Heloisa Chambisse
First joining Rotaract in 2021 back in Mozambique, Heloisa is now a member of the Rotaract Club of Westminster International. We asked her some questions to shine a light on this person of action.
Heloisa Chambisse
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2023/24 Director of Professional Services
2024/25 Club Secretary
2025/26 Club Treasurer
2025/26 Rotaract GBI Training Director
As part of Rotaract, what projects have you been involved with? What did these project’s achieve, how was this made possible and why is this important to you?
One of the projects I have contributed to was done in collaboration with Kids Out, a national organization based in the UK that supports children who have fled their homes due to domestic abuse and seek sanctuary in refuge. When the children are moved to a safe place, they usually only have a bag or two with clothes and essentials, having left their favourite toys and books behind.
And so, with Kids Out, we as Rotaractors, spend an afternoon in a warehouse packing hundreds of boxes filled with brand new toys and books. Although we are not present at the moment the boxes are given to the families, it is truly heartwarming to contemplate the happiness and memories that the contents of the boxes will bring to the children. This is one of the projects that serves as a testament of what it means to be part of Rotaract: we are here to serve and provide any support others may need.
How do you think you’ve grown as a person thanks to Rotaract? What opportunities have you had for your own personal development?
Rotaract has definitely taught me how to be a leader. It was in my first leadership role as the Director of Professional Services that I unearthed, discovered and decided the type of leader I am and wanted to be. I recall learning that being a leader is not about being a boss and shouting orders but creating an environment that stimulates growth for everyone in the team. Being a leader is not about being on a pedestal and having subordinates but ensuring that everyone feels capable, confident and supported to do their assigned roles. The main aim of a leader should be to nurture and inspire the leader in everyone around them. And that is the focus I have whenever I step into any leadership position outside of Rotaract.
Why should someone get invoiced with Rotaract and what advice would you give them?
Rotaract is a world in itself. It is a space where one learns many valuable skills, meets incredible people, all whilst making a difference and impacting people’s lives.
Passionate about a societal issue and want the platform to meet like-minded people to find the solution and design a course of action? Join Rotaract.
Want to learn how to run a meeting and write meeting minutes? Join Rotaract
Want to make friends but cannot find suitable environments to do so? Join Rotaract.
People join Rotaract for a variety of reasons. With all the conversations I have had, people join and stay in Rotaract because of the positive, friendly, inclusive and fun environment, and for the family of which they end up becoming a part.
What’s your proudest moment as a Rotaractor?
It is difficult to pick just one moment so I will sway a bit and share two.
The first was the End Polio Campaign in which I participated as a member of the Rotaract Club of Maputo. For World Polio Day, a number of us, Rotaractors, accompanied by licensed medical professionals, went around the city to inform families about polio, and provide the oral vaccine. It was a day filled with climbing 10-story buildings with no elevators on a hot summer’s day. It was a day in which my motivation to join Rotaract was affirmed once again: to serve, to think about others before I think about myself. At the end of the day, we reached a good number of families and delivered many vaccines.
The second was when I delivered a speech at the South East Rotary District Conference in Eastbourne to an audience of approximately 200 participants. As previously stated, Rotaract is a space where one is exposed to opportunities that allow us to exercise our skill set and have surreal experiences. As a member of the Rotaract GBI Board, I was given a 5-minute speaking slot to talk about an upcoming event we had at the time. The biggest challenge was making what I had to share as exciting and captivating as possible in 5 minutes. All in all, the feedback received was really positive and many Rotarians were amazed to see what Rotaract represents and were keen to learn more.
How does your Rotaract work reflect your passions or career goals?
Helping others has always been one of the elements that shapes who I am as a person.
It is one of my motivations behind pursuing a career in Law.
It is one of the reasons why I became a Rotaractor.
And so, the work I do in Rotaract directly reflects my passions and career goals.
Currently, I am on a journey of qualifying as a solicitor in England & Wales and being in Rotaract is providing me with the necessary skill set to excel in my chosen field: collaborating as a team, speaking in public, negotiating, working under pressure just to name a few. In addition, it is connecting me with other aspiring and also qualified solicitors with whom I share experiences and gain advice and guidance. All in all, the career I am pursuing and my Rotaract work complement each other very well.
If you could describe Rotaract in three words, what would they be?
