Rotary africa may2015-website

rotary africaEstabl ished in 1927 ♦ A member of the Rotary World Magazine Press ♦ May 2015

He did it for RotaryRun, swim, cycle and fundraise

www.rotaryafrica.com

2 ♦ Rotary Africa ♦ May 2015

CREATIVITY IS THINKING UP NEW THINGS. INNOVATION IS DOING NEW THINGS.

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May 2015 ♦ Rotary Africa ♦ 3

in this issue...

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Cover story18 | He did it for Rotary Regulars4 | From the editor5 | Message from the RI President6 | What you should know Foundation Chair’s message7 | Convention countdown8 | Natty’s Natter9 | Our Foundation10 | New logos for youth programmes11 | Highest honour

Projects12 | A club of their own14 | United behind its heroes17 | 30 000 thank yous20 | Health care for the Batwa

22 | Making it easier

Report back23 | Shining a light on Rotary25 | A message for Rotarians

Youth27 | Changing the world through Interact29 | Captivating conference30 | Youth news from our clubs

Round up31 | Club and district news

Celebrate 40 | A very happy 90th

Recognised40 | Welcomed and honoured


From the editor...Editor Sarah van HeerdenAdministration Sharon Robertson

Chairman Gerald SieberhagenDirectors Greg Cryer Peter Dupen Andy Gray David Jenvey Richard Tolken

Publisher Rotary in Africa Reg. No. 71/04840/08 (incorp. association not for gain) PBO No: 18/13/13/3091 Registered at the GPO as a newspaper

Design & Layout Rotary in Africa

Printers Colour Planet, Pinetown

Advertising Sharon Robertson Sarah van Heerden Tariff card on request at www.rotaryafrica.com

Subscriptions Sharon Robertson www.rotaryafrica.com (digital)

Contributions [email protected]

Distribution Rotary Districts 9210, 9211, 9212, 9220, 9350, 9370 and 9400 (Southern and Eastern Africa)

Contact Rotary Africa P.O. Box 563 Westville 3630 South Africa

Telephone 0027 (31) 267 1848Fax 0027 (31) 267 1849Email [email protected] www.rotaryafrica.com

The Rotary Emblem, Rotary International, Rotary, Rotary Club and Rotarian are trademarks of Rotary International and are used under licence. The views expressed herein are not necessarily those of Rotary Africa, Rotary International or The Rotary Foundation.

Meet our teamWhat Can We do?

Sarah

Xenophobia. a single word which invokes a sense of horror and helplessness among the majority of South africans. a seemingly insoluble problem.

the eruption of xenophobic violence has left most South africans, as well as the rest of africa, horrified. Whenever I watch or read reports of the situation, I am left ashamed, revolted, saddened and angry. I am furious and frustrated by the level of ignorance and prejudice which is evident in the reasons given for this barbaric violence. But then I read something which gave me hope and made me proud of my fellow South africans.

a freelance journalist posted on Facebook that reports had been received of a situation in Katlehong township. apparently, South african men were standing on street corners to protect the foreigners living in their neighbourhoods and a thug who had appeared in one of the township sections had been arrested after he tried to incite violence. these men were not willing to let their neighbours live in fear.

Could it actually be that simple? When faced with an overwhelming problem, a small group of men stood up and implemented a simple plan. Imagine if that could be replicated in conflict zones across the globe?

this made me realise how important our peace projects are. Most problems communities face can best be solved at grassroots level. Many are inclined to say that governments, politicians and lofty academics must find the solutions to the impossible problems but, honestly, if those men in Katlehong have shown us anything it is that all it takes is a group of people willing ask themselves, “What can we do?” This is how I believe many of our socio-economic problems can be solved – one neighbourhood, one community, one region at a time.

If you think about it, this is the same principle which Rotary operates on. Clubs and districts tackle problems one neighbourhood, one community and one region at time. From there it snowballs. this is how we do good in the world – it’s something to be proud of.

have a wonderful month,

Rotary Africa Magazine


reg

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Gary CK HuangPresident, Rotary International

Message from the

RI President

on the WebSpeeches and news from RI President Gary CK Huang at www.rotary.org/president

dear fellow Rotarians,

one of my favourite parts of a Rotary convention is the House of Friendship. In Chinese, we say: 有朋自遠方來，不亦樂乎. “to have friends come together from faraway places is a wonderful thing.”

At the 106th annual Rotary International Convention, 6 to 9 June, the House of Friendship will reflect the excitement and diverse blend of cultures of São Paulo, the host city.

In between general sessions, you can relax and enjoy all that Brazil has to offer – sample the cuisine, browse locally made gifts and take in top-quality entertainment. You also can get ideas for service and find partners at booths showcasing Rotary projects and Rotarian Action Groups.

And best of all, you’ll have the opportunity to spend time with old friends and make many new ones.

The House of Friendship is a wonderful place to bring your convention guests – your family and your friends from home. By attending conventions with me, my family experienced the true internationality of Rotary. Eventually my wife, Corinna, and all three of my children joined Rotary clubs.

You and your guests will want to be sure to come early for World Water Summit 7, on 4 June, sponsored by the Water and Sanitation

Rotarian Action Group, or for the Rotary Peace Symposium, 4 to 5 June.

This year we are honoured that Dr Óscar Arias Sánchez, former president of Costa Rica, will be the keynote speaker at the Rotary Peace Symposium.

Other events 4 to 5 June include the Rotaract Preconvention Meeting, the International Institute and the Youth Exchange Officers Preconvention Meeting.

When the convention is over, spend time exploring all that Brazil has to offer – pristine beaches just a few hours away, the excitement and glamour of Rio de Janeiro and the wonders of the Amazon rain forest.

Every year, I return from the Rotary convention inspired to do more, to give more in Rotary service throughout the year. Register today at www.riconvention.org. I look forward to seeing you in São Paulo!


ROTARYMembers*: 1 207 102Clubs*: 34 823

ROTARACT Members: 174 984Clubs: 7 608

INTERACTMembers:406 249 Clubs: 17 663

RCCsMembers: 188 301 Corps: 8 187

Rotary at a Glance

as of 29 December - *28 February

The Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster:

First. The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service;

Second. High ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying of each Rotarian’s occupation as an opportunity to serve society;

third. The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian’s personal, business, and community life;

Fourth. The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.

Of the things we think, say or do:1) Is it the TRUTH?2) Is it FAIR to all concerned?3) Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?4) Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

object of Rotary

the Four-Way test

what you should know

Almost time Foundation trustee

chair, John Kennyas we enter May, we have two months left to ensure that you have made your contribution to Rotary’s charity, our Rotary Foundation.

There is still time to ensure that it is greater than it was last year – our goal for the Annual Fund is US$123 million, the highest it’s ever been. And there’s still time to ensure that your contribution enables our Foundation to continue to do good in the world – and that you can have the personal satisfaction of contributing to this in a meaningful way.

May means that there’s also just over one month until the Rotary International Convention in São Paulo, Brazil. This year we have outstanding speakers on Foundation-related topics, both at the convention and at the Rotary Peace Symposium held immediately prior to the convention. They include Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr Óscar Arias Sánchez, Australian entrepreneur Steve Killelea, Rotary Peace Fellow Katia de Mello Dantas and Global Alumni Service to Humanity Award winner Geetha Jayaram.

Arias Sánchez was president of Costa Rica from 1986 to 1990 and 2006 to 2010. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987 for his role as architect and peace-broker in ending multiple conflicts in Central America. Arias continues to be an international force for peace building through his personal activities and the Arias Foundation for Peace and Human Progress.

Killelea is an Australian entrepreneur and philanthropist, known internationally as the developer of the Global Peace Index. In 2007, he established the Institute for Economics and Peace as a vehicle to build a greater understanding of the interconnection between business, peace and economics.

Dantas received her master’s degree in international development policy from Duke University in 2009. She works tirelessly on behalf of vulnerable children as the Latin America and Caribbean policy director for the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children.

I look forward to seeing you in São Paulo.


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There’s an app for thatconvention countdown

Whether you’re a seasoned convention goer or a first-time attendee, the Rotary Events app can help you get the most out of this year’s Rotary International Convention, 6 to 9 June in São Paulo, Brazil.

The free app makes it easy to plan each day’s activities, learn about featured speakers and entertainment, download resources and connect with friends. It can also help you navigate the convention venue and House of Friendship with interactive maps, upload your photos to the convention photo album and rate sessions and provide feedback to convention organisers.

You don’t have to be connected to the Internet to use the app. Once you’ve downloaded it, most of the information is available to you offline.

Download the Rotary Events app through the Apple App Store for iPhones and iPads, through Google Play for Android and through the BlackBerry App Store for BlackBerry.

Here are some other apps that can help you enjoy your time in Brazil, all available for Apple and Android devices:

Brazil Travel Guide (by Tripwolf)Combines tips from professional travel writers

with a worldwide community of travellers to offer unique recommendations and guides.São Paulo Travel Guide – Augmented Reality (by eTips)

Get restaurant reviews, bus times and museum hours simply by pointing your phone’s camera at the restaurant, bus stop or museum.Word Lens (now part of Google Translate)

Use your phone’s camera to translate Portuguese street signs, menus and other text into English.

Register for the 2015 RI Convention in São Paulo at www.riconvention.org.


the literacy toolby Regional Rotary Coordinator - Zone 20A South, PDG Natty Moodley

www.rcnatty.blogspot.comNatty’s Natter

Literacy is crucial to the success of individuals in both their career aspirations and quality of life. It is more than a basic reading ability. It is an indication of how adults use written information to function in society. Strong literacy skills are closely linked to the probability of having a good job, decent earnings and accessing training opportunities. Individuals with weak literacy skills are more likely to be unemployed or if employed, to be in jobs that pay little or which offer poor hours or working conditions.

Traditionally, literacy refers to the ability to read, understand and use information. However the term has taken on a broader meaning, standing for a range of knowledge, skills and abilities relating to reading, mathematics, science and more. This reflects widespread and deep changes that have taken place in technology and in the organisation of work over the past quarter century. The ability to use and apply key mathematics and science concepts is now necessary across a wide range of occupations.

Literacy is fundamental for learning in school. It has an impact on an individual’s ability to participate in society and to understand important public issues. It provides the foundation upon which skills needed in the labour market are built.

Technology, and the science behind it, permeates all aspects of our lives, from how we work and communicate to what we shop for and how we pay our bills. The complexity of today’s world means that individuals need to have some level of proficiency in reading, mathematics and science in order to understand and participate fully in economic and social life.

A population’s literacy skills also have a bearing on how well a country performs economically. The world we live in today is vastly different from that of a generation ago. Technological changes have transformed the way in which we work and the labour market is rapidly evolving from manufacturing and agriculture to one based on services. These changes have, in turn, increased skill requirements. Countries that are successful in endowing their populations with strong skills are usually in a better position to meet the economic challenges of operating in a globalised information economy.

Finally, having a population which has strong literacy skills also places a country in a better position to meet the complex social challenges that it faces. For example, strong literacy skills are linked to better health outcomes for individuals. A highly literate population will be better able to deal with issues of governance in a vastly diverse society.

As I write I am on my way to Mauritius on holiday. A nice break away from work and Rotary matters. A week full of sun, sea and fun. Reading through the morning’s newspaper I noted that 14 to 21 March was declared Library Week in South Africa. Libraries connect people to each other and to knowledge and information. It provides access to information on every subject matter including health and hygiene, economic empowerment, poverty alleviation, education and much more. All of these are focus areas within our wonderful organisation. Libraries also provide us with an opportunity to connect via the internet to online learning opportunities using research tools. Like all things that have evolved over the years, libraries too have evolved. They no longer just provide a place where we borrow books. They are places of technology and information in our fast moving environment.

Libraries are rather special to me. My first job after my secondary schooling was at a Durban library as a library assistant. I spent three years there learning the various aspects of library science, including the Dewey decimal system which classifies books according to their field of interest. It was also the place that allowed me the opportunity of starting my academic studies on a part time basis with this job to fund them.

Literacy is at the heart of basic education for all and essential for eradicating poverty, reducing child mortality, achieving gender equality and ensuring sustainable development, peace and harmony. It is for this reason that literacy is the core of education.

Rotary provides us with a wonderful opportunity to share, give a gift, take responsibility together and encourage others. It also provides us with an opportunity to improve the skills of people so that they are given a better chance of success - after all everyone has the same dreams, hopes, needs and goals.


our foundation

By PDG Anne Botha - Regional Rotary Foundation Co-ordinator Zone 20A SouthDoing good in the world

the Rotary Foundation may seem like a confusing entity. however, understanding a few key points makes it less intimidating.

Funding - The Annual Fund-Share is the primary source of funding for a broad range of local and international Rotary Foundation activities.

Every Rotarian, Every Year (EREY) is the fundraising initiative to encourage support for the Foundation’s Annual Fund. EREY aims to engage every member by encouraging every Rotarian to contribute to the Annual Fund every year and to participate in at least one Foundation grant or programme every year. The Endowment Fund ensures the long-term viability of the Foundation and its grants and programmes. Spendable earnings from this endowed fund enable the Foundation to expand existing activities and underwrite new ones. The fund also supports the Rotary Peace Centres.

Recognition - The Foundation offers a number of recognition opportunities to individuals and clubs. Individual recognition opportunities include: Rotary Foundation Sustaining Member; Paul Harris Fellowship; Certificate of Appreciation; Multiple Paul Harris Fellowship; Paul Harris Society; Major Donor; Arch C Klumph Society; Benefactor and Bequest Society. Club recognition opportunities include: Every Rotarian, Every Year Club, 100% Paul Harris Fellow Club; 100% Rotary Foundation; Sustaining Member Club; Top Three Per Capita Clubs in Annual Fund Giving and Foundation awards.

Grants - Foundation grants support Rotarians’ efforts to change lives and serve communities. District grants are grants which enable clubs and districts to address immediate needs in their communities and abroad. Districts may request up to 50 percent of their District Designated Fund for one grant annually. Districts manage and disburse these funds to support district and club sponsored activities, including vocational training teams, scholarships, humanitarian service projects and cultural exchanges, provided they are aligned with the Foundation’s mission.

Global Grants offer clubs and districts opportunities to participate in strategically focused, high-impact

activities. These grants fund large-scale international humanitarian projects, vocational training teams and scholarships that have sustainable, measurable outcomes in one or more of Rotary’s areas of focus.

The Foundation’s Areas of Focus are peace and conflict resolution, disease prevention and treatment, water and sanitation, maternal and child health, basic education and literacy, as well as economic and community development.

Sustainability of projects and activities is always of importance. To The Rotary Foundation, sustainability means providing solutions to community needs in such a way that the benefiting community can maintain the activities after grant funding ends.

The Foundation also funds Scholarships and Vocational Training Teams

Polio - When the PolioPlus programme was launched in 1985, there were more than 350 000 polio cases in over 125 countries. Since 1988, the incidence of polio has decreased by 99 percent. As of 2013, Rotary’s contributions to polio eradication totalled US$1.2 billion. These grants are funded from the general PolioPlus Fund and District Designated Fund contributions.

Peace - Rotary Peace Fellowships enable individuals to pursue a graduate degree in international relations, peace, conflict resolution and related subjects or a professional development certificate in peace and conflict studies at one of the six Rotary Peace Centres. Fellowships are supported through a pool of funds contributed by restricted gifts, the World Fund and from District Designated Funds.

alumni - More than 122 000 people have participated in Foundation programmes since 1947. Foundation alumni include former Ambassadorial Scholars, Global Grant scholars, Rotary Peace Fellows, Group Study Exchange and Vocational Training Team leaders and members, recipients of Rotary Grants for University Teachers and various Rotary volunteer grants. Exchange students, Interactors, Rotaractors and RYLA participants are also Rotary alumni.

Source: Rotary International


Your legacy will be written on lives - please consider the Salvation Army

www.salvationarmy.org.za

In an effort to bring our programmes for young leaders closer to Rotary, a new set of logos and signatures has been designed in alignment with our organisation’s updated visual guidelines. this short guide will help you understand our new look for Interact, Rotaract, Rotary Youth exchange and Rotary Youth Leadership awards.

More resources will be available online in the coming months. Look for new tools and templates that will help you apply our new look to your brochures, PowerPoint presentations, websites and other print and digital communications.

Rotaract. The Rotaract signature consists of the Rotaract wordmark (Rotaract name above a Rotary endorsement line) and the Mark of Excellence (Rotary wheel) in cranberry.

Interact. The Interact signature consists of the Interact wordmark (Interact name above a Rotary endorsement line) and the Mark of Excellence (Rotary wheel) in sky blue.

Rotary Youth exchange and Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA). You can create a unique look for your club, district or multidistrict Youth Exchange or RYLA programme. This consists of the club or district signature along with a graphic or text treatment.

Lockups are to be used to show a relationship between Rotary and Youth Exchange or RYLA. These consist of the district or club signature in conjunction with the programme text, which can be styled in any of our official fonts. For more details, see our complete guidelines in the Brand Centre at rotary.org/brandcenter.

new logos for youth programmes


A documentary film produced by Rotary’s broadcast media department, which features Rotarian Marion Bunch and her work to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS in underprivileged african communities, won two 2015 telly awards.

The prestigious awards are given annually to the finest film and video productions. Rotary’s documentary, Rotary Family Health Days, received a Silver Telly, the highest honour in the online video-documentary category and a Bronze Telly in the online video-branded content and entertainment category. The documentary was broadcast by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) and throughout Africa.

“What we tried to accomplish with the film was to get the good news and the good deeds out there so that the non-Rotary world can see it,” says producer Andrew Chudzinski.

The film documents the tremendous burden HIV/AIDS places on African families and communities. It covers the journeys of two women: South African grandmother Me Maria, who is raising her two grandsons whose parents died of AIDS, and Marion Bunch, from Atlanta, USA, who became a global advocate for AIDS prevention and the inspiration for Rotary Family Health Days after she lost her son to the disease.

“Because of that one single tragedy, my life’s journey changed dramatically, from a very engaged businesswoman to a warrior on AIDS and advocate of human rights,” Bunch told senior White House staff in October, when she was honoured as one of 10 Rotary Women of Action for 2014. A member of the Rotary Club of Dunwoody (D6900), Bunch is the founder and CEO of Rotarians for Family Health and AIDS Prevention, a group of members that collaborates with Rotary clubs and districts on health-related projects.

The Rotary Health Days project, now in its fifth year and supported by Rotary clubs in Africa, has grown to deliver free basic health care, including

Marion Bunch during an event at the White House that named her and nine others Rotary’s 2014 Women of Action, honouring them for helping people in need. Photo: Alyce Henson © Rotary International.

by Adam Ross, Rotary News

HIV/AIDS screening and other preventive services, to underserved communities in Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa and Uganda. It began in 2010, when Ugandan Stephen Mwanje, then governor of District 9200, asked Bunch if the Rotarian group would organise a multisite, comprehensive health event.

“The tremendous burden on the families of those infected by HIV/AIDS - particularly for older people caring for their terminally ill children and raising their grandchildren and for children orphaned by this disease - is incalculable,” says Bunch. “This is a story of people coming together to help fight this global killer and other preventable diseases.”

The award-winning documentary was a joint project of the public relations and broadcast media staff at Rotary’s world headquarters in Evanston, Illinois. In addition to Chudzinski, producer Vivian Fiore, video editor Todd Murphy and executive producer Stephen Guenther worked on the film.

“We went through many different outlines, thoughts and angles, and worked closely with Marion on it,” says Fiore. “It evolved into a better piece than we all imagined.”

In 2012, Rotary won a Silver Telly for its documentary Doing Good in the World: Growing Local Economies.

Watch the full length documentary, Rotary Family Health Days, at www.vimeo.com/87311787

highest honour


Rose Meda donkor ignored her father’s repeated invitations to join the Rotary Club of Sunyani Central (D9102, Ghana) north of Accra. Donkor, 36, wasn’t interested in attending meetings because “those Rotary people,” she thought to herself, “were just too old.”

That was four years ago, before she was introduced to a visiting Rotarian, Walter Hughes, a member of the Rotary Club of Rocky Mount (D7570, USA). “You love people,” he said to her, “you want to give back. So why not join?” She told him the truth: She felt out of place; there wasn’t anyone her age.

Meanwhile, Senyo Agbedra, a Sunyani Central club member, had been trying unsuccessfully to bring young professionals into his club. When he met Donkor, he shared an idea for creating a new club for younger members.

She was excited about the possibility and talked to friends, including Michael Kwabena Gyamfi, 30, a civil servant. They too expressed a passion to serve and, at this stage in their careers, a desire to form professional connections. With guidance from Agbedra and Emmanuel Foster

Boateng, a past president of the Sunyani Central club, they founded the Rotary Club of Sunyani East in 2013. Gyamfi was the club’s first president and Donkor was vice president.

The 35 members – professionals who include a nurse and a doctor – soon developed the new club’s identity by serving the community. Their signature project is supporting the education of inmates at Sunyani Central Prisons. The Rotarians volunteer to teach the inmates in their areas of specialisation and are working on a US$20 000 renovation to improve the vocational training facilities, with the goal of better equipping inmates to reintegrate into the community.

The club also funds quarterly disinfestations to reduce disease related to overcrowding - the facility was built for 300 inmates, but now holds 900. The club is also working with the Rotary Clubs of Sunyani Central and Nanaimo-Oceanside (D5020, Canada) on a project, funded by a Rotary Foundation Global Grant, to update and repair three schools in the city of Sunyani.

Rotary offers young men and women in Ghana a unique perspective, notes 2012/13 Sunyani Central club president, Kofi Nyamaah-

A club of their own


Koffuor. “In our country,” he says, “everything is politicised. If the politicians realise you didn’t vote for them, they don’t bring their work to you. But Rotary is nonpartisan. These young members see that we go everywhere and we accept everybody.”

“Getting younger folks into Rotary is a little easier for some of us,” Gyamfi says, “because throughout the day we interact with young professionals. And then you get the chance to chip in a few things about ‘Why don’t you join us to do some good? How do you spend your evenings?’ Most of the time, you realise that these are people who want to do something, but they don’t know what to do. And so the idea of Rotary comes in very handy for them.”

The Sunyani East club has created excitement, Donkor says, partly because it’s informal and spontaneous. “Sometimes we show up at our meetings in jeans and other times we decide to come in traditional wear. Every day we try to spice it up a little so it doesn’t become boring.” The club has incorporated technology into its activities too. Through social media platforms, members can join meetings if they’re out of town and provide live updates if they’re visiting other clubs. The club also holds a quarterly social activity, in which a member hosts other Rotarians for a day of fun.

Serving others is a valuable experience for young people, Gyamfi notes. “At our age,” he says, “we spend most of our time trying to find ourselves, but we also need to find how to improve the community in which we live. By doing that, we make ourselves better.”

– STEPHEN YAFA

Young people in Sunyani, Ghana, formed a new Rotary club. Social activities and service projects create ways for members to serve, have fun and develop professional networks. Photos: The Rotary Club of Sunyani East.

pro

jec

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President Kwaku Adjei-Manu addresses the club during a meeting.

Photos: Tammy Lieberman Photography - www.tammylieberman.com14 ♦ Rotary Africa ♦ May 2015

unitedbehind

its heroes


In March, fires swept through South Africa’s Western Cape province. the infernos claimed the lives of two firefighters, injured three more, damaged or destroyed 13 properties and cost the city of Cape town more than R6 million – of which at least R3 million was spent on two water-bombing helicopters. The 198 hours of flying time cost about R2.4 million and as much as two million litres of water was dumped on the fire in about 2 000 water drops. at one stage, there were seven different fires raging through the Western Cape province.

The major fire began in Muizenberg on 1 March and was contained, but flared up again on 2 March. Fanned by strong winds, it soon spread to Ou Kaapse Weg, Chapman’s Peak, Hout Bay and Tokai.

A Working on Fire helicopter pilot, Willem Hendrick “Bees” Marais, died in a helicopter crash while battling a fire in the Cape Point Nature Reserve, a section of the Table Mountain National Park. He was the second firefighter to die during the week-long fires. Nazeem Davies, 25, had been battling a fire high in the mountains above Porterville and was killed when he lost control of a vehicle while heading back down a treacherous mountain pass.

Amidst the tragedy and devastation caused by the fires, the residents of the fairest Cape united behind their firefighting heroes. They donated food, water and cold drinks for the exhausted firefighters, while companies gave equipment and protective gear and legions of people helped wild animals which escaped the flames. Local radio stations collected R3 160 793 from listeners for equipment and resources for Volunteer Wildfire Services. Rotary clubs and other members of the Rotary family were among those who donated supplies and supported the firefighters.

The raging fires led to the annual Cape Town Cycle Tour’s route being changed from a looped 109 kilometre to a circular 47 kilometre route. Formally known as the Cape Argus Cycle Tour, the race has a long history with Rotary. From its early days, the Rotary Club of Claremont has organised the event and today, it remains a 50/50 beneficiary of the race. Over the years a number of other Cape Town based Rotary clubs have

Professional and volunteer firefighters risked their lives to battle the fires which swept through the Cape Peninsula in March. The community of Cape Town rallied behind its heroes as two lives were lost and property was destroyed.


assisted Claremont at the event.One such club is the Rotary Club of Cape of

Good Hope (D9350) and Rotarian Gillean Arnott is one of the members who help with marshalling the cyclists. Gillean shares why the 2015 event was a special race for her.

“I had a most wonderful day marshalling the annual Cape Town Cycle Tour. Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Cape of Good Hope marshal the Argus every year. After the rescheduling, due to the fires which ravaged the Cape Peninsula, I was assigned to Newlands forest and saw the outstanding contribution from the volunteer firefighters for myself.

“We arrived at the forest at 5.15am and left at 1.15pm. During this time, the firefighters lined the street and brought huge amounts of energy and joy into the event. They touched the hearts and hands of many of the riders as they passed by.

“The cyclists showered the firefighters with praise and thanks for their safekeeping, while the firefighters thanked those who had supported them and continued to do so.

“Not once did they leave their posts along the road. It was a joyous day. Many stopped and asked to be photographed with the high-spirited

firefighters.“Quite a few of the men had obviously just

come off duty and not only did their clothes smell of smoke, but their appearance made it clear they had been in the thick of the fire prior to arriving at the forest. It was moving to see these dirty, grown men hug each other.

“When the alarm went, signalling the rekindling of the Cape Point fire, there was immediate reaction and a few broke away to go and report for duty. We saw the two helicopters rise into the sky and head towards Cape Point and sadly, a short while later, the news of the helicopter accident broke.

“Later on at the Noordhoek Farm Village Concert, the band Freshly Ground performed to raise more funds for the firefighters. Various competitors who had taken part in the cycle tour made a point of telling me how that short stretch past Newlands forest had made their day.

“The memory of those firefighters celebrating and thanking their supporters will be everlasting. It was the highlight of the event and much happiness was spread.

“I shall never forget it and I consider myself very lucky to have been part of it.”

Firefighters attended and participated in the Cape Town Cycle Tour before the fires rekindled.


Schoolchildren in Malawi are getting an enhanced education thanks to a tri-nation partnership organised by Rotary clubs.

The Classroom Box project supplies essential educational materials such as notebooks, pens and rulers to schools in Malawi. It is on track to help at least 30 000 children receive a better school experience.

Classroom Box is the brainchild of the Rotary Club of Northampton Becket (D1070, England). Initially, boxes of classroom equipment were shipped from the UK to Malawi, but the project has evolved into a more sophisticated operation with the addition of a South African partner, the Shoprite Group of companies.

Funds raised in the UK through Northampton Becket are used to buy classroom materials at discounted wholesale rates in South Africa. Shoprite ships the supplies on pallets to Lilongwe in Malawi free of charge. Here volunteers from the Rotary Club of Lilongwe (D9210) package them into ‘class-sized’ boxes – each with supplies for 25 children – and then organise delivery and distribution to schools across the Lilongwe district.

The partnership has now seen 1 200 boxes of materials delivered to Malawi, enough to provide

a boost for 30 000 children. The most recent shipment arrived in Lilongwe at the end of 2014 and was distributed in the first few weeks of the 2015 school year.

Rotarians from Northampton Becket joined their colleagues in Lilongwe to hand over the latest shipment. Northampton Becket president-elect, Mike Kitchen, says: “There is almost everything in the box that a child needs for his or her education.”

As well as writing materials, coloured pencils and notebooks, the boxes contain glue sticks and chalk – a bonus for Malawi’s teachers.

Sophie Kalinde, president of the Lilongwe club, says: “There are a lot of needy students in Malawi who cannot even afford a pencil. This project will go a long way to improving the welfare of the beneficiaries as far as education is concerned.”

Ian Hill, a trustee of Classroom Box, paid tribute to the generosity of two key organisations which have enabled the project to thrive. The UK children’s charity The Toy Trust helped fund the latest shipment with a £4 000 donation in 2014. The support of the Shoprite Group was also essential. The group helped source the materials and transported them.

30 000 THAnK YouS


An average, forty-something Port Elizabeth father believed that his quest to complete Ironman South Africa, demonstrated that even “ordinary people can do extraordinary things.”

Deon Engelke finished the Ironman, held in Port Elizabeth, in 13 hours 52 minutes and 36 seconds and raised R35 000 for the Rotary Club of Port Elizabeth (D9370).

The compelling challenge of completing the Ironman’s gruelling 226 kilometres (3.8 kilometre swim, 180 kilometre cycle and 42.2 kilometre run) propelled the Port Elizabeth marketer into a world of training and raising funds and awareness for the Rotary Club of Port Elizabeth.

A challenge issued by his colleague, a past president of the Rotary Club of Port Elizabeth, Andrew Binning, sealed the deal.

“Ironman donated a race entry to our Rotary club which a club-appointed athlete could use to raise funds. I was happy to convince Deon to

attempt to achieve two big things at the same time - completing Ironman and building the community,’’ Binning says. All the money raised will be used to support the Port Elizabeth club’s projects and polio eradication.

“Ironman is a major part of a journey I started a couple of years ago,” Engelke says. “I used to be overweight and had severe lower back trouble but over several years I shed a total of 28 kilogrammes and developed a different mind set. It all started with a life-changing Group Study Exchange to the United States,’’ he says.

The father of two daughters, aged 17 and 20, hopes his ‘small story’ will inspire others to reach beyond themselves.

“I am motivated by Rotary and the organisation’s generosity. I have seen it change the lives of individuals and communities.”

“I have learned many lessons, the main one being that ordinary people like me can achieve extraordinary things,” says Engelke

HE DID IT foR RoTARYRotary Alumnus Deon Engelke participated in the Ironman South Africa triathlon and raised a total of R35 000 for the Rotary Club of Port Elizabeth.


20.030. Subscription to Magazines.20.030.1. Required Subscription.Each member of a club not located in the United States or Canada and each member of an e-club shall become a paid subscriber to the official magazine of RI or to a Rotary magazine* approved and prescribed for that club by the board. Two Rotarians residing at the same address have the option to subscribe jointly to the official magazine. The members shall maintain such subscriptions for the duration of their membership.** Each member shall have the option to choose to receive either a printed copy by mail or an electronic copy via the internet where available.****The Rotary magazine approved for Africa is Rotary Africa.** Such subscription shall be collected by the club from its members and forwarded to Rotary Africa on behalf of the member.*** Rotary Africa provides an electronic copy and should a member prefer to subscribe to the electronic version they may do so by accessing the Rotary Africa website – www.rotaryafrica.com and completing the request for a digital version.

Rotary africa half-yearly subscription:1st January 2015 - R125 per member.

1st July 2015 - R135 per member.

Rotary Africa subscriptions are billed to the club in January and July and are due within 30 days. The invoicing is calculated on the total number of members on the mailing list.What do Rotary Club secretaries need to do?• Send an updated members’ list to Rotary

Africa in January and July.• Register new members with Rotary Africa

when they join Rotary.• Advise Rotary Africa of any changes in

membership such as: resignations, address updates, deceased members as they occur.

What do Assistant Governors need to do on behalf of the District Governor?• Ensure that Clubs adhere to the above

requirements.

rotary africaSubscription guidelines

2013 Manual of Procedure: RI Bylaws - Articles 20

For 15 years, Past President Dennis Wesley, of the Rotary Club of Hillcrest (D9370) and the owner of Africa Container Sales, has been supplying Rotary clubs throughout southern Africa with used shipping containers for use in their local projects.

The containers, which are six metres and 12 metres in length, are easily converted to meet many different specifications. The converted containers now house crèches, classrooms, soup kitchens, ablutions, accommodation, training and computer rooms as well as libraries. They are also used for storage of goods on site for Rotary projects.

Africa Container Sales can convert one of its six or 12 metre containers to meet any specific requirement stipulated by Rotary clubs. Rotary clubs which receive imported containers of donated goods for their projects, have successfully enlisted Africa Container Sales to convert the containers to meet other project requirements.

Dennis thoroughly enjoys his working relationships with the various Rotary clubs. “Being a Rotarian is gratifying in itself, but it is even more gratifying to assist others in need from within your own vocation,” he says.

Fast facts• Africa Container Sales was established in January 1999.• africa Container Sales supplies used and new shipping

containers throughout southern africa.• africa Container Sales also supplies Park home type

offices and accommodation.• africa Container Sales delivers to site by crane truck.• africa Container Sales supplies to sites anywhere in

South africa.• Cross border requirements are supplied ex-depot in Sa.

ADvERToRIAl

The cheerful interior of a container which was

converted to house a soup kitchen.

Call PP dennis Wesley on 083 733 6208 or email [email protected]

www.acsales.co.za

a great idea!


By Arnold Grahl, Rotary News

For thousands of years, the Batwa Pygmies lived among the silverback mountain gorillas in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest of southwest Uganda. But in 1992, the forest was declared a World heritage Site to protect the endangered silverback and the Batwa lost their home.

Forced to transition from hunter-gatherers to farmers, they did not adapt well and their very survival was threatened.

Over the years, Rotarians in the United States, Uganda (D9211) and other parts of the world helped with efforts to aid the Batwa. Most recently, those efforts have focused on the creation of

a nursing school to serve the entire southwestern part of

the country.Dr Scott Kellermann, a

physician and Rotarian from California, USA, discovered the plight of the Batwa in 2000, when he and his wife, Carol, travelled to the area as

medical missionaries to assess the indigenous

people’s needs. He describes the situation they found. “Abject

poverty. No access to health care, no access to education, no clean water, no sanitation and land and food insecurity.”

The Kellermanns’ survey found that 38 percent of the Batwa died before the age of five - twice the rate for Uganda as a whole - and that their average life expectancy was 28 years.

Building a hospitalShortly after his first visit,

Kellermann and his wife sold their possessions, including his medical practice, and

moved to Uganda - where they lived until 2009 - to help

health care for the batwa


the Batwa. Starting with mobile clinics held under trees and with intravenous drips hanging from branches, they treated “200, 300, sometimes 500 people a day,” Kellermann recalls. Eventually, they launched a foundation and built Bwindi Community Hospital.

Kellermann’s Rotary connections helped to equip it. Projects supported by a series of Rotary Foundation grants and backed by Rotarians in Uganda, the United States and other parts of the world provided an operating theatre, a dental unit, generators, solar panels, clean water, improved sanitation and taught the Batwa how to raise small livestock to improve their nutrition.

Now, the infant mortality rate is down to six percent and the number of women dying in childbirth has declined 60 percent.

“Rotary has been incredible,” says Kellermann. “It doesn’t just throw money at a problem. It goes through a local Rotary club so Rotarians on the ground make sure the projects are successful. What Rotary did was look at the broader picture and say, ‘hey, a hospital is great. But you need to prevent these diseases. You need to provide water and sanitation. You need to teach these women how to feed their kids’.”

A project aimed at reducing the incidence of malaria distributed thousands of bed nets to families, via tribal healers. “In 2006, we were losing one to two kids every week to malaria,” Kellermann says. “After Rotary helped us distribute 25 000 bed nets, we went nine months without a kid dying from malaria. Rates have dropped over 90 percent.”

Creating a nursing schoolA few years ago, two entrepreneurs, James

Jameson and Steve Wolf, met Kellermann while they were in the area to track gorilla. After they learned of the need for a nursing school, they contributed more than $650 000 to plan, design and build it. The Uganda Nursing School Bwindi opened in November 2013. The pair also paid to

send Jane Anyango, a registered nurse at the Bwindi hospital, to Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh, Scotland, where she earned a master’s degree in nursing that enabled her to take over as the school’s principal teaching tutor. They also provided iPads, loaded with a year’s worth of textbooks, for every nursing student at the new school.

Last year, Jerry Hall, a past Rotary International vice president, led a Vocational Training Team of nursing educators who spent two weeks developing the school’s curriculum, instruction and administration. Hall had met Kellermann during a

previous project, when Hall was a Rotary director, and he had become a strategic planning consultant for the hospital.

Hall’s club, the Rotary Club of Reno (D5190, USA) along with members of the Rotary Club of Kihihi (D9211) and 18 other clubs, raised

$67 000 for a Global Grant of $247 000. The grant provided furnishings, classroom supplies and laboratory equipment for the school.

Hall says that after the Vocational Training Team returned home, a team member affiliated with the University of San Francisco arranged for Anyango to have access to the university’s trove of digital information. Another team member arranged to have flash drives loaded with nursing curricula sent to the school.

“The technology they have at the school is the first of its kind in Uganda,” says Hall. “The chair of the Uganda Nursing Council attended a grand opening celebration during our stay.

“The potential is tremendous,” adds Hall. “Once we get trained nurses out to the villages and regional areas, we’ll have people with midwifery skills who can deliver children safely and provide pre and post natal care. None of that is available today.”

Learn more about the Kellermann Foundation at www.kellermannfoundation.org.

“We went nine months without a kid dying from

malaria.”

Promoting Rotary and your club?Contact Sharon to buy back-issues of Rotary Africa, at a reduced rate,

for your project promotions. Email: [email protected]


Six years ago, Bonisa Ntsile set out to fulfil her dream of running an educare centre in Lower Crossroads in Philippi. her dream was to create a safe environment for youngsters while their parents were at work and to give them a good start on the road to education.

“We started in a shack next to my house with 14 children,” recalls Ntsile. “By the end of that year, we had grown to 40, so it was time to move to new premises. Today the Bonisa Educare Centre has two classrooms, a nursery and a kitchen - we cater for over 80 children.”

“In an area where unemployment is high, school fees don’t cover all the running costs of the centre. We identified a need to make Bonisa’s daily teaching a bit easier, by donating tables and chairs for the little ones to sit at while learning

their lessons,” says Bill Meyer from the Rotary Club of Newlands (D9350). “In this way, the much-needed funding can preferably be spent on running costs, educators’ salaries and food,” adds Meyer.

“We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of the Rotary Club of Newlands, not only for the donation but for the fact that people do care about this little educare centre in Cape Town. This is a place where giving a little means a lot,” adds Ntsile.

Five of the centre’s helpers attend college for a day a week and are studying for their qualification in early childhood development. The centre is in the process of becoming a registered educare centre, but until such time, every Rand needs to be stretched as far as possible.

A thrilled Bonisa ntsile (right) receives the donation of tables, chairs and a fridge for her centre from Bill Meyer (left) of the Rotary Club of newlands.

making it easier


“It’s wonderful to be back in the fairest Cape for the COSA meeting,” said Past RI President Ray Klinginsmith when he addressed the annual meeting of the Governors’ Council of Southern Africa, “and I am delighted that COSA has agreed to be the sponsor organisation for the Presidential Conference on economic development for all of africa, which will be held in Cape Town on 27 February 2016!”

The Presidential Conference in Cape Town next year was at the forefront of discussions, as was a Rotary International Convention in South Africa.

The Governors’ Council of Southern Africa (COSA), which represents Rotary leadership, past, present and future from the four Rotary districts and ten countries that comprise Southern Africa, meets annually. The venue rotates. This year the meeting took place from 27 to 29 March

2015 and was hosted by D9350 at the imposing Kelvin Grove Club in Newlands. Six countries were represented by some 55 delegates. The convener of the meeting was PDG Peter Hugo who stepped down after six years on the executive committee.

An invitation to attend was extended to RI Director Safak Alpay and his wife, Deniz, who accepted. As there are 72 countries in Zone 20, making it the biggest zone in the world, their attendance was an honour and a privilege. The couple provided unobtrusive guidance and profound Rotary wisdom.

The programme was full and focused, with emphasis on strengthening Rotary in Southern Africa. It was also a weekend of ‘add on’ meeting opportunities - with a Coordinators’ Meeting on Friday, a Rotary Presidential Conference and Rotary Leadership Institute meetings held over

by PDG June Webber

repo

rt b

ack

RI Director Safak Alpay, Borg Stannius, Deniz Alpay, PDG June Webber, (front) PDG vyv and Pat Deacon and Muriel and PDG Peter Hugo enjoy the social evening at the Pavilion at Kelvin Grove.

shining a light on rotary


the weekend. What prevailed throughout was a spirit of collaboration, leadership and team work to find solutions to challenges, as well as the sharing of successes.

The Southern African governors’ annual meeting resolved to help convene and host the RI President’s Conference on Economic and Community Development in Cape Town on 27 February 2016.

Highlights included presentations by Ashley Uys, on inexpensive diagnostic kits for malaria, HIV and other diseases which cause numerous deaths in Africa, and by Dr David Harrison who spoke about early childhood development and emphasised the importance of stable, loving relationships on childhood development.

PDG Rob Gilligan (D9370) was elected COSA Chair for 2015/17. He succeeded PDG Chris Molam (D9210) who replaced PDG Peter Hugo (D9350) as COSA Convenor and PDG Kobla Quashie (D9400) was elected secretary for the next two years.

“All the governors enjoyed the very successful COSA meetings, expertly convened by PDG Peter Hugo and his D9350 committee, underlining the suitability of Cape Town as an ideal RI Convention venue,” says Chris Molam.

PDG Beth Thomas of D9400 summed it up well. “It was great to get together again at COSA and to be able to network with classmates and colleagues from Southern Africa. Very often we imagine that challenges exist only in our corner of the world. To be able to discuss and listen to our current and future leaders regarding possible solutions, always sends us home with more spirit and enthusiasm.”

The Southern Africa Rotary leadership team which attended the 2015 CoSA. Below: Past RI President and foundation Trustee Chair-elect Ray Klinginsmith addresses the CoSA meeting. Director Safak Alpay and Deniz, PDG Stella Donga and DGn Tom McGhee.


My wife, Deniz, and I had the pleasure and honour to be invited to attend CoSa during last week of March in Cape town.

Besides enjoying the excellent hospitality and fellowship of all members of COSA, I had a great opportunity to talk to senior leaders of Southern Africa on many Rotary subjects. I enjoyed hearing of their experience in Rotary and their vision about Rotary in Africa. I want to congratulate the convener and chair for the well planned programme and especially for the topics and success stories. Each and every presentation made by past, present and future senior leaders was of a very high quality and I found them very instructive. I will be more than glad to share all the notes that I have taken from the meeting with other Rotarians in our great Zone 20. I am sure that they will benefit from them.

There is no doubt that COSA is a very important meeting for the DGEs and DGNs. It provides them with different and important Rotary knowledge

before they start their term, make plans and set goals. On the other hand, I will recommend to my successors that as directors of Zone 20 they should participate in COSA meetings whenever possible. The impressions and information that they can obtain from this important meeting will help them to convey this to the RI Board when needed.

The motivation and excitement that I observed among the senior leaders clearly shows that we will have a great Presidential Conference in Cape Town next year. It will certainly help us to reach the ultimate goal of having an RI Convention in Africa and generate support for the ‘Africa one ZONE’ concept in the near future.

I would like to extend my special thanks to Convener PDG Peter Hugo, our dear friend and aide PDG June Webber and Borg Stannius, as well as DG Andrew Jaeger and his family for the wonderful hospitably and fellowship during our stay in Cape Town.

a message for rotariansChristine Jaeger, Deniz Alpay, RI Director Safak Alpay and DG Andrew Jaeger enjoy a sundowner on Andrew’s wine farm in Tulbach.


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you

th

For the second time in three years, the Interact Club of Hugh Boyd Secondary School (D5040, Canada) took the US$500 grand prize in the annual Interact video contest, beating 88 entries from 33 countries.

“The secret to the club’s success is not only the professional quality of the videos but the stories behind them,” says club member Kyle Gomes, who was the director, cinematographer and editor of this year’s three minute entry, ‘Our Best Day in Interact.’ The video, narrated by several Interact members, shows the students decorating Christmas trees at Richmond’s City Hall, ice skating to raise funds for polio eradication, collecting canned goods for a local food bank, participating in a model UN day in San Diego and rebuilding a pre-school and orphanage in South Africa in 2013.

The ongoing project in South Africa generally includes a team of five Interactors, members of the sponsor Rotary Club of Richmond Sunset

(D5040, Canada), teachers from Hugh Boyd Secondary and firefighters, all of whom spend a month providing assistance to the Refilwe orphanage in Lanseria, Johannesburg.

“We wanted to emphasise how much of an impact we can make in our community,” Gomes says. “Our club is involved in so many projects, it was imperative that we show that in our video. We want the Rotary world to know that Interactors are motivated to give back.”

Club president Melissa Chao was part of the 2013 team that travelled to South Africa and calls it a “life-altering journey.” The group renovated the pre-school that adjoins the orphanage, adding linoleum flooring, expanding the kitchen, fixing the roof and creating a patio and awnings. “I hope to return to Refilwe to continue the progress I made two summers ago,” Chao says.

Gomes will be part of the team travelling to South Africa this July. To help cover the US$3 500 cost for each student, he and the other Interactors

changing the world through interact

narrated by several Interactors, the winning video featured activities and projects undertaken by the club and included the rebuilding of a pre-school and orphanage in lanseria, Johannesburg.


plan to participate in a pledge drive called 24 Without, in which they will fast for 24 hours and refrain from using cell phones and other digital devices.

“This will give us a glimpse of what so many children deal with on a daily basis,” he says.

The Hugh Boyd Interact club, chartered in 2012, has 160 members – almost eight times the total of its sponsor Rotary club. But what the Richmond Sunset club lacks in numbers, it makes up for in strength, thanks in part to the Interactors, says Magdalen Leung, Interact adviser and Richmond Sunset club member. “Their boundless energy motivates our members. We try to include Interactors in all our projects because they add so much enthusiasm,” she says.

“It’s no surprise the club won the contest again,” Leung says. “They represent exactly what Rotary wants from our youth programmes. This will help attract more members to their club, which only makes our family bigger and stronger.”

Engaging in youth programmes is vital to Rotary’s future, Leung says, noting that involving Interactors and Rotaractors in service opportunities “will help these students to be better members of society.”

For Chao, the feeling of appreciation is mutual. “Words can’t describe how extremely grateful we all are to our sponsor club and Rotary for their leadership, mentorship and friendship,” she says.

Her club plans to use its US$500 contest prize as seed money for an upcoming clothing drive for teens at Covenant House Vancouver, a shelter for homeless youth.

The three other finalists and their videos were: Interact Club of Marghita, Romania, ‘Interact Helps the Poor Children’, Interact Club of Geethaanjali, India, ‘Best Day Ever’, and Interact Club of CSI-San Salvador Noroeste, El Salvador, ‘Serving for Better Days.’

Watch the video at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJacyKCmsNw

Scenes from the video, our Best Day in Interact, made by the Interact Club of Hugh Boyd Secondary School which won the uS$500 grand prize in the 2014 Interact video contest.


“the children enjoyed it tremendously and the venue was magnificent,” says Liza Day a teacher at the otjiwarongo Secondary School, namibia. day accompanied youngsters who are members of the school’s Interact club to the annual Interact Conference which was held in Windhoek. the 2015 meeting was the fifth Interact Annual Conference organised and hosted by the Rotary Club of Windhoek (D9350).

More than 90 youngsters from Interact clubs in Otjiwarongo, Swakopmund, Walvis Bay and Windhoek attended the event which was held at the Habitat Centre.

As a strategy to introduce primary school students to the Interact concept, leaders from the Grade 7 class at Marti Ahtisaari Primary School were invited to participate. Their enthusiasm indicated that they are going to join, or start, an Interact club when they begin high school next year.

The programme at Saturday’s event included

presentations by dynamic Namibians, Ali Ipinge, Theo Ickua, Claudine Mouton and Lizette Feris. All four hold key leadership positions in the public or private sectors. Petra Dillmann, of Autism Namibia, discussed her organisation while Haaveshe Nekongo-Nielsen spoke about career planning.

There were also fun activities on the programme. These incorporated an icebreaker by MaryBeth Gallagher which encouraged the youngsters from different schools and towns to mingle.

The youngsters thoroughly enjoyed Martina Schwardmann’s dancing lesson. This was followed by a competition in which they all participated. Martina’s magic worked and it was amazing to see how it helped the youngsters gain confidence over such a short period of time.

There are seven Rotary clubs in Namibia, three in Windhoek and the other four in Lüderitz, Walvis Bay, Swakopmund and Otjiwarongo. These clubs have sponsored eight Interact clubs.

lizette feris discusses road safety awareness with the Interactors.

captivating conference

Share your youth news Send stories, of no more than 650 words, and photographs,

at least 1mg in size, to [email protected] for group photographs with six people or less, must

include the first and last names of everyone in the picture.


The fiercely contested Rotary/Daily News Team Talk competition commenced with the preliminary rounds in March. This exciting event took place at the Meadowlands Technical High School which is led by Carmen Rajdew, the school’s acting principal and the Youth Services Director of the Rotary Club of Chatsworth (D9370). This year was a milestone for the Chatsworth club which entered six secondary schools, Meadowlands Technical High School, Montarena Secondary, Arena Park Secondary, newhaven Secondary, Crossmoor Secondary and Kharwastan Secondary, into the event. The six schools battled it out and two advanced to the semi final rounds.

The Rotary Club of Colesberg (D9370) sent three learners to the D9370 RYlA camp which was held at life Adventures outdoor Education and Training Centre, on the vaal Eden, Parys. Three learners, James Rous, Alec Ramsay and Guina Rodrigues enjoyed a weekend of leadership training and personal growth and development. Enjoying the camp are James Rous, Alec Ramsay, Rozanne McDonald, Guina Rodrigues and Gert Stolz (back).

nicolo Rech returned from Chile after spending a year there as a Rotary Youth Exchange student. nicolo shared his exchange experience with the Rotary Club of Tzaneen (D9400) and exchanged a banner with President neels van der Merwe.

Rotarians John Small and Gary Galanos (back) with the members of the Interact Club of Beaconhurst, vuyo Cungu, Astara Juretic, Rosetta Sihlangu and Yolisa Singhapi, whom the Rotary Club of Beacon Bay (D9370) sent to attend a RYlA camp that was held near Grahamstown.


Competitiveness crackled through the air at Rheenendal village Cricket field when Epilepsy SA (Southern Cape) won the toss and decided to bat first in its annual cricket match against the Rotary Club of Knysna (D9350). When the Epilepsy SA players wrested the trophy away from them last year. The Rotarians began the match determined to reverse last year’s result. However, it was not to be as the Epilepsy SA players won by 41 runs. The encounter was followed by a braai of sirloin steaks, expertly grilled by Rotarian Mike Mills, and a variety of salads prepared by the Anns.

over the years, the Rotary Club of Beacon Bay (D9370) has supported Child Welfare: East london. Soraya leeuw, the director of Child Welfare, and her team work tirelessly to meet the needs of neglected, abandoned, orphaned and exploited children in the area. With Soraya is Rotarian Annetia Hechroodt.

lillian Hopkins (centre) is a sprightly and very active 97-year-old member of the Rotary Club of Beacon Bay (D9370), who was most recently sighted manning the Ironman registration table with fellow Rotarians Margi Coutts and Sibongile Booi.

roun

d up


The Rotary Club of vereeniging (D9400) entered three teams in the CAnSA vaal Triangle Relay for life event and donated R15 000 to CAnSA. This is the club’s fourth consecutive year of supporting the great fundraiser.

District Governor Ken Chibesakunda (right) visited the Rotary Club of Harare City (D9210) to meet its members and visit the various projects underway in Harare. With DG Ken is President Patrick Chapuredima.

The Rotary Club of Harare City (D9210) celebrated 110 years of Rotary in style and its members enjoyed a beautiful cake made to commemorate the special day.

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At the Marrakesh Rotary Institute in Morocco, PDG natty Moodley (left), Regional Rotary Coordinator Zone 20A South, and Gona naidoo (second from right), a past assistant governor and member of the Rotary Club Durban Clairwood Park (D9370), met RI President Gary Huang (centre)and the members of the institute’s organising committee.


The Rotary Club of Beacon Bay (D9370) welcomed home two of its members, Alan Shaw and John Small, who participated in the Cape Town Cycle Tour. Beacon Bay Rotarian Rob Thorpe (centre) was previously a member of the Rotary Club of Claremont (D9350) and was part of the Rotary team which set up the first Cape Argus Cycle Ride, now called the Cape Town Cycle Tour, in 1982.

The Rotary Club of omole Golden (D9110, nigeria) provided deworming medication to more than 500 children from oba ogundimu Primary School. This project was undertaken as part of the club’s mission to to prevent disease and malnutrition within its community. Before the exercise began, Rotarian Dr omowunmi Bakare spoke to the children about the importance of deworming and proper hygiene.


The learners of Junagarth Road Primary School received ToMS Shoes from the Rotary Club of Durban Clairwood Park (D9370).

As a result of Ann President Ingrid Edelson moving to Somerset West in the Cape and also going on the Turkish Rotary friendship Exchange in April, the Rotary Anns of Kloof (D9370) inducted its new president, Andrena foster, and presented its Ann of the year award at its March meeting. Three new Anns , Andrea Ras, Kobie Renzow and Margie Mathew, received certificates for their dedication to Rotary while Jehanne Blades received a certificate for her outstanding and ongoing work. The Edelson floating Trophy for the Ann of the Year went to Wendy Scorgie (left). Ingrid Edelson (right) was given a going away gift of a string of pearls and matching earrings.

There was a full and enthusiastic house for a bingo evening organised by the Rotary Club of Beacon Bay (D9370). The club invited members from neighbouring clubs to participate. President Brian van der Merwe (Bonza Bay) and lesley Clayton (Gonubie) were presented with prizes by Beacon Bay President Angela Woodhal (centre).


The Rotary Club of George (D9350) has been associated with the university of Cape Town School of Dance for six years. PDG Rodney Mazinter and his Ann, Mavis, a lecturer and instructor at the school, facilitated the association with the George club. The school’s third tour to George took place in April and 16 young dancers were hosted by Rotarians. under the auspices of the George club, they presented workshops and demonstrations at schools in the area and gave two outstanding performances at the George Arts Theatre to enthusiastic audiences. “We were all entertained by a high standard of dancing and our minds were transported and uplifted by the beauty of the dances and music,” said PP Charles Rowe. Above: PDG Rodney Mazinter, Mavis Mazinter (lecturer at uCT School of Dance), Gerard Samuel (Director of the uCT School of Dance), PP Charles Rowe, (front) dancers Roxanne Paulse, Thara Alcock and Kimberleigh Hurndall.

The Rotary Club of Knysna (D9350) received its first Global Grant worth R430 600 for the Knysna Sport School (KSS) within the focus area of Peace and Conflict Prevention. It arose from a close and constructive collaboration with the Rotary Club of nieuwkoop (D1570, netherlands). over the years, Rotarians from the nieuwkoop and Knysna clubs have taken a hands-on interest in KSS and contributed to its growth and development. Today, KSS coaches about 1 000 children – most are from disadvantaged communities – in eight different types of sport ranging from soccer to golf. Recently, President Marjo Hoogenbosch and a group of Rotarians from nieuwkoop visited KSS and an official presentation of the grant was held. At the handover are President John Satchel, Jan van Wageningen, Willem Pompies, President Marjo Hoogenbosch, Paulus Sigonyela, Iain Coetzee and Hans Tollenaar.


Share your club news Send stories, of no more than 650 words, and photographs,

at least 1mg in size, to [email protected] for group photographs with six people or less, must

include the first and last names of everyone in the picture.

The Rotary Club of Scottburgh (D9370) attended the presentation of literacy certificates to the learners of the Amandawe operation upgrade facility.

The Rotary Club of vanderbijlpark (D9400) celebrated Rotary International’s 110th birthday. A special birthday cake, decorated with the theme light up Rotary, was baked for the occasion.


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News, studies, and recent research

Walking may boost creativity, according to a series of experiments out of Stanford University. Researchers administered

several common tests of creativity, such as asking participants to devise novel uses for everyday objects and draw associations among unrelated words, as the subjects sat or walked, either outdoors or on a treadmill. �e simple act of walking was asso-ciated with increased scores for 81 percent of participants, and a residual creative boost when they were seated again. Subjects produced the most novel and highest-quality responses when they strolled alfresco.

2.5 billion people are at risk of dengue fever, a mosquito-borne viral infec-tion and leading cause of illness and death for children in

tropical climates. �e New York Times reports that an experimental vaccine reduced the incidence of dengue fever by 56 percent in a recent clinical trial by French pharma-ceutical company Sanofi. �e first late-stage trial of this vaccine involved 10,275 children in Southeast Asia, and a second is planned for Latin America.

Pain is expressed clearly on the human face thanks to tiny muscle movements, but the untrained eye can seldom tell the difference between genuine and

phony pain reactions. A new computer program designed by researchers at the Univer-sity of California, San Diego, was far more successful in a study in Current Biology. �e program reviewed 1,800 frames of video footage featuring volunteers in simulated or real pain (achieved by plunging an arm into ice water) and analyzed minute facial cues to discern whether the expressions were triggered by voluntary or involuntary motor responses. It was accurate 85 percent of the time, whereas human observers were accu-rate about 50 percent of the time.

1 percent of children in the Central African Republic have books in their homes, compared with 97 percent of young Ukrainians – just

one example of the ongoing global disparities highlighted in the UNICEF 2014 State of the World’s Children report. Reviewing data from developing countries, statisticians also found that while residents of rural areas make up less than half the world’s population, they account for 83 percent of those who don’t have access to clean water.

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If heroes seem to be every-where these days, that’s because they are, according

to Elizabeth Svoboda, who, in What Makes a Hero? � e Sur-prising Science of Selflessness (Current Hardcover, 2013), delves into the science of how and why people act selfl essly.

� e defi nition of a hero has expanded from a quasi-mythi-cal fi gure, she says, to include soldiers, fi refi ghters, and “social heroes ” – such as professional football players who speak out about head injuries, and kids who stand up to bullies. � is refl ects our culture’s assump-tion that anyone can be a hero, and creates the expectation that

we all should act heroically, or at least “pro-socially, ” to help those in need.

But there is a fine line between behaving altruistically and acting heroically, and Svo-boda spends much of the book examining new research into

why we help others and whether humans have evolved an instinct for what’s called “group selection ” – meaning that we help others because group survival is better for all of us. As evolutionary biologist Charles Goodnight explains: “You put one person in the mid-dle of the jungle and they’re din-ner. Twenty people, you have a village. We can’t survive on our own, but we can collectively. ”

Svoboda reports on neuro-science research that has found that donating to a worthy cause activates the same brain regions as our craving for food and sex, suggesting a similarly deep motivation. She also explores

how volunteering can boost health and life satisfaction.

� e book closes with a prac-tical look at how to cultivate a more altruistic mindset. Altruistic people tend to see themselves as capable of getting things done, and consider themselves part of a larger human family. � ey also, she says, see life through a redemp-tive lens, focusing on the good that comes out of the bad. � ese things make the diff er-ence. “Heroes, ” Svoboda writes, “are mostly regular people who harness their desire to care for others and make an extraordi-nary commitment to reach out to them. ” – FRANK BURES

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Much to the delight of Siyabonga and his mother, nhlanhla Mahlangu, the Rotary Club of Benoni van Ryn (D9400) gave him a new wheelchair.

The satellite club of the Rotary Club of Empangeni (D9370), which is based in Mtunzini, gave gifts to the children of Iselesele Crèche. for many of these children it was the first time they had ever received a gift or a new toy. With some of the children is the club’s chair, Penny Bunting.


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cele

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The Rotary Club of Tygerberg (D9350) was chartered on 23 february 2004 and celebrated its 11th anniversary at a gala event at the Hollow Tree Restaurant. It was a double celebration as the occasion also marked Rotary International’s 110th birthday. At the gala event are President Chris lesch, Interactors Althan Sampson and Austin Januarie and District Governor Cecil Rose.

The Rotary Club of Pietermaritzburg (D9370) recently celebrated its 90th charter anniversary. Established in 1925 by the Rotary Club of durban, it’s the second oldest club in KwaZulu-natal and one of the oldest South african clubs.

The anniversary dinner was held at the Maritzburg Golf Club and was attended by many Rotary dignitaries, including presidents from a number of Rotary clubs.

The evening’s programme included a brief

presentation on the history of the club by Past President Peter Webster, who has been a member of the club for 45 years. This was followed by a toast to the club by Past President Pat Cornell, the longest serving member of the club, with 50 years’ service.

The evening’s guest speaker was Dr Albert van Jaarsveld, the vice-chancellor of the University of KwaZulu-Natal. He outlined the value of the university and expressed the need for people to support efforts to grow the institution.

At the Rotary Club of Pietermaritzburg’s (D9370) 90th anniversary dinner are President Mike Hiron (Durban), President liz Dewes ( Pietermaritzburg), President Geoff Calmeyer (Pietermaritzburg Azalea), President Anita Harms (Hilton & Howick), Dr Albert van Jaarsveld (uKZn) and Past President Patric Coope. (Pietermaritzburg). Photo: Richard Boote.

A very happy 90th


welcomed and honoured

reco

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Lothar Backes is a new member of the Rotary Club of Swakopmund (D9350).

President of the Rotary Club of Empangeni Christo van Heerden and Area Co-ordinator Richard Brooks and Chair Penny Bunting, Neil Perry, Peggy Sclanders, Gideon van der Merwe, Kim Perry, Sarina van Heerden, Laurie van der Merwe and Errol Sclanders who are the members of the new satellite club of the Rotary Club of Empangeni (D9370), based in Mtunzini.

GET IT DonE EARlY!Send your club details for inclusion in the

2015/16 edition of Which Club Meets Today to: [email protected]


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Send us their picture and name. Contact Sharon at [email protected]

Robin Smith was made an honorary member of the Rotary Club of Durban Berea (D9370).

Tony Leon was recognised as a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Club of Durban (D9370).

Past President Marcel Hoogebeen and Sabine Ehrmann are new members of the Rotary Club of Tygerberg (D9350).

Bertie Nel was recognised as a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Club of Tygerberg (D9350).

Henry and Sue Fairweather are new members of the Rotary Club of Knysna (D9350).

Daria Gorbaszewicz was recognised as a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Club of Haenertsburg (D9400).

welcomed and honoured

Garnet de la Hunt was posthumously recognised as a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Club of Tygerberg (D9350). His widow, Virginia, accepted the fellowship his behalf.

Rodney Harman is a new member of the Rotary Club of Haenertsburg (D9400).

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