Students Set off for Model United Nations in UK
Rotary Club of Silves is invested in the education of our local students offering them opportunities that they would not ordinarily have. This year for the first time we have entered 6 students from Agrupamento de Escolas de SilvesSul in a Model United Nations Conference in Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire in the UK. They are supported by two teachers and a long time member and past president of RC Silves Alan Winn. They set off on Friday 4 October from Faro very early in the morning but the excitement is still visible. We wish them a safe journey and good luck. We thank members of rotary and the community who have attended events to raise the necessary funds to sponsor this experience. More news as we get it.
Rubber Duck Racing Hits Its Target
Saturday the 28 September members and friends gathered for the second Rubber Duck Racing event. The target to raise 1000€. We are pleased to announce that the target was met due to the generosity of those enjoying the racing and the afternoon tea. We also received donations from those who unfortunately could not attend. The wind gave the ducks some difficulties but they battled through. After 7 heats, 2 semi finals and the final, the winning owner was Carol Bradshaw a visitor from the UK. I am sure she will enjoy the bottle of Piper Heidseick champagne for first place presented by our President Jim Kennedy.
Our second place winner was shy but Sally Turner a new friend of Rotary accepted her third place bottle of wine again from Jim. Thanks go to all members, friends and donors who supported the event. See you again next year.
Back to School Project Supports 90 Children
Thanks to the wonderful generosity of Castelo de Sonhos “Back to School” supporters, this family charity has been able to distribute 90 filled backpacks to disadvantaged children within the Silves area. This project started nearly 20 years ago and 2024 marks a RECORD number of children helped.
Each backpack was filled with all the school materials needed for the start of the new term.
RC Silves members have always supported this charity and are happy to join other charities as they strive to support this project. This year Lagoa International join us with a generous donation of 240€. Many other charities are involved in supporting Castelo de Sonhos in this en devour and special thanks must go to all of them.
Peace & Harmony Masonic Lodge
Kristen & Patricia from “Need a Charity for All”
The Monchique Golf Club
Charles & Maggie (for fund-raising)
Clube de Caminhada Algarve
DEKA (German Speaking Lutheran Church)
Mango’s Golf Society Carvoeiro
Nada Offner (poster design & publicity)
And of course thanks go to all the kind members of the public who donated school materials.
As you can see from the photo the children were delighted to receive their filled colourful
backpacks.
First Walk of the Season Rocha Delicada
Rotary Club of Silves organises walks throughout the Rotary year weather permitting. Philippe Pfister our Treasurer an avid walker himself leads each walk. The first walk after the hot summer months was the Rocha Delicada Trail. Members of Lagoa and Lagos clubs joined us for this walk. The walks are not just open to Rotarians so if you are interested in joining a walk at your own risk of course, please contact our Master of Ceremonies who will ensure you receive an invitation to the next walk. (MOC.rotarysilves@gmail.com)
The walkers enjoyed this short tour of the area, watching people fishing for razor clams and of course the wonderful bird life. Walking groups are a wonderful way to see the local countryside and to get to know people. The highlight of the walk was the return of the flamingos.
RC Silves Celebrates its Achievements and Looks Forward to a New Rotary Year
Members, visiting Rotarians and guests gathered at the D’Mestres Restaurant in Pêra to look back at President Rainer Kroth’s many achievements in the past year and to look forward to President Jim Kennedy’s focus on Fun, Fellowship and Fundraising in the coming year.
Chef Nidia delighted all present with a fabulous authentic Alentejo feast.
As is traditional Rainer and Jim performed the Flag ceremony with honoured guest José Manuel Sosa Governor’s assistant for the coming year.
Rainer reviewed the activities of RC Silves for the Rotary year 2023-2024 and thanked everyone involved. He especially addressed the leaders of projects and the board members. He stated that members and friends commitment to investing their time and talents for the community creates hope in the world and makes Rotary magical. This year’s theme.
Fatima had an extra surprise for Rainer as she presented the club with a recognition certificate for the number of new members the club had recruited over the last rotary year.
The moment then came for Rainer to pass the symbols of the presidency (necklace, pin) to the incoming 2024-2025 president, Jim Kennedy.
Jim outlined his focus for the year was to build on the growth of new members and provide opportunities for the members old and new to bond. He thanked Rainer for his success in growing the membership and drawing the club closer to Rotary clubs across the Algarve. He expressed the need to focus on more fund raising as there was a lot of activities the members wanted to achieve this year. He looked forward to Fun, Fellowship and Fundraising.
He started the year by pinning 3 new members, Angelika Rahe-Marquis and Peter Mapham and Gail Mapham
Representatives from all those Rotary clubs present at the meeting wished Jim all the best for the new Rotary year and Assistant Governor Dr José Manuel Sosa presented the best wishes of the Governor Paulo Taveira de Sousa and his message for the year.
Castelo de Sonhos needs your Help!
Castelo de Sonhos have started up their annual Back to School project. Silves Rotary Club always supports this project and members help where they can. This year Castelo de Sonhos have 70 children who need help with back packs and stationery to get ready for school in September. The poster below shows the things needed and where you can drop them off. Every little helps even if you can only give a few items, it all counts.
Jim´s Sponsored Walk “Goats equal security!”
In 2022 Jim Kennedy then, 79 had a major car accident when his mini was hit twice by a truck on a motorway in the U.K. Just 8 weeks later Jim was one of 10 Rotary Club of Silves members who walked 120km of the Camino de Santiago de Compostela to raise money to equip a sensory room to be used by autistic and Downs Syndrome children at Silves Sul School on Armacao de Pera. Jim now 82 and still receiving treatment for his injuries from the car accident is off again raising money on a charity walk. The Rotary Club of Silves as part of an international programme run by Corridors of Peace in Switzerland supports the rehabilitation of women fighters in Chad. Jim along with one of his Camino walkers Materne will walk the 130km of the Yorkshire Dales Way. Starting on 17 June. This will be a challenge for the octogenarian as by its name you know there will be many hills to climb on route from Ilkley to Bowness
Please sponsor Jim’s walk! We want to give these women a place back in their communities.
Background:
Some years ago, Women from Chad in Central Africa took up arms to fight for their husbands and sons who were being taken away and killed in a tribal conflict. When the women returned home, they were not welcomed back but were ostracised by the community. They were not even allowed to get food from their families or even be seen outside during the day. The Rotary Club of Silves in Portugal is working with the Charity, Corridors of Peace who are already working in Chad to help these women set up small businesses so that they can demonstrate their value to their communities and be accepted back into society. Initially they have been market gardening and raising goats. Funds from the walk will purchase good quality goats and breed them in controlled conditions in preference to the inbred often sick animals that they have now. The profit from these more valuable animals will be used for other projects like fish farming and market gardening.
Clube dos Veículos Clássicos do Barlavento honours RC Silves
Our friends from Clube dos Veículos Clássicos do Barlavento celebrated their club’s 10th anniversary in Armação de Pêra with an impressive exhibition of beautiful classic cars and a big party. The cars on show came from the Alentejo and neighbouring Spain, giving this event an international flavour.
Keynote speeches were given by Rogério Pinto, Ricardo Pinto and Sergio Costa. Sergio recognised the close cooperation between Rotary Silves and the Clube dos Veículos Clássicos do Barlavento in service of the community of Silves. Rotary Silves was honoured with a commemorative plaque which was collected by President Rainer Kroth and Secretary Marion Kitzman.
Sergio Costa presents Marion Kitzman and Rainer Kroth with a plaque
The First Annual Rain Dance was a Great Success
The Rain Dance
The event which included Art displays by local Artists David Trubshaw and Este Andrés, a gymnastics display, drum band and a rock band was as held on Saturday 27 April at the Fontes de Estômbar. The idea to help the water shortage in the Algarve by carrying out a rain dance was the brainchild of Silves Rotary Club member Sian Elton. Sian introduced the idea of an afternoon of fun for the local communities of Lagoa and Silves in the hope that it would encourage rainy weather. Well, it worked the universe responded to the idea by raining most of the morning of the event as members began setting up. Thankfully all the rain had passed, and a lovely afternoon was had by all.
The gymnasts from Ginastica Acrobática da Casa do Povo de Messines presented a great programme demonstrating their acrobatic skills
This was followed by the Batucada da Casa do Povo drum band also from Messines. Their stimulating performance delighted the audience who were able to join in for a short drum lesson as part of the program. Claudia, who accepted an invitation to take part, later said that she felt energised and enthralled by joining the band.
The day was rounded off by the wonderful music of the Poor Man’s band who played music to dance to from the 70s to 00s.
Complimented by food, drinks and homemade cakes a great time was had by all.
The Rotary Club of Silves would like to thank the Municipal Council of Lagoa for allowing us to use their lovely Fontes de Estômbar and their help with the event. Thanks, must also go to the Gymnasts, Drum Band from Casa Do Povo and Poor Man´s Band for their support for the event. Last but not least, our sponsors Farming Futures, Florista Nativa, Rejoice be genuine and A Tasca Nova
We cannot wait for next year.
Rotary Clube de Silves 