Rotary Club Soweto welcomes the newly elected President, Mr. Yinka Babalola, to the heart of Soweto for a warm, community-driven gathering that reminded everyone why service above self is more than just a motto
I will be honest — when the invitation landed in my inbox, I did not quite know what to expect. “Building a Better Soweto Together” read the bold headline on the invite, and below it, the details of what would turn out to be one of the most memorable community events I have attended as a journalist in Soweto.
On Friday, 15 May 2026, the Soweto Rotary Club — part of Rotary International’s District 9400 South Africa — hosted a special visit by their newly elected International President, Mr. Yinka Babalola, at the iconic Lebo’s Soweto Backpackers in Orlando West. From the moment I arrived, I could feel that this was no ordinary meeting.
Lebo’s Soweto Backpackers — a beloved landmark nestled in the streets of Orlando West — provided the perfect backdrop for the occasion. Under a thatched lapa surrounded by lush greenery, wooden benches were filled with Rotary members, community leaders, and residents who had come to engage, listen, and celebrate.
I watched as members greeted each other with the ease of old friends, pulling out notebooks and engaging in animated conversation about the work of the Rotary Club in Soweto.
A President Who Listens
The highlight of the afternoon was, without question, the presence of Mr. Yinka Babalola — the newly elected President of Rotary International. Here was a man who leads one of the most powerful humanitarian networks on the planet, and yet what struck me most was how present and engaged he was.
“Youth are not just the future — they are the present, and we must invest in them today. I urge every Rotary member here in Soweto to actively support the Rotaract programme, because it is through initiatives like this that we build the next generation of leaders and change-makers.
What I witnessed here today in Orlando West moved me deeply. The level of community involvement, the passion of the members, and the warmth of the people of Soweto are truly remarkable. I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to this incredible community and a special word of thanks to Lebo’s Soweto Backpackers for opening their doors and making this visit so memorable. Soweto has shown the world what it means to serve with heart.”
— Yinka Babalola, Rotary International President Elect
Members warmly welcomed him, sharing updates on their programmes and their vision for building a better Soweto. The event embodied the Rotary spirit perfectly — chilled, inclusive, and deeply purposeful. As one speaker addressed the gathering with quiet authority, I scribbled in my notebook: “This is what leadership in service looks like.”
Who is the Soweto Rotary Club?
For those who may be hearing about the Rotary Club for the first time, allow me to introduce you. The club is a chapter of Rotary International — one of the world’s largest and most respected humanitarian organisations, with over 1.4 million members in more than 200 countries. It is a community of professionals, business people, and civic leaders who are united by a single powerful purpose: service above self.
In Soweto, the club has been deeply involved in programmes centred on education, environmental awareness and clean-ups, health, poverty alleviation, and youth development — working alongside the Rotary Community Corps (RCC) to take their impact directly into the heart of townships and informal settlements.
Sitting in that lapa on Friday, listening to members speak passionately about their work, I was struck by just how much happens quietly, without fanfare, in our own backyard.
The Rotary is here, and Soweto needs to know
As I left the event, I kept thinking about what I had witnessed. The Soweto Rotary Club is doing extraordinary work in our community — work that deserves far more visibility and far more support.
Whether it is through volunteering, membership, donations or simply spreading the word, there are many ways for Soweto residents and businesses to get involved with the Rotary Club Soweto movement.
The visit by Rotary International’s President Elect was not just a milestone for the club — it was a signal to the world that Soweto is a community that takes its future seriously.