GREAT BAY--More than 150 young Interact members gathered on November 2 as the Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunset turned its general meeting over to student leaders in celebration of World Interact Week 2026, highlighting the role of young people in community service, leadership development and volunteerism.
The special meeting was jointly chaired by Rotary Club President Jade Maccow and five Interact Club Presidents representing four secondary schools on St. Maarten. The initiative provided young leaders with an opportunity to demonstrate their leadership abilities, share their organizations' plans and engage directly with Rotarians and community supporters.
The participating student leaders were Reese Prince of the Interact Club of St. Maarten Academy; Aditi Vaswani and Nikita Setpal, Co-Presidents of the Interact Club of Learning Unlimited Preparatory School; Dandranee McNamee of the Interact Club of MAC Comprehensive Secondary Education; and Audrey Wever of the Interact Club of St. Dominic High School.
Each president presented their respective club's plans and activities for the 2026-2027 Rotary year, outlining upcoming community service projects and initiatives intended to encourage student involvement and strengthen the connection between young people and their communities.
The event formed part of World Interact Week, an annual observance recognizing the contributions of young volunteers and the importance of developing leadership skills through service.
Established by Rotary International in 1962, Interact is a youth program for individuals between the ages of 12 and 18. Its name combines the words International and Action, reflecting the organization's emphasis on leadership development, community engagement, fellowship and international understanding.
Through participation in Interact, students are encouraged to identify needs within their communities, organize service activities and develop skills in planning, teamwork, communication and decision-making.
The meeting also welcomed Past District Governor Louis Wever and his wife Amanda Wever, Assistant Governor Jeffrey Sochrin, Rotarians, parents, sponsors, teachers, club advisors and other supporters of youth development.
In addition to the leadership presentations, the evening featured several interactive activities designed to encourage fellowship among participating students.
Attendees enjoyed a 360-degree photo experience, a bingo competition featuring a round-trip airline ticket sponsored by Island 92 and Winair, and a grab box activity offering Amazon gift cards. The gathering concluded with pizza and an opportunity for students and Rotarians to interact.
Rotary Club President Jade Maccow expressed appreciation for the participation of the students and the enthusiasm demonstrated by the young leaders.
"Interact is where young people discover their potential, find their voice, and turn their passion into purpose. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with our Interact Clubs, supporting their initiatives, and empowering young leaders to create lasting change in St. Maarten," Maccow stated.
In recognition of their participation and leadership, each of the five Interact Club Presidents received a certificate and token of appreciation from the Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunset.
The club reaffirmed its commitment to supporting all four Interact Clubs through mentorship, collaboration and opportunities for students to take the lead in service initiatives.
The gathering also highlighted the importance of providing young people with opportunities to participate in decision-making, organize activities and contribute to community development while still in school.
The Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunset meets on the second and fourth Mondays of each month at 7:30 p.m. at Carl & Son's in Cole Bay. Additional information about its community activities is available through its Facebook and Instagram accounts, @rotarysxmsunset.
