Africa-Press – Seychelles. Former minister Marie-Pierre Lloyd is the new president of the Rotary Club of Victoria.
The ceremony for passing the baton from outgoing president Vijay Vairasamy to incoming president Marie-Pierre Lloyd took place recently at the Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay hotel.
Looking back over what had been a challenging year, the outgoing president thanked his board of directors, club members and partners for their support throughout his year of presidency – 2022-23. Among the projects completed or ongoing are:
● Palliative care training
● Educational materials to the Seychelles Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired
● Educational assistance to Oncologist Dr Joanna
● Renovation of North East Point Hospice
● Contribution to fire victims of Au Cap
● Assistance to Sisters of Charity – Anse Etoile
● Day outing to Cerf Island for orphans from Foyer de Nazareth
● Donation of household items to a disabled from Anse Boileau
● Assistance for colorectal cancer screening programme for Praslin
● Wheelchairs for Kids Project
● Donation of Road Safety Awareness stickers to Seychelles Licensing Authority
Both the outgoing and incoming presidents reiterated the message of Rotary International president Gordon McInally who said:
“So much of the work that I will do — and that everyone in Rotary leadership should do — is all about building on the good ideas of others and showing proper respect for the efforts made before us. It is not about closing the door on a previous year. It is about building a bridge to the next.”
Mrs Lloyd first served as president of Rotary Club of Victoria in 2004-2005, a very auspicious year for Rotary as it celebrated its centenary anniversary. It was also a significant year for the Rotary Club of Victoria, and for Mrs Lloyd who happened to be the first woman in Seychelles to have been given this honour. Rotary did not accept women as members until 1989 and the Rotary Club of Victoria had not inducted a Seychellois female as a member until Mrs Lloyd joined in 1999.
The Rotary theme this year is ‘Create Hope in the World’. Rotary International president Gordon McInally’s message calls on Rotarians “to find ways to create hope in our communities, in our world, and in ourselves.” The strategic priorities he has chosen are: peace and mental wellbeing. He is urging members to engage in tough conversations and earn the trust that’s necessary to realise these.
“This is not an insurmountable task,” said Mrs Lloyd, especially if we leverage our strengths – notably our diversity as a club, in our district, or globally. We can tap into 1.4 million professionals and civic leaders who have chosen to come together to take action and find solutions to create lasting change. Rotary also connects us with an amazing network of partners, sponsors, and supporters who share our values. Therein lie our strengths, she highlighted.
How can we leverage these strengths to create hope? They say hope is nothing but a positive attitude and mindset.
District Governor 2023-24 Luderce Camalon puts emphasis this year on education and the environment.
Education is the key to all success. Nelson Mandela said “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world”. How many children in our district do not have access to basic education: to read, write, count. Mastery of these fundamentals will be a first step for them to their emancipation and independence.
The environment gives us the necessary tools to take action. Projects will be funded through district and global grants. His goal to plant a thousand trees in each country remains a priority objective.
RCV already has funds dedicated to education and this year a committee has been set up to administer scholarships. “Building the capacity of service providers, caregivers including parents, and children, with the right knowledge, right skills, and right attitude or mindset, is the way to go if we are to create hope and lasting change,” said Mrs Lloyd.
The new board of directors for the year July 2023 to June 2024 are: Marie-Pierre Lloyd, president; Vijay Vairasamy, immediate past president and club treasurer; PE Foram Varsani, club secretary – membership and young generation; ADG Nandu Raghvani, foundation director; Sunil Dhanjee, director – community service; Angel Low-Sauzier, director – public image; Pamela Madeleine, director – club service; Raymond Brioche, sergeant at arms.
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