Since it was chartered in 2006 Almancil International Rotary Club (AIRC) has been raising funds to support local disadvantaged people. In addition the club felt it important to give support and encouragement to local students.
In the years before the pandemic the club had been running successful inter-schools cookery competitions organised by Community Services chair Peter Hinze and for many years Rotarians Patricia Doling and Raymond Parfait organised short and long term exchanges sending local students to Rotary families in countries they would never have the opportunity to visit.
Unfortunately due to the current situation, for the past two years all these schemes have been suspended. In addition to the student exchange programme past President Claire Busbridge organised a prize to be given to the best student attending Escola EB 2/3 Dr Antonio de Sousa Agostinho in Almancil. This prize has also had to be suspended. However thanks to the vaccine and the amazing steps taken by school staff the presentation was able to go ahead this week.
Two students, Luana Gonçalves and Inês Francisco both aged 16 were chosen from more than 600 students from year 5 to year 9 plus students from the vocational courses. Luana and Inês were recommended by school for working hard at their studies and in all respects are a credit to their school. AIRC President Volker Biebesheimer presented the students with certificates, 100 euros each and a plaque reflecting their achievement to be placed at their school.
“This was an absolute pleasure to be my first official duty as AIRC President for the year 2021/22” said Volker. “After the disappointments and cancellations of the past two years I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the achievements of these two students. I hope we will be able to resume all our activities in the not too distant future”.
