Dear editor:
Patrick Raftis wrote a significant article last week (Local volunteers lament loss of We Charity Canadian Operation).
Through the voices of Donna McFarlane and Barb Cowen, he wrote of the huge disappointment in the loss of the WE Charity, and with it so many wonderful benefits. Through its volunteers, WE provided improvements to the infrastructure in so many impoverished communities in Africa, and the young volunteers who got involved in the WE projects also gained insights into what they can accomplish personally. As Donna said, the projects that young people participated in “convinced our youth that they could help to make the world a better place.”
I can certainly understand how the seed of an idea in a teenager’s mind almost three decades ago makes for a compelling story to attract other teens into international service. But there were other top quality volunteer organizations already in existence that accomplish many of the same objectives.
Read the last three columns of Raftis’ article and substitute Rotary in place of WE. You will find few differences.
I know that there have been Rotary youth clubs in high schools for many years. They’re called Interact. The same ideals that WE espoused for 25 years, Rotary has been teaching for over a 100 years. And that organization is one of the largest international service organizations in the world.
I encourage high school students who find the WE mission statement to be compelling to seek out an Interact group at school, and if there isn’t one in your school, then contact your local Rotary Club to find out how to start one.
John McVicar,
Harriston