The dedicated efforts of the Hoedspruit Rotarians have been recognized with three significant awards at the recent Rotary District Conference (DISCON 2025). President Christine du Preez proudly accepted the accolades on behalf of her hard-working team, highlighting the club’s impactful work and support within the community.
Christine attended DISCON 2025, where she was unexpectedly called upon to receive the awards. She was also given the honour of presenting to distinguished delegates on the critical issue of women with cancer in rural areas. This topic, she noted, perfectly aligned with the conference theme, “Breaking New Ground,” which focused on innovative approaches to health challenges in remote regions.
“The Rotary Club of Hoedspruit proudly received several prestigious awards at DISCON 2025, celebrating the impactful work of the club in various sectors,” Christine stated.
The first recognition was for the “Breaking New Ground” project, which celebrated the club’s innovative initiatives in disease prevention and treatment, particularly in rural communities. A key aspect of this award-winning work is the annual collaboration with Hlokomela, focusing on health awareness, specifically breast cancer and early detection. This successful partnership provides free health services, wellness check-ups, and educational materials to the community.
The club also received an unexpected second award in the “Water Hygiene and Sanitation” category. This acknowledged Hoedspruit Rotary’s commitment to improving water hygiene and sanitation systems. Notable projects included the installation of a borehole and the upgrading of toilet facilities at the Poulo Crèche, significantly enhancing health and hygiene for the children and staff. The Poulo Crèche initiative was spearheaded by Ole Ahrens, a friend of Rotary, with donations from his sister and other supporters. Rotarian Ulla Jansen from Copenhagen has also been instrumental in the Vision and Xilaveko projects. Hoedspruit Rotary actively fosters cooperative relationships with international Rotary Clubs, which provide crucial additional funding and support for local projects.
To Christine du Preez’s delight and surprise, the club received a third honour: the overall “Breaking New Ground” award. Upon her return to Hoedspruit, she shared the exciting news with club members, who are currently immersed in preparations for their major annual fundraiser, the tenth Rotary K2C Cycle Tour.
“The impact of this recognition at DISCON 2025 solidified our position as leaders in community-based health projects and underscored our ongoing commitment to improving the lives of rural residents, particularly women, children, and those without easy access to healthcare,” said Christine.
This success will serve as a powerful motivator for the Hoedspruit Rotary Club to continue “breaking new ground” in health, education, and sanitation. The club also aims to strengthen its partnerships with local and international Rotary Clubs, health organizations, and government bodies.
The Hoedspruit Rotary Club extends its gratitude to the Hoedspruit business community for their continued support in their various endeavours.
