International Service



Interact Club

The Interact Club is a service-oriented club that works on both local and international projects. In addition to Project Pallam, some of their other projects include:
  • Sponsoring student Nafissa in Niger through Plan USA
  • Volunteering with the Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation
  • Organizing a team for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life
  • Providing after-school tutors for local elementary schools
  • Salvation Army bell ringing with the Rotary Club

Project Pallam

The Story - On December 26, 2004, a powerful tsunami rocked Southern Asia; it left behind a swath of devastation that required a massive relief effort. In the two weeks following the disaster, the Athens Academy community raised nearly $20,000.00 for the American Red Cross relief effort. One place affected by this tsunami was the little fishing village of Pallam, on the coast of the Arabian Sea.

In summer 2006, during a trip to India, nine students and four adults from Athens Academy visited Pallam and St. Jude’s School. Having noticed that the school had many books but lacked a library, the students discussed what they could do to help fix the problem.

The Idea - The students decided to try to build a library for St. Jude’s and the village of Pallam to repay some of the kindness shown to them on the trip. This idea evolved into a project to finish the third floor of an existing building at St. Jude’s to provide a library, computer center, and internet connection.

Today - Athens Academy students are committed to seeing the goal of a library for Pallam accomplished. Through the Academy Interact Club they are working closely with the Rotary Club of the Classic City of Athens and a Rotary club in India. As of December 2008, they have raised $30,000.00 and have secured a matching grant from Rotary International. Project Pallam needs to raise $10,000 more and Rotary will match the funds to build St. Jude's School a library and connect them to the Internet.

Last updated 10/25/2011 11:33 AM