Rotaract clubs bring together people aged 18 and older to exchange ideas with leaders in the community. Rotaractors develop leadership and professional skills by creating fun through service and forming a network of people who are also passionate about the advocacies the organization embodies. In communities worldwide, Rotarians and Rotaractors work side by side to take action through service and fellowship in the hopes that joint efforts would help improve the situations of marginalized sectors of the community.
The Beginning of a Journey
The Rotaract Club of Cebu Fuente was organized and founded by Past District Rotaract Representative (DRR) Jan Raleigh E. Bascon through an effort that was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Cebu Fuente. Rotary International officially recognized and chartered the Rotaract Club of Cebu Fuente on the 6th of March 2009, a date that joyously coincided with the celebration of the 41st World Rotaract Week.
A Decade of Excellence
For the past decade, the Rotaract Club has been one of the most active, outstanding, and well-awarded clubs in Cebu and in District 3860. The club was a nominee for the Rotaract Outstanding Project Awards 2019 for the Asia Pacific Region under the banner of its RotaLight of Hope project, which aims to provide non-electric light sources to identified areas within our immediate vicinity. This was featured in the Rotary International Social Media Accounts as well as The Rotary Magazine in Germany and Austria.
Now rebranded to Light for EveryJuan, the Club has chosen to continue this project and is hoping to create an even bigger impact nationwide—hoping that one day every Juan and Maria in the Philippines may have light powered by renewable energy that they too can make in their own homes.
Establishing Flagship Projects
The Rotaract Club of Cebu Fuente has been making a mark in society with its members continuing to tirelessly dedicate themselves to changing lives, lighting up homes, and turning dreams into reality. The Club pushes itself to do better by being a gift to the world as its members serve humanity, make a difference, and be the inspiration that others need to move for the sake of the greater good by connecting with the community through its notable work.
Since then, the Club has been able to add more events to its roster that have turned into culture and tradition for its little family. The club has been consistent with annual projects, even in the midst of this pandemic, in the hopes that it can continue to spread joy, laughter, and delight to its beneficiaries—all of which have left great marks in the hearts of the Club’s members and have made significant differences in their lives.
Every year, they look forward to sharing fun, music, and happiness with the elderly in Hospicio de San Jose in Barili, Cebu as they always celebrate the “Power of Love” on the very first month of every year. They also choose to share hope and good vibes to the little ones who are suffering from cancer. Together with the help of Kythe Foundation, they give importance and grace to the “Power of Love” that can bring healing, hope, and oneness that means a lot to the families and most especially to the patients the members have grown to love. Their time with such strong kids has inspired them to push forward with efforts to contribute to the welfare of fellow youth and continue to foster other children through other school-based projects and partnerships that the Club regularly caters to. Giving importance on education, the Club has committed to being a consistent source of additional knowledge learned through fun and fellowship to the learners and educators from Pangan-an Island, Catarman, Paril, Maya, Toledo and Barrio Luz through fun activities and volunteer work during their “Brigada Eskwela”, as well every Basic Education and Literacy month. “EduCare” has been one of the annual projects that the club always looks forward to, because this gives the members venue for interaction with these kids, who have always been participatory and appreciative of the activities they get to experience during hours spent together.
Going Beyond Despite Pandemic Challenges
In all of the Club’s undertakings, the Rotaractors make sure that they offer quality service that reflects their dreams of helping others. The Club also chooses to foster its members to always aim for excellence. With its Help.net advocacy, which is a series of webinars that tackles mental health alleviation in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Club has been able to submit entries to two viable awards ceremonies: The 18th national TAYO Awards where the members ended up as semifinalists, and the Rotaract Outstanding Project Awards for 2021 where it was shortlisted in the Asia Pacific region.
Collaborating with Others
The Club has also made efforts to foster unity and connection with other Rotarians and Rotaractors within and outside of the Philippines through its participation in different events. In fact, two of the Club’s past presidents were able to represent the family through their roles as speakers for the 2021 Rotaract Preconvention Breakout Session, where they discussed Understanding Public Image and Best Practices, a topic vital to understanding how the youth can present themselves selves to peers and to others. Rotary International Director Virpi Honkala was also able to attend as a speaker for the Club’s Online Induction Ceremony last 2020, which was made possible through the power of online social platforms.
Going Beyond from the Heart
The Club’s service is made more meaningful because it is done by heart, and by tradition, the members make it a point to always be available to those in need. Through the things the Club does, the Rotaractors never fail to take the challenge to make a change. The Club continues to work as one as its members strive to take part in the journey that they know would leave a great impact on those who need assistance the most. They provide help not just by reaching out to those who cry out for it and choose to go above and beyond by trying their best to make the world a better place.
The year of transformation doesn’t end here. The Club’s members vow to continue to exert efforts for the sake of others and make sure to maximize its reach and resources so that they can continue to be there for the people. Onwards the Rotaractors go, touching the hearts of many and slowly transforming the lives of all.
