THE Rotaract Club of Georgetown Central (RCG-C) will be seeking to maintain their track record of making a tremendous positive impact in society as the year 2019 unfolds.

For this club, the focus is on community outreach and personal development. To achieve these, the club has few signature projects it is engaged in each year.

Starting off the projects for the calendar year is the club’s signature project: ‘Wine and Art’ which is held in January.

President of the Rotaract Club, Chricell Whitney said: “Usually this takes on some form to keep it innovative and fresh- like wine art and music or wine art and fashion.”

“That’s usually a project focused on the arts to give persons that outlet to showcase what they can do and so now we’re trying to brainstorm the twist and it’s the main fundraiser for the year,” Whitney explained further. “So we try to garner as many funds as we can from that project to fund further community projects throughout the year.”

Following this, the club will continue its literacy and back-to-school programme in Corriverton. This is a community outreach programme.

Whitney also explained that the group decided to reach out to Corriverton, which is located in the ancient county of Berbice because as much as reasonably possible, the group would like to serve underserved areas. In so doing, they ended up all the way there because it was an area that would not have benefited from a programme like this before.

Here, the group managed to refurbish a library, donate more than 200 books and conduct a back-to-school project targeting about 250 children in the Berbice area, according to Assistant Director of Community Service, Laurel Dundas.

And finally, for community engagement, the club also has its signature Christmas charity project. Usually, the group would spread Christmas cheer to homes or orphanages, but this year they switched it up just a bit and did an outreach activity with the community of Plastic City.

The support of any such venture depends largely on the support received and as such, the president explained that the club would try to schedule their activities in such a way that funds can be proportioned.

Achieving the personal development goal of the RCGC, Whitney highlighted: “For next year we have a professional development workshop we are working on also.”

Through these workshops, it is envisioned that members of the club could benefit from mentorship and entrepreneurial training from persons who are established in their respective fields. This event is slated for February.

Personal development is something that all members must go through because the club is not only about giving back to society, it is also about becoming a better version of yourself every day.

“The focus of Rotaract is community service and most of the times persons cite community service and a [wish] to give back to society as the reason for wanting to join the club,” the president noted. Upon acceptance of membership, opportunities will be provided to facilitate growth.

“What persons find is that while you join Rotaract for community service, there is a lot more exposure to professional development and growth and networking in Guyana and across the region,” she explained. Aside from that, the group also needs people who can benefit from what is being offered to them and to contribute toward achieving the group’s mandate.

As such, she noted: “Rotaract is actively recruiting members,” and added: “For work in the community, while we do need financial resources, we also need human resources to be on the ground. Despite our limited resources, we make the most of it and give back as much as we possibly can.”

Interested persons can contact Rotaract Georgetown- Central on Facebook, or contact any of the members.