Rotary Club Estoi Palace International (RCEPI) had the honour of welcoming Paulo Taveira de Sousa, Rotary International District Governor (DG), during his recent visit. This significant occasion provided the Club with the opportunity to showcase its work within the local community and beyond.
RCEPI President, Vitor Rosão and other RCEPI members met the Governor at the Estoi Casa do Povo to show him the improvements that the Club has provided for the building over the years, including heating and wheelchair ramps.
A core aspect of RCEPI's community service is its partnership with the Faro Food Bank. Through the Casa do Povo the Club supplements monthly food packs distributed to registered families by providing long-life milk and essential cooking oils, which are now scarce from other sources. As the festive season approaches, RCEPI plans to include additional treats and Christmas gifts for the children of these families, spreading joy and holiday cheer.
Promoting Peace: Algarve’s First Peace Pole
In alignment with Rotary International's focus on conflict resolution and peacebuilding, RCEPI President Vitor Rosão, alongside Rui Castelo (President of Rotary Club Faro), Paula Messias (President of Rotary Club Coimbra-Saúde), and DG Paulo Taveira de Sousa, inaugurated the Algarve’s first-ever Peace Pole.
The Peace Pole Project, which originated in Japan in 1955, now boasts over 250,000 installations worldwide. Bearing the multilingual message “May Peace Prevail in the World” on its four sides, the Peace Pole stands proudly in front of Escola Básica Poeta Emiliano da Costa in Estoi, symbolizing harmony and hope for future generations. Further information at https://worldpeace.org/peacepoleproject/
Following the ceremony, a lunch prepared and served by catering students from the school raised €250. These funds will be used to purchase much-needed items for the school. The District Governor also presented President Vitor Rosão with a commemorative plaque celebrating Rotary’s 120-year commitment to peace.
Celebrating Rotary’s Legacy and Welcoming New Members
The day concluded with a joint evening meeting at Hotel Eva in Faro, hosted in collaboration with Rotary Club Faro, which celebrated its 63rd anniversary.
Highlights of the evening included the induction of new RCEPI member Beatrix Anton Grönemeyer. The Club was delighted to officially welcome her into its family.
As a token of appreciation, RCEPI presented DG Paulo Taveira de Sousa with a copy of a book on the history of Estoi Palace, authored by José António de Paula Brito, the former Mayor of Estoi, current President of Casa do Povo and honorary member of RCEPI. The Club is currently translating this important work into English to make it accessible to a wider audience.
Additionally, both RCEPI and Rotary Club Faro presented the DG with a joint gift symbolizing harmony and diversity: a beautiful artwork of crocheted flowers by the artist Pajac. RCEPI also gifted RC Faro a digital photo frame containing historical photos and newspaper clippings from the founding of the Faro Rotary Club in 1961, underscoring their shared history and collaborative efforts.
Join Us in Making a Difference
RCEPI continues to strive toward building a stronger community and fostering meaningful global connections. If you would like to be part of this incredible journey, we invite you to get involved.
Learn more at www.rotaryestoipalace.org or contact us via email at info@rotaryestoipalace.org.
