Rotary Club of Silves twinned with the Rotary Club of Matlock in the UK in 2003 and, together, they are planning a school exchange programme for next year.
In Rotary, “twinning” is a tradition where two clubs, usually in different countries, get together arranging visits to each other’s clubs, to build friendship and sometimes organise joint fundraising charity events or youth education exchange programmes.
On March 19, the Rotary Club of Matlock, founded in 1928, celebrated its 84th Charter Dinner and Rotarians from RC Silves, including the President Isabel Flores and Board member David Trubshaw, flew out to the UK to share in their celebrations.
The event was described as stimulating and enjoyable, meeting the District Governor and seeing 100 members from many local clubs coming together in the true Rotary spirit of friendship and fellowship.
It is hoped that members from RC Matlock will revisit the Algarve next year to join in RC Silves Charter Night celebrations.
RC Matlock support Highfields, a local school with a strong language department, including a Portuguese club and a teacher specialising in Portuguese and Spanish, who is planning to visit Silves in August.
Isabel Flores is also a teacher at Escola Dr António da Costa Contreiras in Armação de Pêra. while visiting Highfields, she discussed the organisation of an exchange of students during the school Easter holidays next year.
Before the exchange, both schools are planning to set up video conference facilities for the children to communicate, interact and get to know each other.
RC Silves support the Bom Samaritano children’s home in Alvor and they hope they may be able to include some of their children in the school exchange programme.
For more information about RC Silves, please contact Felicity Thoet on 910 073 976
