October was a very special month for the Interact Club of St. Vincent Girls’ High School, a service club sponsored by the Rotary Club of St. Vincent. Having celebrated their first charter anniversary on October 24th 2024, the Interactors marked the occasion on October 30th with a very special community service project hosted at the St. Vincent Girls’ High School compound in Arnos Vale. Collaborating with their sponsor club and the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment as part of the Rotary International Global Grant funded Breast Cancer Awareness Project (GG2237589), the Interactors hosted an interactive breast health awareness and education afternoon on the school’s compound in Arnos Vale, reaching over 800 students, staff and parents.
Traditionally known as breast cancer awareness month, the month of October holds much significance as the global fight against breast cancer persists. Led by President Yanni Bascombe and Vice President Mya Cumberbatch, the Interactors leveraged this opportunity to educate the student population through a series of interactive sessions and games. Supported by the experts from the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment’s Health Promotion Unit, and breast specialist surgeon Dr. Erica Jordan, the activity provided an avenue through which students, parents and staff members were able to learn more about the importance of regular self-checks, gaining a greater understanding of the facts surrounding breast health. Each student received a personal care goodie package with instructions for conducting self-check examinations, aimed at encouraging even the youngest of students to become more self-aware and armed with the requisite knowledge.
This activity forms part of an ongoing project collaboration between the Rotary Club of St. Vincent and the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment, which was formally launched in 2022. To date, thousands of Vincentians have benefitted from the awareness and education campaigns which have been hosted from North Windward to the Southern Grenadines in an effort to reduce the stigma associated with breast screening, and empower citizens with the knowledge required to take charge of their health, powered by the tagline “Early detection saves lives.”
The Interact Club of St. Vincent Girls’ High School is the lone all-female Interact Club on island, which focuses on the development of leadership competencies, civic responsibility and a service-oriented mindset among its members.
