Chartered on 30th October 2006

On 30th October 2006, 24 professionals decided to join forces and set up the Rotary Club of Albion.

Out of them were PDG Alen Topsy, Berty Malabar and Cyril Empeigne who were former Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Beau Bassin and who brought their profound knowledge of the Rotary to the new members.

 

On the 18th November 2006, the Club formally received its charter from PDG Randhir and the 21 members were formally intronised at the Nautilus Club House of Albion.

Charter President (2006-2007) - PDG Alen Topsy

PDG Alen Topsy fut ce qu’on appelle un « grand Rotarien » …c’est le moins qu’on puisse dire ! Alen était avant tout quelqu’un avec un grand cœur, il donnait tout ou rien, et une fois qu’il avait une idée en tête, qu’il était convaincu de bien faire, il était difficile de l’en dissuader. Bien avant d’être un District Governor (DG) Alen avait déjà une empreinte forte au Rotary par sa personnalité bien trempée. La relance de la conférence de District des Rotaractiens en 2005 et du Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) doit beaucoup à l’expert-comptable et à son Leadership (encore une fois une idée folle qui nous avait rallié avec feu PP Alain Catherine et PP Pat Ng Cheong Tin). Nous avons eu la chance d’avoir Alen comme Charter President en 2006-2007 après la création du Rotary Club d’Albion, comme mentor et comme parrain pour certains. Son année de gouvernorat a institué un changement du fonctionnement dans le District 9220, un accent sur la bonne gouvernance, sujet de prédilection pour lui et sur lequel il ne courbait jamais le dos. Il est toujours présent dans nos pensées, ses boutades occasionnelles et ses rires raisonnent dans l’esprit de ceux qui l’ont connu, son grand cœur continue d’inspirer nos membres et nos actions.

Our Meeting Place

The objectives of the club, from the very beginning was very clear; the welfare of community of Albion.

This is why the Community Centre of Camp Creole, at Albion was chosen as meeting place for the forthnighly meetings. Today, after 17 years of existence, the Rotary Club of Albion still holds its meetings and community events there.

Our children, our future

The Rotary Club of Albion believes that our future lies in the hand of our children, this is why special focus was made on actions towards helping the young generation of Albion.

A “School Feeding” project was launched where lunch was being provided to the children of the Albion Government School. This project has been running for several years and thanks to the sponsor, FCI Sud Ltd, will keep running for an additional year.

The aim of this project, coupled with different school materials donations, is to encourage school attendance.

School of Music at Richelieu

The School of Music at Richelieu was set up in 2010, with music instruments and music materials donated to the school.

Several young talents have emerged from the school of music, performing at different events organized by the Club.

Established in 2010 through a collaborative initiative between the Foundation Spectacle et Culture and The Rotary Club of Albion, the Ecole de Musique de Richelieu stands as a symbol of hope for
underprivileged children in the region. Over the years, the school has secured support from esteemed sponsors, including Fondation Spectacle et Culture, Trait d’Union Ltd, and Maureva Ltd, all
contributing to the nurturing of musical talents and the empowerment of young children and teenagers.
In the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic and in response to evolving corporate social responsibility (CSR) regulations, the school has demonstrated resilience and adaptability. Currently,
it stands resilient with committed support from Aspen Global Incorporated (Mauritius) and the Rotary Club of Albion, underscoring its dedication to the mission of transforming lives through music.
Central to this musical initiative are instrumental courses in Recorders and Violin, offering a platform for artistic expression and skill development. The curriculum, designed for accessibility and impact,
features Recorder lessons twice a week, each session lasting two hours, and Violin lessons held weekly with a duration of three hours.
To maintain a high standard of musical education, the school has two committed music teachers who not only impart technical proficiency but also inculcates a passion for music in the hearts of the
young learners. The Richelieu Community Centre serves as the nurturing ground for these musical aspirations, providing a conducive environment for artistic exploration and growth.
The school of music, located in the heart of Richelieu, remains an ongoing source of inspiration and empowerment, shaping the future of its beneficiaries through the universal language of music.

Richelieu Social Environment
The school operates within a social landscape with multifaceted challenges. The region contends with prevalent issues, including but not limited to poverty, unemployment, drug addiction, social
and economic marginalisation, low school performance, school dropouts, streetism, dysfunctional families, malnutrition, poor housing conditions, and alcoholism.

Two clear objectives have been set in our endeavour to address some of the challenges present in the Richelieu social environment:
● Developing Students; Music Literacy Skills by providing a structured music education curriculum, the goal is to equip them with the ability to comprehend and interpret musical language.

● Attaining a Decent Level of Playing a Musical Instrument to empower students with the skills and confidence to express themselves through the universal language of music.
The anticipated outcomes for the participating children extend beyond musical proficiency. Through the structured learning environment of music education, students are expected to develop qualities such as responsibility, autonomy, and discipline, fostering personal growth and resilience.

Main Achievements:
● Over 100 children have attended music classes, engaging with the transformative power of music.
● Seven students have successfully passed Grades 1 and 2 music theory exams of ABRSM, showcasing the academic and artistic growth of the participants.
● The school actively participates in various concerts and hosts a yearly Christmas Carols concert, spreading joy and showcasing the talents of the children.
● A notable achievement includes a performance at the opening ceremony of the Rotary District Conference in May 2018.
By instilling a sense of accomplishment and pride through musical achievements, the project aspires to positively impact the self-esteem of the children, consequently influencing the dynamics within
their families.
In essence, the project endeavours to create a lasting impact on the lives of the participating children, nurturing skills and attributes that extend beyond the domain of music.

Christmas Gifts

To support families in distress and bring a smile to the faces of the children of the community of Albion, the Rotary Club of Albion organizes, with the help of several sponsors, Jumbo, MCFI, different Christmas events annually.

 

This is a much awaited event at the Club

Donation of Water Tanks

To help families with fluctuating water supply, a water tank distribution was organized by the Club over several years, with the support of Nabridas, as sponsor to the project.

Covid 19 Pandemics

During the Covid-19 pandemic, several families of the region were in distress. Many had lost their jobs and with lockdown restrictions, many could not do groceries. The Rotary Club of Albion was by their side and organized a groceries distribution for these affected households.

Polio

The fight against Polio is at the Centre of objectives of the Rotary International and the Rotary Club of Albion is not less active on this areas.

The Club has helped victims of Polio in Mauritius and has participated in several fund raisings over the years for the fight against Polio

Rotary Club of Albion Welcome Sign

Installation and inauguration of the welcome sign on the 1st of October 2021. It includes the International emblem alongside the RC Albion logo situated at the two entrances to the village of Albion with the aim of increasing the visibility of Rotary in the region. This project, dear to President Roseline, was carried out thanks to the collaboration of the Rivière Noire District Council and the generosity of two of our members. It was unveil by the District Governor (21-22) Dinesh Gajeelee.

Fellowship

The Rotary Club of Albion works hard for the community. The foundations of this hard work is fellowship. The members of the club are those who make it happen!

Work hard, but also play hard; the fellowship events of the club show how friendship makes everything happen

Rotary Club of Albion - One Team and one objective

SERVICE ABOVE SELF