served, the club soared. Of that I was proud.
Fast forward to University 3 years ago, interests were fast piling and to-do-lists growing so long that for one and a half years, even when I had the thought at the back of my mind, I procrastinated joining Rotaract. Note that I had visited a few not-so-sound clubs but hadn’t been inspired enough to join them. Then came the awesomeness that is Lewis. See I’ve known Lewis since he was member of a six-man dynamic dance crew in Namilyango, (he’s gonna kill me for this revelation) but oh well, for this piece of knowledge I’m willing to die sharing with you all. For months however, we lost touch, then he found me, as usual. It was good to reconnect (always is) and soon, as luck would have have it, he invited me to the Rotaract Club of Kyambogo.
My first visit to the club was when I made the decision to finally join Rotaract. Soon I was inducted and the rest is history. I’ve since served, on the club and project committees, I’m part of initiatives that have changed several lives. I go to places where people live in extremely sorry states which realization always reignites my need to constantly be grateful for my life situation. I’m proud of the fact that even without the biggest pay check or a comfortable monthly allowance, I can help others live a better life. I know for sure that I don’t have to attain philanthropy status in order to give back to society.
Things do not go smoothly all the time. I’ve made mistakes in judgment of character. I’ve felt betrayed and sometimes not appreciated. I get frustrated sometimes when I’m failing to find a balance between the commitment that is Rotaract and my personal life. But also through Rotaract I’ve met the most amazing people, made and maintained the most beautiful friendships. I’ve seen amazing developments sprout from of a combined effort of youth with a passion to change lives. I’ve been part of the biggest victories and losses, joys and sorrows too, with these people. In those times I’ve felt a huge sense of belonging and family. All these times, I’d not trade anything in the world for.
Viva La Rotary!
