We have a fantastic group of young supporters in America from Batavia High School. They have held regular fundraisers and donated generously to our Building Better Schools programme.

Batavia High School’s Interact Club has 103 active student members and is a branch of Batavia Rotary Club. Rotary provides many opportunities for Interact and is always supportive and grateful. Interact Club members meet every Wednesday, alternating morning and afternoon, to make it accessible for everyone, especially students in other activities. Interact Club members earn volunteer hours for service project work, which builds on students’ leadership skills. Some of the projects to earn volunteer hours include volunteering in the community, at school, and fundraising for certain needs like the environment and international relief.

Haley Nickolaou, faculty advisor for Interact Club at Batavia High School, oversees the meetings and provides the opportunity for students to participate in projects and events, including an annual fundraiser for​ t​he​ ​Sabre​ ​Charitable Trust.

“Students sell Fannie May Candy in November for Sabre,” said Ms. Nickolaou. “We get $5 from every box sold, which is then donated to Sabre. Each year approximately 40 students participate in this fundraiser, and each year we are able to donate at least $2,000.”

Interact Club continues to grow in membership each year and includes a variety of high school students. Students are drawn to it because of their desire to help in the community and globally. Ms. Nickolaou, Sabre Trust, and several other service organisations provide these​ ​valuable​ ​opportunities.

“Students benefit greatly by getting exposed to the need in the world and realising their ability to help that need,” said Alexa Andrews, Batavia High School junior. “I think that is so important to character building and perspective.”

This year the Interact Club donated $2,000 which is being used to build a new playground and outside teaching area at Ayensudo Islamic Kindergarten in the Central Region. This project is almost finished, as you can see in these photos from Sabre’s Building Better School team.