FEBRUARY IS: Peace & Conflict Resolution Awareness Month DISTRICT FOCUS: D9102 Ghana, Niger, Benin & Togo FOUNDATION CORNER: The Rotary Foundation Cadre Reach Out to Africa – ROTA Issue 8/ February 2015 February is Peace and Conflict Resolution awareness month. What have YOU done this month to promote peace?? 2 Reach Out to Africa – ROTA EDITOR’S NOTE Issue 8/ February 2015 February is awash with News!!!!!! Beloved friends and fellow Rotarians, As February begins, we are reminded that it is designated as PEACE & CONFLICT RESOLUTION AWARENESS MONTH, as revised by the RI board last year. In keeping with the theme and also being By PDG Geeta Manek ROTA Newsletter Editor 2014/15 the month that many of you will celebrate Valentine’s Day, I hope we will remember to initiate projects that will promote love and peace within our communities. As is the case every month, I really want to thank you all for ‘showing up’ as usual with your stories right from the Rotary heart of Africa. Indeed, the newsletter team has been kept busy this month as we have been awash with so much news, we have been well tasked to deliver on our promise of a diverse and enriching issue. I hope you will enjoy reading it, as much as we enjoyed putting it all together. Just in case your story or item was not featured this month, don’t worry we promise to have space for you next month. NB: As always, do note our guideline for submissions. For us to be able to accommodate more from you, we request that you please send us articles that are strictly 200 to 400 words (500 words max) and accompanied by a high quality image/ picture. Email me at [email protected]. Happy Valentine’s dear friends! Happy Peace & Conflict Resolution Month! Viva Rotary! 3 Reach Out to Africa – ROTA Issue 8/ February 2015 CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE Most, if not all Rotarians are aware that Monday 23rd support for the hungry. February 2015, will be Rotary’s 110th Anniversary. To commemorate this historic date, R.I President Gary Huang has decided to organise a special Rotary Day in Rome, Italy, on 23rd February, at which a high profile event will take place I intend that my speech and at the FAO Headquarters under the theme “Hunger Alleviation” and will focus on reducing malnutrition, supporting agricultural efforts and encouraging economic development. being undertaken by Rotarians in their specific Regions. President Gary, has honoured ROTA in this regard, by inviting me as current ROTA Chair, to participate in this historic event and speak on Rotary projects in Africa that promote economic and agricultural development, nutritional education and Rotary’s 110th Anniversary presentation should be as representative of the various parts of the African continent, as possible. To this end, I have written to all ROTA Regional Chairs, to submit reports on any significant Hunger Alleviation projects, PDG Patrick D. Chisanga ROTA Chair 2014/15 In addition to my clarion call to all the 9 Region Chairs, I would now like to extend my invitation to all current District Governors to submit any touching reports on Hunger Alleviation, the fight against malnutrition that clubs in your districts may have carried out or are currently undertaking. All reports should be accompanied by appropriate photos. Remember, one good picture is worth a 4 Reach Out to Africa – ROTA thousand words. I hope to receive feedback by 7th February, at the latest. I should also like to suggest that all clubs in your districts should hold a ”Hunger Alleviation” event, on the 23rd of February, to showcase Rotary’s hunger alleviation and economic development accomplishments to educate members, UN Colleagues and non-Rotarians alike across Africa. I look forward to receiving some really heart-warming feedback. Issue 8/ February 2015 Rotary’s 110th Anniversary Continued from page 4. Your Partner in lighting up Rotary in Africa. Have you registered for Sao Paolo? Visit www.riconvention.org TODAY 5 Reach Out to Africa – ROTA Issue 8/ February 2015 6 Reach Out to Africa – ROTA Issue 8/ February 2015 Rotarians, Mark Your 2015 Calendars NOW… Rotary’s 110th Birthday, February 23rd 2015 2015 RI Convention, Sao Paolo, Brazil – 6-9 June, 2015 All Africa Breakfast – Sao Paolo, Brazil – 8 June 2015 RI Zone20A Institute, Mombasa, Kenya – 14-19 September 2015 7 Reach Out to Africa – ROTA Issue 8/ February 2015 SECRETARY’S There will be no peace DESK There is nothing one can achieve in life in the absence of peace. Businesses and socials thrive better in a tranquil environment. A humble definition of peace is a calm and quiet environment, lack of interruption or annoyance from worry, problems, noise or unwanted actions. Rotary and Rotarians worldwide preaches peace. Peace in our clubs, peace in our District, peace in our community, peace with one PDG Lawrence Okwor ROTA Secretary 2014/15 [email protected] another and peace in the whole world. We appreciate that we all have varying backgrounds culminating in us reacting differently to the same action. That is where tolerance comes in. There can be no tolerance without understanding. Imagine a world where the Children of Israelites can safely and conveniently exchange visits with the families of Pakistanis and vice versa under the Vocational training program of our Foundation, Youth exchange or Ambassadorial for the wicked programs. Imagine a Rotary Club where mutual respect is the order of the day. A Rotary Club where we do not display our bad manners. Not because we do not have one but because we leave it behind whenever we are attending Rotary meetings. Or better still, because joining Rotary has made us better citizens. Remember that the grooming of Man/Woman is the duty we claim. Every Rotarian should be perturbed by the growing insecurity in some Countries and the World at large. This is part of the reason why The Rotary Foundation and Rotarians have been spending a lot of money sponsoring peace fellows in various Universities. Governments budget huge sums of money to maintain peace; funds that ordinarily should be spent on infrastructure. By the time Rotary and Rotarians 8 Reach Out to Africa – ROTA succeed in instituting peace in the world, communities worldwide will start enjoying peace dividends. However, to be at peace with the world, starts with being at peace with oneself. Be it known that there will be no peace for the wicked as the scriptures have foretold. Issue 8/ February 2015 Secretary’s Message continued from page 7... Following tragic floods in Malawi, a Rotary Task Force has been established comprising the 5 Rotary Clubs of Limbe, Blantyre, Lilongwe, Bwaila and Mzuzu. TO HELP YOU CAN NOW SEND A DONATION TO: FOREIGN CURRENCY (USD) A/C Name: Rotary2015 Disaster Fund National Bank of Malawi Capital City Branch, Lilongwe, Malawi 9 Reach Out to Africa – ROTA By Patrick G. Coleman Issue 8/ February 2015 ENG: FACEBOOK: The New Bulletin Board of Rotary Interested in Polio Eradication? Check out: End Polio Now En Finir Avec La Polio EndPolioNow: Cabaret dimprovisation pour en finir avec la Polio Rotary Worlds Greatest Meal to Help End Polio, and dozens more. Photography? Rotary Photography Fellowship Are you a beer lover? Rotary BREW Fellowship Seriously! Getting Rotary news out to other Rotarians – and the world at large – has always been a Do you collect coins? Rotary Fellowship of challenge. Coin Collectors Paper newsletters are either too “grey” (lots of words and hard to read) or too “glitzy” (heavy on the graphics and picture and light on actual information). I have been to Rotary meetings where nearly half of the newsletters are left on tables after the meeting. Emailed newsletters are often just as ignored or “lost” along the The list goes on and there are hundreds of Rotary Clubs, Rotaract Club s and Interact Clubs that have their own pages and groups. Internet highway. Enter the 21st century… Facebook has become the new Rotary bulletin board. There are Facebook pages and groups for almost every Rotary fellowship, action group of special interest. provision for about 150 languages including “Pirate” English where you can “Update yer plundering” or share “What be troublin’ ye” and your friends are “scallywags.” (No, this does Interested in Rotary History? Check out: Rotary Global History Fellowship (RGHF) I have heard some Rotarians make the excuse “I am too old to learn new tricks.” My father is While most of the Rotary pages are in English, there are also pages in various languages in the Rotary world. Facebook has made not translate well into French!) 10 Reach Out to Africa – ROTA Issue 8/ February 2015 86 years old and he keeps up with his four sons, their wives, 14 grandchildren and an ever-growing number of great-grandchildren. I am also very please to note that our great friend PRID Gidi Peiper joined our Facebook family just after the Rotary Zone 20 A&B Institute in Marrakesh last November! Do not let “age” be your excuse. Jump in… the water in the 21st century is great! FRE: FACEBOOK: Le nouveau point de rencontre du Rotary Par Patrick G. Coleman La diffusion d’informations sur le Rotary à d'autres Rotariens - et à travers le monde d’action aux intérêts spécifiques. en général - a toujours été un défi. Vous êtes intéressés par l'histoire du Rotary? https://www.facebook.com/RotaryGlobalHistory Fellowship?fref=ts Les bulletins papier sont soit trop "gris" (beaucoup de mots et difficile à lire) ou trop "fastidieux" (Plein de graphiques, d’images et de focus sur des données importantes). J’ai assisté à des réunions du Rotary où près de la moitié des newsletter sont laissées sur les tables après la réunion. Les news par email sont souvent tout aussi ignoré ou «perdues» sur l'autoroute de l'Internet. Entrez dans le 21ème siècle ... Facebook est devenu le nouveau lien d’échange du Rotary. Il y a des pages Facebook et des groupes pour presque chaque club Rotary, ou groupe d’action aux intérêts spécifiques. Vous êtes intéressés par l'histoire du Rotary Vous êtes intéressé par l’éradication de la poliomyélite ? https://www.facebook.com/pages/End-PolioNow/78976274836?fref=ts https://www.facebook.com/EnFinirAvecLaPolio ?fref=ts https://www.facebook.com/events/5456606822 45345/?fref=ts et plusieurs autres. Photographie? https://www.facebook.com/pages/RotaryPhotographyFellowship/157000391035873?fref=ts 11 Reach Out to Africa – ROTA Facebook… continue de la page 10... Aimez-vous la bière? https://www.facebook.com/groups/3290696939 38136/. Franchement! Issue 8/ February 2015 langues. Facebook a prévu environ 150 langues, y compris l’anglais "Pirate" où vous pouvez “Update yer plundering” ou raconter “What be troublin’ ye” et vos amis sont “scallywags.” (Non, cela ne se traduit pas bien en français!) Avez-vous collectionnez les pièces? Je ai entendu des Rotariens donner l'excuse «Je suis trop vieux pour apprendre de https://www.facebook.com/groups/1486271068 281561/ nouveaux trucs." Mon père est âgé de 86 ans et il est toujours dans le coup avec ses quatre La liste est longue et il y a des centaines de clubs Rotary, Clubs Rotaract et Clubs Interact qui ont leurs propres pages ou groupes. Si la plupart des pages du Rotary sont en anglais, il y en existe aussi en plusieurs autres langues. Facebook a prévu environ 150 langues, y compris l’anglais "Pirate" où vous pouvez “Update yer plundering” ou raconter “What be troublin’ ye” et vos amis sont “scallywags.” (Non, cela ne se traduit pas bien en français!) fils, leurs épouses, 14 petits-enfants et un nombre sans cesse croissant de grands-petitsenfants. Je suis également très heureux de constater que notre grand ami PRID Gidi Peiper a rejoint notre famille Facebook juste après l’Institut de Zone 20 A & B à Marrakech en Novembre! Ne laissez pas «l’âge» être votre excuse. Jetezvous à l'eau… celle du 21e siècle est très bonne ! 12 Reach Out to Africa – ROTA APPEL A CONTRIBUTION URGENTE Issue 8/ February 2015 Objet: Sollicitation d'Action d'Urgence post-cyclonique - Distribution de vivres Référence: Cyclone CHEDZA - Région Vatovavy Fitovinany - Sud-Est de Madagascar Période de passage du cyclone: 17 & 18 Janvier 2015 Trajectoire: Rentrée à Morondava: Côte Ouest de Madagascar Sortie à Manakara: Cote Est de Madagascar Nombre de décès: 8 Nombre de sinistrés: 3744 (soient 788 familles) Maisons détruites: 406 Action déjà effectuée par le RC Manakara: 19 Janvier 2015 Distribution de 1 Tonne de riz (cf photos) Le RC Manakara sollicite la contribution de la Grande Famille Rotarienne pour subvenir aux besoins des familles sinistrées en Denrées de Premières Nécessités. C'est un des moments où le ROTARY doit faire ses preuves et mettre en avant sa vocation. Dèjà, nous vous en remercions par avance Le Président du RC Manakara, Randremba Sylvie, TEL: 033 71 189 68 13 Reach Out to Africa – ROTA Issue 8/ February 2015 Membership In Africa Analysis 2014-15 Following ROTA meeting in Marrakesh in November 2014, where trustee Sam Owori challenged the attending troika of African districts to work on an achievable goal for membership (A simple ratio of one Rotarian per 10,000 of each country’s population), I decided to take up the challenge was keen to complete the exercise to see where it goes, at least theoretically. So, based on RI membership figures for December 2014 and World Population (Wikipedia), I managed to analyze the following: 2014 Figs. #Clubs #Members Total Africa Population Usama Barghouthi RRFC, Zone 20B Currently 1 Rotarian Per Rotarians should be Gap of Districts Average Members per Club 39,670 109,541 (81,928) 15 22.7 1,095,407,3 1,215 27,613 25 Meaning, to reach the 0.01%, Rotarians in Africa should ideally be 109,541 when currently the number is 27,613. We therefore have to quadruple our membership. Bearing in mind that many European countries have the ratio of one Rotarian to 500. USA and Korea have a ratio close to one in 900. The best example of world countries to compare with and to use as a guide is INDIA: India has a population of 1.3 Billion, which is close to 1.1 Billion for Africa India has 128,000 Rotarians which is at the rate of One Rotarian for 9,860 (close to our quest of One Rotarian for 10,000) India has 3357 clubs at the rate of 38 Rotarians per club while Africa has 1215 clubs at the rate of 22.7 Rotarians per club. When looking into the membership ratios (see links to PDFs)(Green is highest, Red is weak), we notice that Réunion has the healthiest ratio of Rotarians for its population (1 in 1510). Cabo Verde, Gabon, Mauritius, Mayotte, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles also have better ratios than (one in 10,000). Below is a comparison of the countries with highest number of Rotarians, (above 1000): 14 Reach Out to Africa – ROTA Issue 8/ February 2015 Membership In Africa Analysis 2014-15 continued… Country 1 # # Clubs Members 21 557 Réunion Pop. Rotarian Per 840,974 1,510 Rotarians should be Average Gap of District Member/ Club 84 9220 26.5 African Countries with highest number of Rotarians (greater than 1000) (Gap of) refers to the shortage between the current membership and reaching the ratio of 0.01% 1 # Clubs Members Egypt 78 1937 87,533,200 45,190 8,753 (6,816) 2451 24.8 Ghana 36 1164 27,043,093 23,233 2,704 (1,540) 9102 32.3 Kenya 61 1521 41,800,000 27,482 4,180 (2,659) 9212 24.9 Nigeria 279 6658 178,517,000 26,812 17,852 (11,194) South Africa 214 4166 54,002,000 12,963 5,400 (1,234) Uganda 76 2372 36,600,000 15,430 3,660 (1,288) Country Pop. Rotarian Per Rotarians Average # should be Gap of District Member/ Club 9110/9125/ 9140 9350/9370/ 9400 9211 23.9 19.5 31.2 15 Reach Out to Africa – ROTA Issue 8/ February 2015 16 Reach Out to Africa – ROTA Issue 8/ February 2015 District 9220 is proud to announce that IPDG Jean Ravelonarivo has been appointed Prime Minister of the Republic of Madagascar. The ROTA Executive Committee together with DG Alen Topsy, on behalf of President Gary Huang and the entire District, convey sincere congratulations and best wishes to IPDG Jean in his new responsibilities. Great news out of RC Antananarivo Ainga Something worth noting is the fact that RC Antananarivo Ainga has now provided two Rotarians at the highest echelon of the Republic of Madagascar. PP Hery, was elected President of the Republic last year. NB: With IPDG Jean Ravelonarivo’s appointment as Prime Minister, it follows that: (i) IPDG Jean cannot be part of the nominating committee for 2017-2018 Governorship and (ii) he cannot be an active member of RC Antananarivo Ainga, but rather an Honorary member of the club. Newly appointed Prime Minister of Madagascar IPDG Jean Ravelonarivo 17 Reach Out to Africa – ROTA Issue 8/ February 2015 Arising from an invitation to address the 2014 Zones 30 and 31 Institute in Kansas City about doing projects in Africa, Past District Governor of District 9370, Nick Phillips, decided to compile a booklet showcasing all the Rotary districts on our beautiful continent. Every month the ROTA editorial team, will serialize this booklet and highlight one Rotary district in Africa. Rotarians in Africa are spread across 15 districts in 9 regions, out of 55 countries. This Month we focus on District 9102. 18 Reach Out to Africa – ROTA Issue 8/ February 2015 ROTARY IN AFRICA OUR DISTRICT D9102 in West Africa was created two years ago out of the former District 9100. This is something District 9102: that has given the leadership the opportunity to create a more intimate district, with better avenues Ghana, Togo, Benin for closer networking to foster the ideals of Rotary, to develop better projects that meet the needs of our communities and also to enhance fellowship. & Niger Our District comprising Ghana, Togo, Benin and Niger, with more than 2000 members, has some of the highest rural communities in the sub-region and PROJECT SUCCESSES - TOGO by drawing on the Areas of Focus of the Rotary Foundation, we intend to create more success stories for the image of Rotary and improve the lives of our social partners. CONTACT We believe that there is room for many Rotarians and other benevolent entities who would like to support projects in our communities. The principal contact point to obtain more information concerning our project or to offer your contribution is our DG Maurice Edorh at [email protected], who will direct you to the most appropriate person. Toxic dumpsite before Toxic dumpsite after Additional information may also be obtained from our project bank at West Africa Projects Fair domain, www.westafricaprojectfair.org. 19 Reach Out to Africa – ROTA An 11-year-old partnership between SolidariteBrulesnantes-Lome, Rotary Clubs in Lome & CHU Sylvanus Olympio has undertaken several projects over the years including training of surgeons, anesthetist nurses, physiotherapists, biomedical technicians, training in operating theatres and sponsorship of one surgeon for training in Paris. Issue 8/ February 2015 Project inauguration This project in Togo consisted of the construction of a post operation recovery room for better treatment management of acute burns victims (skin grafts, bandaging) and the opening of a children’s burns unit. This should allow the reintegration of burns victims by treatment for them to regain their dignity and to regain their rightful place in society. Completed Public Toilet PROJECT WISH LIST - BENIN PROVISION OF MOTORIZED BOATS AND LIFE JACKET VESTS TO GANVIÉ 1 PUBLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL IN BENIN The city of So-Ava characterized houses on stilts in a lake is located off the Atlantic coast in Benin. The main activities carried out there are fishing, trade, tourism and transport. The principal mode of transport is by boats and canoes without which very little activity can take place. Unfortunately, few parents are able to provide transportation for their children due to lack of boats, or because of their occupations. Schools boys and girls have to struggle and rush to the first boat on the water ready to go towards their schools. It even happens that some students stay at school very long waiting for a boat to return home after school. 20 Reach Out to Africa – ROTA Motorized boats and Life-jacket vests project Benin Issue 8/ February 2015 In addition, the boats used by some parents for school transport are very small and because of that they capsized frequently near speedy motorized boats. Parents in this community register frequently their children’s death because of that. Two Rotaract clubs in Cotonou (Rive gauche Elite and Palmier) have decided to help remedy this situation by initiating this project. PROJECT WISH LIST - GHANA TO BUILD COMMUNITY HEALTH CARE AND SANITATION FACILITIES FOR THE PEOPLE OF MPOASE AND SURROUNDING TOWNS. PROJECT FACILITIES a. Drinking water: Most rivers and lagoons in this area are heavily polluted with sachet water rubbers and household waste. There are very few hygienic sources of drinking water taking into account the population size of these communities. b. Toilets: To build more public toilets in the area, so that residents will stop using the beaches. c. Health Care: The nearest health facility is the Dansoman Poly clinic, which is several kilometers away. As Rotarians, we justify our existence by how much good and relief we can bring to the less privileged in our communities. The Rotary Club of Accra South over the years we have carried out humanitarian service in many communities in and out of Accra. For this rotary year, our aim is to bring hope and relief to the people of Mpoase and its surrounding towns. We have engaged the chief and elders of this town have willingly offered Rotary Club of Accra South a large parcel of land for this project. 21 Reach Out to Africa – ROTA Issue 8/ February 2015 YOUR STORIES U GAN DA (D 9 211 ): T he U ga nda Rota r y B lood Ba nk By Rtn. Ronald Kawaddwa “Uganda needs about shs 1.8billion to carry out blood collection operations,” the Uganda Blood Transfusion Services Bureau Chairperson, mentioned while Cancer Centre at St Raphael of St Francis Nsambya Hospital. The blood bank will be a 7,500 sq. ft. centrally air conditioned state of the art facility set up on 800 sq. meters in appearing before the Parliamentary committee on Health in 2013. Mengo Hospital. The target of the project committee is to raise USD 600,000 for this dream project. The funding will be a mix of Rotary International grants for equipment and staff training, Rotarians and private individuals and companies for the building constructions. Mid 2013, there emerged worrying reports of blood shortage in various parts of the country and in major hospitals around the country prompting various humanitarian groups and organisations like Rotary in Uganda to initiate blood donation drives to avert the situation. Rotary Clubs in District 9211under the leadership of PDG, Emmanuel Katongole (DG 2013-14), have initiated what will become the second largest public service initiative taken up by a humanitarian organisation, The first being the Rotary At the District conference in April 2013, where the then RIP Ron D. Burton sent the Rotary Foundation Chair PRIP D.K. Lee as his RIPPR, a Rotary blood bank fundraising musical concert was held with famous African and Congolese superstar Koffi Olomide and various local artistes performing. Over USD 100,000 was raised and since then several other fundraising events attracting major 22 Reach Out to Africa – ROTA Issue 8/ February 2015 The Uganda Rotary Blood Bank continued… corporate organisations have been held to achieve this dream. The Uganda Rotary Blood Bank will consist of: the Rotary Blood Bank structure with associated equipment, the training of staff to run the bank and the annual blood donation programs. For more information, participation and donations towards the Uganda Rotary Blood Bank Programme, please contact: PDG Emmanuel Katongole Chairman, Uganda Rotary Blood Bank Programme Tel:+256 772 727262 Email: [email protected] PP Ronald Kawaddwa is the Vice Chairman of the Uganda Rotary Blood Bank Management Committee. 23 Reach Out to Africa – ROTA Issue 8/ February 2015 Greening The Desert Multiplying farm incomes, reversing migration, Rotary blazes a trail in Rajasthan. By Rasheeda Bhagat INTERNATIONAL PROJECT FOCUS Water banks Unlike a dam built across an existing river/rivulet, a check When an old woman from a remote, interior village in Rajasthan’s Sikar district comes forth with a confident toothless grin and whispers in the ear of a Rotarian that “this year I made Rs 1 lakh by selling fish which a contractor had quietly put in this dam for me,” you have to take note. This feat was achieved in the Kemra Wala dam, built in a semi-desert area in Sikar by the Rotary India Water Conservation Trust (RIWCT) in partnership with the PHD Rural Development Foundation. Not only have the incomes of over six lakh villagers – in agri families – in Rajasthan’s Sikar and Alwar districts multiplied several times thanks to dependable water supply allowing three, instead of the earlier one crop, this impressive project has also reversed migration from these semi-arid villages into cities for menial jobs. dam is built to check the flowing away of rainwater from any catchment area. The idea is not to create anew water source for irrigation or drinking but to harness and harvest water, which percolates into the ground and recharges surrounding areas, including wells. To read full story on Check Dam Rajasthan project, click on this link to download PDF summary. 24 Reach Out to Africa – ROTA Issue 8/ February 2015 MEET YOUR ROTA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Patrick D. Chisanga Gideon Peiper Mohamed Ghammam Yasser Assem ROTA CHAIR ROTA VICE CHAIR REGION 1 CHAIR REGION 2 CHAIR Theodore Diop Lawrence Okwor Geeta Manek Antonio Joao Betterncourt REGION 3 CHAIR REGION 4 CHAIR REGION 5 CHAIR REGION 6 CHAIR Martin Forsyth-Thompson Randhir Lamloll Jean-Pierre Lasseni Duboze REGION 7 CHAIR REGION 8 CHAIR REGION 9 CHAIR 25 Reach Out to Africa – ROTA ROTA COMMITTEE MEMBER PROFILE: Issue 8/ February 2015 THIS MONTH WE FOCUS ON OUR CHAIR Rotarian Patrick D. Chisanga is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (UK), from the London School of Accountancy. He is a Licentiate member of the Zambia Institute of Certified Accountants, ZICA. He is also a member of the Institute of Directors of Southern Africa. Patrick has spent nearly 20 years in the Public and Corporate sectors of Zambia, serving as Chief Executive and as Chairman of many Organisations and Companies before he took early retirement in 1994, to focus on running his own family held Group of Companies, under Muchanga Investments Limited, which he had founded in 1987 and in which he serves as Executive Chairman. He is also Managing Consultant of Dynamic Concepts Limited, Consultancy firm, which undertakes Corporate Governance Consulting and Personal Motivational Development, in Zambia and the Southern African Region as a whole. Today, Mr. Chisanga serves on boards of several local and international companies and corporates either as Chairman or non Executive Director. PDG PATRICK DANIEL CHISANGA (D9102) CURRENT ROTA CHAIR 2014-15 Some of these include, Air Namibia (Zambia Ltd), Konkola Copper Mines Ltd, KCM, Zambia's largest Copper Mining Company, as well as advisor to Skorpion Zinc mines of Namibia. He is also a member of the Global Corporate Governance Forum Private Sector Advisory Group, PSAG, of the World Bank. Patrick is the Past District Governor of Rotary International District 9210, comprising: Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Northern Mozambique. He also served as International Training Leader of RI from 2006 to 2008. 26 Reach Out to Africa – ROTA Issue 8/ February 2015 RI NEWS UPDATE CHANGES TO MONTHLY CALENDAR AMMENDED: The RI Board recently modified Rotary's calendar of special observances to designate specific months highlighting the Areas of Focus. The new special observance months are: September: Basic Education and Literacy October: Economic and Community Development December: Disease Prevention and Treatment January: Vocational Service February: Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution March: Water and Sanitation April: Maternal and Child Health May: Youth Services 27 Reach Out to Africa – ROTA Issue 8/ February 2015 28 Reach Out to Africa – ROTA Issue 8/ February 2015 The Rotary Foundation Cadre By TRF Cadre Tusu Tusubira FOUNDATION CORNER I remember the anecdote of a herdsman from a tribe in Uganda that I shall not name lest I lose some of my friends. efficiently, not a single dollar must be lost through well- After selling a lot of milk, he took his money to the bank. He had just finished paying in the money and receiving his deposit slip, when the teller proceeded to pay the next customer using the same bundle of cash. The herdsman blew his top! What kind of bank is this, he screamed? How dare you give away my money so boldly when I am still here? This herdsman will never trust banks again, never mind that it was motivated by the perception rather than the reality of dishonest dealing. meaning but ill-conceived projects. Our Foundation, the Rotary Foundation (TRF), holds the generous contributions of Rotarians like you and I, of nonRotarians, and of organisations, all donating money with one assurance: the funds will be utilized to the maximum benefit of the target group. It is absolute trust, and this trust must be guarded jealously. This is achieved in layers. Most important are the Rotarians, women and men who give their experience and knowledge at no cost to eliminate what would be huge project implementation costs. Then we have the hard-working staff of TRF handling the corporate administration and the review of grant applications and reports; and providing guidance to Rotarians, drawing on a knowledge base that brings together the many years of Rotary’s experiences, successes, and failures. And we then have the Trustees, directing the investments and utilization of the generous donations so that they can grow and are used to address agreed areas of need. Each dollar must be used cost- In any good system, there must be a means of ensuring that what is done and achieved matches the intentions, a feedback loop to the staff and trustees of TRF that is independent of the implementers. Of course the Trustees and the staff could say, let us travel the breadth and width of the world and check out things, have a look and see for ourselves. And then you and I would be up screaming: why are approvals taking so long? Why aren’t emails answered promptly? What is wrong with TRF? Why should we get inefficient services when we have made our donations? And believe me, some of us can shout: I have seen the emails! 29 Reach Out to Africa – ROTA Issue 8/ February 2015 The Rotary Foundation Cadre Continued… Enter the Rotary Foundation Cadre of Technical Advisors, or just the Cadre as it is often referred to. The Cadre is the boots on ground, the eyes on site of the Trustees. They are a dedicated bunch of experienced Rotarians whose knowledge comes from hands on realism combined with knowledge of grants and grant procedures gained through reading and regular training. They will tote their boots and rucksacks and cameras and notebooks and immodium and other emergency medicines, and set off for any which location when TRF calls: “Please confirm that you can go to the South Pole and evaluate this proposed project for the conservation of penguins within the next two weeks. The Rotary International Travel Service will provide you with the cheapest economy air-tickets for your journey and your report will be expected within two weeks of your visit”. By the way, are there flights to the South Pole? I know, it sounds kind of melodramatic, but is really a bit of a “Mission Impossible” scenario in that you are asked to consent: you are guides, not detectives. Does this sound like your scene? If so, please read on! One of them will have reviewed your proposal if it requested a contribution of more than $50,000 from TRF (do not always blame TRF staff for all the comments about your application – a few come from the Cadre. And we must admit it: we often hate having to respond to the many queries, but the TRF staff do guide us to implement sustainable projects!). One of them may turn up to evaluate a project you have implemented even if it is just above $30,000 total value because TRF also institutes random audits. a volunteer. That is why I have adopted my name to a form I can use when on Cadre assignment: “I am Tusu, TusuTusubira”. And no, I do not have to tote a gun, and unlike the spy stories, TRF will not disown you and indeed always insures you when on assignment. This bunch of women and men have five key things in common: they love Rotary; they understand grants from both the documented and practical side; they will travel any way and stay anywhere to get the job done; they are at home in different cultural environment; and they really want to help Rotarians and clubs implement effective projects – they are 30 Reach Out to Africa – ROTA Issue 8/ February 2015 The Rotary Foundation Cadre continued… because TRF also institutes random audits. Trust the Cadre volunteers – they are there to help, to guide, and to document lessons from both successes and failures to add to the Rotary knowledge base. One of them will most certainly turn up in the fortunately still rare case when there is any whiff that grant funds might have been used less than honestly or in deliberate contravention of the grant agreement – whoever turns up will still be cheery faced, but the Sherlock Holmes or Colombo will be at work behind the face. TRF cannot afford to lose the reputation that gives you and I the assurance to donate. Now if you know me, you will have sensed that I am building up a pitch. The Cadre faces one challenge: there is a huge number of projects being implemented in the African continent, but most of the Cadre members come from outside the continent, making the site visits that are often required very expensive. The Cadre needs members from Africa. The Cadre would especially welcome Rotarians in the following categories: ladies; those who speak Portuguese or French, or Spanish; and those with expertise in either Water and Sanitation or Health. TRF Cadre Rtn Tusu Tusubira The TRF Cadre Needs You! 31 PICTURES SPEAK A THOUSAND WORDS Thanks to the Rotary Club of Honolulu, the Rotary President Carole Kimutai of RC Nairobi East and 38 Club of Luanshya was able to construct a new girls' volunteers climbed Mt Kilimanjaro over four-days to toilet in Twashuka (Walali) township, near Luanshya. Celebration time at RC Port Harcourt. Rotarians awarded gifts as part of their Rotary Awareness Day celebrations. raise funds for polio. Over US$32,000 was raised. RC Port Harcourt Rotarians on traffic control day. Reaching out to the community. #EndPolio. Rotary Uganda VTT team return to Uganda to RC Dar es Salaam Interact club of Hopac Academy continue their health work spends the day painting Ushindi Primary school, as part of the club’s school shape up project.
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