INSIDE THIS ISSUE Stain of child abuse 16 Reality of Climate Change 30 Toastmasters alliance 32 Champions of Change 48

rotarygbi.org August/September 2021

4 THANKS A MILLION! Rotary lends a helping hand

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04 LENDING WITH CARE 16

10 42 30 6 16 22 ARTICLES FEATURES NEWS & EVENTS

TALK FROM THE TOP: SHEKHAR MEHTA 21 THE ANSWER LIES IN THE SOIL 06 HOW ROTARY HELPS ENTREPRENEURS 04 New Rotary International President, Shekhar Filipina farmer Bernadeth Cabusog has THe story behind the partnership between Mehta, reflects on the challenges ahead. benefited from Rotary support for her business. Rotary and the charity Lendwithcare. TALK FROM THE TOP: NICKI SCOTT 22 AUNTY NANCY IS A SHINING LIGHT 08 CREDIT UNIONS PROVIDE SUPPORT 10 & DAVID ELLIS How Aunty Nancy Chaima, or 'Aunty Nancy' Credit unions have been stepping up to support Rotary GB&I's Leader of the Association and has been supported by Rotary in Malawi. the vulnerable during the Covid pandemic. Chairman of the Executive set out their stalls CHILD ABUSE: A STAIN ON SOCIETY 16 TRUE SERVICE ABOVE SELF 14 TALK FROM THE TOP: JOHN GERM 24 How Rotary clubs in Norfolk are working THree Rotarians from England have been & AMANDA WATKIN together to help tackle child sex abuse. honoured by Rotary International.. Reflections from the Rotary Foundation Trustee THE SECRETS BEHIND CLOSE DOORS 18 ROTARY IS AT TIPPING POINT 26 Chair, and General Secretary of Rotary GB&I.. Norfolk's Lord Lieutenant, Lady Philippa Dannatt, Former Rotary International President, Barry LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 36 describes the horrifc stories of child abuse. Rassin, details plans being hatched to reshape Four pages of letters covering subjects including the structure of Rotary. A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS 30 famous Rotarians and corporate membership. The impact which climate change is having GIVING HOPE IN THE LEBANON 46 AND FINALLY 58 on the work of charities such as ShelterBox. Rotary clubs across Great Britain & Ireland have Rotary magazine editor, Dave King, evaluates supported the rebuilding of Karantina Hospital in TOASTMASTERS ALLIANCE 32 how Rotarians can benefit from the partnership Beirut devastated by an explosion a year ago. with Toastmasters International Explaining how the partnership between Rotary and Toastmasters International can benefit.. JUST CHAMPION! 48 Profiles of the Champions of Change award FIFTY YEARS OF RYLA 42 winners who have just been announced. A look back at a half century of the Rotary Youth Leadership Award scheme.

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rotarygbi.org August/September 2021 | Rotary | 3 Rotary | NEWS & EVENTS

Rotary clubs lend £1.3 million to Lendwithcare, and counting

Rotary clubs have been helping communities grow by providing loans to entrepreneurs across the world. The scheme, working with the charity Lendwithcare, has so far provided more than £1.3 million from Rotary clubs to help those fighting their way out of poverty.

| LAURA WILLCOX |

UNDREDS of Rotary clubs have dedicated to raising funds to Lendwithcare was a brilliant fit with clubs across Great Britain lend, and their commitment to continuing Rotary’s values, and the partnership has & Ireland have been to recycle their loans.” grown and evolved along with the loans and supporting Lendwithcare The partnership between Rotary the businesses they support. since 2011. They have raised and Lendwithcare began in 2011 when “It continues to be a fantastic Hfunds to make small loans to entrepreneurs Currie Balerno Rotary in Edinburgh partnership, and we hope Rotary continues in developing countries allowing them to invited Lendwithcare to talk at one of on to the next million – and beyond.” start and expand their businesses and work their meetings after hearing a feature on Despite reaching the £1 million their way out of poverty. microfinance on the radio. milestone, Rotary clubs are showing no Lendwithcare is a revolutionary way Since then, they have continuously signs of slowing down as loans continue to to help people in low income countries to made generous loans to entrepreneurs as change people’s lives. work their way out of poverty with dignity. hundreds of other Rotary clubs followed She praised the work of John Crowe at Lendwithcare allows you to lend as their lead, allowing small loans to create a Nantwich Rotary in Cheshire whose club little as £15 to fund a small business, and huge impact. has been at the forefront of the scheme. once your money is repaid you can choose Tracey added: “When we did our first The Cheshire club has lent more than to recycle your loan to support another talk at Currie Balerno Rotary to tell them £60,000 to almost 11,000 entrepreneurs in entrepreneur, or withdraw your money. all about Lendwithcare, we didn’t dream it 11 countries. From figures published earlier Tracey Horner, Head of would lead to so many other clubs getting this year, the club has helped 34,184 family Lendwithcare, praised those Rotary involved and an official partnership with members and created 2,582 jobs. clubs who have contributed towards the Rotary! John said: “Nantwich Rotary is proud £1.3 million lent to entrepreneurs. “They loved the idea, and it spread to be part of this fantastic initiative. She said: “We have been bowled over from there,” she said. “Lendwithcare is a great way to help by the amount of time and effort the many “It became clear quite quickly that people out of poverty. You see exactly who

4 | Rotary | August/September 2021 rotarygbi.org "THROUGH LENDWITHCARE, ROTARY HAS HELPED CHANGE THE LIVES OF MORE THAN 5,000 ENTREPRENEURS AROUND THE WORLD SO FAR."

the money is going to and what they will Lendwithcare seeking to invest in more and use it for.” more small businesses that preserve, protect Rotary in East Anglia (District 1080) and improve the environment. is also one of the pioneering areas for “For example, with our loans for solar | | Lendwithcare, through the work of Nick lighting and bio-fuel loans. Fact file Corke and Brian Davies. "We’re now turning our attention LENDWITHCARE “They were very supportive of towards businesses that are helping to • Lendwithcare is an initiative of poverty Lendwithcare in the early years and set reforest the Amazon rainforest. It feels like fighting charity, CARE International UK. up our most prolific lending team,” added Lendwithcare and Rotary are moving in the Tracey. same direction, and there’s so much to look • CARE fights poverty and injustice in 87 countries around the world to help the “Through Lendwithcare, Rotary has forward to together.” l world’s poorest people. helped change the lives of more than 5,000 entrepreneurs around the world so far. • CARE’s innovative solutions aim to ensure “It continues to be a fantastic that poor people across the world have partnership, and we hope Rotary continues access to the financial tools and training they need to lift themselves out of poverty. on to the next million – and beyond.” And with the environment now • 100% of loans go to the entrepreneurs. Rotary’s seventh area of focus, the | Information | • CARE is non-religious and non-political, Lendwithcare chief said this has opened up allowing it to deliver humanitarian and even more horizons for closer working. Lendwithcare is keen to get more Rotary development assistance to anyone in She explained: “There is so much clubs involved. For information, contact: need, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, [email protected] scope for the future – with Rotary focusing age, religion, political view or sexual lendwithcare.org more closely on the environment, and orientation. rotarygbi.org August/September 2021 | Rotary | 5 Rotary | FEATURE

The answer lies in the soil ERNADETH Cabusog is a labourers I hired to help us in the farm. This will help me expand and increase 34-year-old farmer and mother- During the lockdown because of the harvest of crops. If ever I can save of-two from the Philippines COVID-19, we had almost nothing left. enough money, I want to buy or install who has received loans from The stores, hotels and restaurants were rain shelters or greenhouses so I can still Lendwithcare, including from closed. We were having difficulties selling operate my farm even in the rainy season. BStevenage Grange Rotary in Hertfordshire. our farm produce. But after eight months The future is what I am looking forward She lives in the village of Sudlon II of struggle, we are about to start a new life. to: good farming; good income; good life in Cebu province, along with Jennifer Almost 75% of our institutional buyers are and good health always of my family. l Timbal, and they have been working as operating now, so we’re getting back on farmers since they started living together track. 13 years ago. Amount requested: Bernadeth plants crops on three What did you do with your loans?  £2,623.41 different plots of land. Of course our means of living is farming. She is lucky to have an area with an First thing first is to buy farm inputs. I Repayment term: abundant source of water nearby which have two persons who I pay to work in the  24 months lets her continuously grow crops without a farm. I pay them every week 1,800 pesos problem during the dry season. each person (£22). Loans help us a lot,  Activity type: They have been repeatedly growing but in return we help 2 persons to have Farming crops such as lettuce, 'baguio' beans, a job. Partner: cucumbers, eggplants and tomatoes. LAMAC Multi-Purpose Due to their many successful harvests, How is your business going now?   Co-operative the couple were able to build themselves So far so good. I can say that our business a house to live in and send their first child transactions are back to normal. There is to school. always the challenge of COVID-19 but we Here, Bernadeth discusses how these do take precautionary measures. I can say loans have made the world of difference that the agriculture today is more efficient to her business. and valuable. We're not just farming, we feed the whole world. How helpful has your loan from Lendwithcare been? What are your plans for the future? Join Very helpful financially. I was able to buy I could say I have many plans in mind. I Visit: rotarygbi.org/join volume of farming inputs and pay the want to rent some land for farming.

6 | Rotary | August/September 2021 rotarygbi.org FOR MANY FLYING IS A LIFELINE, NOT A LUXURY

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21-038 210x275mm - General.indd 1 19/07/2021 10:01 Rotary | FEATURE

Aunty Nancy is a shining light in Malawi

EBCO (Financing Energy super agent for Nsanje. she makes. This means Nancy will be able Business Cooperative) is the first Nancy has established herself as the to create a workforce of people travelling energy cooperative in Malawi and person selling solar lights in her area. around the whole district providing light has been supported by Bury St She will use her portion of this loan to to communities. Edmunds Rotary in Suffolk. open a solar shop and buy a good level of Nancy will then open her FIt is a registered Savings and Credit stock for the shop. SunnyMoney shop, providing a hub for Cooperative run by 14 experienced and Nsanje is Malawi’s poorest district anyone’s energy needs in the surrounding committed solar entrepreneurs. and was recently ravaged by floods. It is in areas. This will be one step closer towards Lendwithcare's partner, SunnyMoney the most southern district of Malawi and lighting up the whole district, as well as Malawi, has worked with entrepreneurs borders Mozambique. Nancy’s business. l to build a network of super agents who Nancy has been a SunnyMoney provide access to solar lights across the entrepreneur for over five years. Before she Amount requested: country. became a SunnyMoney agent, she was a £14,400.97 The super agents are successful rice and bean farmer.   entrepreneurs, but access to finance is the Nancy is now at the point where her Repayment term: biggest challenge to maximising their sales, business needs to expand.  6 months reaching their potential as businesses and A loan through the new savings and increasing energy access across Malawi. credit co-operative, will provide her with  Activity type: Each entrepreneur within FEBCO capital to build a shop and hold more Green/Social has contributed 40% of their own capital stock for her business so she can serve the into a fund. They use the loan from significant demand in Nsanje. Partner: Lendwithcare to top up this loan fund. Nancy will use her portion of this loan  Solar Aid Malawi Members boost their businesses by to buy phone-charging solar lights at $31 purchasing a variety of solar light stock each. She plans to sell solar lights to 60 and covering essential business expenses teachers across 20 schools, making a net such as mobile airtime and travel costs to profit of $450, which she will reinvest into expand their customer base. the business. Join Nancy Chaima, or ‘Aunty Nancy’ as The next step for Nancy is to hire area Visit: rotarygbi.org/join she is known, is SunnyMoney Malawi’s agents in Nsanje from the commission

8 | Rotary | August/September 2021 rotarygbi.org MAKING A DIFFERENCE SINCE 1905

START YOUR ROTARY JOURNEY

If you’re interested in joining Rotary there Consider Corporate Membership Perfect for business! If you and your colleagues want to are a number of options available. Rotary is work closely with your local Rotary club to get involved in flexible, ranging from full membership the community, you can. Rotary is a great way to put your to project volunteering. organisation’s Corporate Social Responsibility ideas into action. Get in touch and make a difference Join an existing club in your area We want to make sure your Rotary experience is the best it can There are around 1,700 Rotary clubs across Great Britain and be and fits around your lifestyle. We’ll ask you a few questions to Ireland. Often having multiple clubs in one area, giving you understand what you’re looking for, before connecting you with more flexibility to find one that suits you. members in your area, where you’ll have chance to try a few clubs to find your best fit. Form your own Rotary club Rotary builds from the ground up. So if you’ve got family, friends, colleagues or acquaintances to join you, why not start your own Call us: Speak to a member of the team Rotary Club? You can lead the way by facilitating new and vibrant about joining Rotary 01789 765411 volunteering opportunities in your area. Rotary has a dedicated team of volunteers to help you every step of the way. Visit us: rotarygbi.org/join, fill out the online form and we’ll be in touch Join the Rotary Global Hub Access all the benefits of a club experience by becoming Tweet us: Find us on Twitter, @RotaryGBI a member of our direct, online community the Rotary Or Facebook Rotary in Great Britain and Ireland Global Hub. This model of Rotary allows you to connect digitally with like-minded people in location or cause-based hubs where Find us: Contact your local Rotary club. Just type you can join leaders, exchange ideas and take action. your postcode into rotarygbi.org/club-finder rotarygbi.org/join Rotary | FEATURE

How credit unions help the community The Covid pandemic has witnessed many people struggling financially, through losing their jobs or being put on furlough. Credit unions are community savings and loan co-operatives which are helping the most vulnerable.

| DAVE KING |

OTARIANS are known as the credit union to operate and lend to people of action, an example more members. set by three members from Mukesh Malhotra is Past President three different clubs in West of Hounslow Rotary and the current London and Surrey who are Chair who oversees the running of the Rinvolved with a credit union. Thamesbank Credit Union. Credit unions have come a long way Sarah Gardner, who is the current from the man and his ledger in the church President of Elthorne-Hillingdon Rotary hall collecting savings and offering loans. is Vice Chair, and Ekaterina Moteva, There are around 500 credit unions President of Egham Rotary, serves as in the UK, and more than 1.8 million Business Development Manager. members nationally. As a community co-operative, A credit union works by pooling the Thamesbank Credit Union is owned resources of all members’ savings and by its members and is a not-for-profit prudently allowing members to take a loan organisation. It offers ethical and affordable from this pool of money. As this loan is financial services, preventing poverty by repaid back into the mutual pool, it enables providing members with a sustainable,

10 | Rotary | August/September 2021 rotarygbi.org Rotary | NEWS & EVENTS

affordable alternative to high-cost lenders. She explained: “I slowly got into debt mother with two young children, explained Mukesh Malhotra explained: “It is due to living expenses and childcare. I felt that credit unions can serve pretty much not always about the people who don’t fit a too embarrassed to discuss this with my everyone in the community. typical bank loan. family. She said: “The stories that we hear “Yes, we serve those who might have “After watching a money programme from our members make us feel good about run into few difficulties and are barely on TV discussing affordable borrowing, I the everyday running of the business and scraping by at the end of the month. found out about credit unions being more thinking of its future. "We have many people, who run into affordable than my credit cards. “It is very fulfilling to be there, when difficulties because suddenly their laptop “After setting up my account, I applied people need you most and to know that we breaks or their children suddenly need new for a child benefit loan, and each month I can extend a helping hand in time of need.” uniforms which they have outgrown. have been very pleasantly surprised that I There are numerous credit unions “Whatever the loan is for, we encourage started to save. around the UK. Thamesbank operates putting a few pounds aside while repaying “Thamesbank Credit Union would within the London Boroughs of Ealing, the money, so hopefully it becomes more of always pay some of my loan and deposit Wandsworth, Hounslow, Richmond upon a habit, than a duty.” the rest of my child benefit into a savings Thames, Kingston upon Thames and the A typical credit union could be account. Surrey Borough of Spelthorne. described as a variation of a community “Until then, I never had an opportunity Ekaterina Moteva said that many bank. Like a traditional bank, savings to save any money. I began to pay off people have found themselves caught in are guaranteed by the Financial Conduct my loans and have some money for spiralling debt, particularly during the Authority, and all substantial loans are emergencies. pandemic. What Thamesbank is able to subject to relevant checks. “I have been extremely lucky in the do is to operate at competitive rates to The difference is that the members are pandemic to still have a job, and have saved consolidate debt. They don’t charge early local. Loans go to local people, the office is money by not commuting each day into repayment or arrangement fees. local and you know that at the end of the central London.” “Very often we hear that people day that the profits made don’t go towards When someone opens a savings become an easy target for loan sharks, an expensive office building or financing account, they become a member who because they are too embarrassed to speak the CEO’s lavish lifestyle. makes regular payments into a savings about money worries,” she added. Profits are shared amongst the account directly - from a salary if the “We would love to be there to help.” • members, and voted for at the annual employer can make payroll deductions, or general meeting, so every member has a say. by standing order. Sabrina Nandkishore is testimony These savings accumulate over time, of how Thamesbank can be a lifeline to allowing members to budget for future | Information | anyone. She was a single mother bringing expenses or apply for low-cost loans based thamesbank.org up two children who struggled dealing with on multiples of savings they hold. [email protected] finances. Rotarian Sarah Gardner, herself a

rotarygbi.org August/September 2021 | Rotary | 11 Do you have hearing aids like this?

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*Offer valid until 31/08/2021. The quote reference must be stated and recorded correctly in order to qualify for this offer and cannot be changed. Please allow up to 28 days for your vouchers to arrive. This offer can only be used once per customer. True service above self The Rotary International ‘Service Above Self’ award is a coveted honour which has been bestowed on three Rotarians from Great Britain & Ireland.

Lisa Hunter Ray Sanderson Dick Nathan Maidenhead Wootton Bassett Northwick Park Bridge Rotary & District Rotary Rotary

HREE Rotarians from England Club colleague James Berkeley, who amazing award. It is one of the very few have been honoured with one of nominated Lisa, said: “Lisa didn’t let the times I have been lost for words in my 35 Rotary’s highest awards. pandemic stop Rotary’s efforts. She led the years in Rotary. Lisa Hunter from team in a successful project and ensured “This comes at the end of my tenure as Maidenhead Bridge Rotary in this was a Rotary in Maidenhead project, District Secretary, and it is now time to give TBerkshire, Ray Sanderson from Wootton rather than purely Maidenhead Bridge. an opportunity to the younger Rotarians." Bassett & District Rotary in neighbouring “Hundreds of families have been Ray Sanderson has been a Rotarian Wiltshire, and Dick Nathan from helped through the project. All this whilst for 32 years, initially with South Cotswolds Northwick Park Rotary in north-west experiencing the pandemic and lockdown Rotary and, more recently, with Royal London have all been presented by Rotary herself, home schooling Chloe, and trying to Wootton Bassett & District. ‘Service Above Self’ awards. keep a business afloat.” He has served as club President, Just 150 of these are presented to Dick Nathan has been a stalwart of the Assistant Governor and member of District Rotarians across the world annually. Northwick Club and the London Rotary 1100 Executive and chaired District According to the award criteria: District. He initially joined Harrow Rotary committees on Kid's Out, Community “Nominees must be Rotarians in good in 1985 and has held many District posts, Service and International Service. standing. They must have demonstrated including District Governor from 2013-14 He led a club Global Grant for a mobile exemplary continuing humanitarian service, and District Secretary since 2016. x-ray unit for the Red Cross in Cape Town in any form and at any level.” During his tenure as District Secretary, and numerous South African fund-raising Lisa, who lives in Maidenhead with her Dick has seen the replacement of a printed projects benefiting deprived township areas. husband Adam, and 10-year-old daughter, magazine with a weekly e-newsletter, has Ray is co-founder of the Wiltshire Chloe, is a former Rotaractor who was overseen the departure from the District's Life Education Centre, and the inspiration Founder President of her club. permanent location in York Gate, London, behind the Malmesbury Community Corps, She has been at the forefront of and steered the District's administration started as a response to the frequent floods Rotary’s work during the pandemic to through the COVID-19 pandemic. from the River Avon which the Wiltshire support vulnerable families and those who Dick said: "I was surprised and town suffers.l were isolated shocked to have been singled out for this

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Child abuse is a stain on civil society

Jim Wilson is a Past President of Norwich Marchesi Rotary, and a former chairman of Norfolk Police Authority. Here, he writes about why Rotary clubs should become active in the campaign against child sexual abuse.

| JIM WILSON |

HE statistics are appalling. Second, by supporting those Philippa Dannatt, wrote that organisations The consequences in terms of organisations, many of them underfunded like the Sue Lambert Trust, will need every childhoods destroyed and lives and voluntary, who have the expertise kind of support, particularly financial, in scarred is shattering. and knowledge to counsel victims the months and years ahead. The first ever attempt, seeking release from terrible childhood She wrote: “They will be deluged by Tpublished in January 2020 by the Office experiences, which if unchecked can go on clients once lockdown is over. for National Statistics, to produce a co- to wreck every aspect of an individual’s life “The effects of sexual abuse in ordinated, accurate estimate of the number like nothing else. childhood destroys any semblance of of young people affected by childhood And, third, by helping to sponsor this childhood and unchecked can go on to abuse before the age of 16, suggests a fifth vital work, which can start the process of wreck every aspect of adult lives like of the population has suffered from it. rebuilding and reviving lives damaged in little else. That is 8.5 million victims of physical, childhood. “These are hidden crimes taking emotional or sexual abuse. Of those, no Currently the fear of the police, place behind bolted doors and curtained fewer than 3.1 million have suffered sexual experts in this area, and many members windows, every hour of every day, without abuse or exploitation. of Parliament is that the COVID-19 respite. How can Rotary assist in combating lockdown will have resulted in many more “To be blunt, children are being this horrifying cancer that exists in our childhood victims. abused physically, mentally, and sexually communities? Victims suffering silently, behind by the very people who should be How can Rotary support the closed doors, with no-one to turn to, with protecting them the most. Family should estimated one in seven who seek help and schools mostly closed, and therefore even be our safe haven. Sometimes, tragically, counselling, generally later in life, to help that one opportunity of safeguarding the complete opposite is true. them cope with their trauma? denied them. “Child victims are too traumatised, First, by raising awareness of a subject In Norfolk, it is estimated there are too ashamed and above all else, too scared not widely discussed or understood, so between 9,500 and 10,000 victims of child to come forward. And these crimes stretch victims can be pointed in the direction of sexual abuse. across every echelon of society.’ trained and sensitive help. Norfolk’s Lord Lieutenant, Lady Norfolk’s former Chief Constable,

16 | Rotary | August/September 2021 rotarygbi.org Library image

“AS WE EASE OUT OF LOCKDOWN, WE ARE GOING TO SEE A SIGNIFICANT UPLIFT IN THE NUMBER OF REPORTS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE, CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE AND MODERN SLAVERY. ”

Simon Bailey who retired this summer, it cannot stand on the sidelines. to fund therapy facilities the more child was the national police lead on child abuse. It is determined to try in a small victims which Rotary and the Trust can He commented recently: “As we ease way to do something to meet the huge support. out of lockdown, we are going to see a challenge, and is hoping to make this a Clive Evans CEO of the Sue Lambert significant uplift in the number of reports collaborative project with the help of other Trust said that since December, when of domestic abuse, child sexual abuse and clubs in Norfolk and Norwich. Rotary provided this sponsorship, the modern slavery. With the financial support of six Trust has increased its weekly counselling “I think it is absolutely inevitable, and other Rotary clubs, plus a District Grant, sessions by 22% from 250 to 305. we have to be prepared to deal with it.” Norwich Marchesi has sponsored the The demand for victim support has Last year, Mr Bailey went on record Sue Lambert Trust with enough cash to increased by 68% - an indication of the as saying the UK is the third biggest support their five therapy rooms for a year, escalation of child abuse under Covid consumer of online sexual abuse. where one-to-one counselling and support lockdowns. He said: “We have got to start being is delivered to victims of child abuse who He said: “This is an unprecedented very honest about this. We have to start seek their help. situation for us and, if this trend debating the consequences more in public. The Norfolk Rotary clubs have also continues, we will be looking at an increase “We have got to start coming to terms ensured that there are enough books and of 80% in requests for support compared with the fact that there are some appalling leaflets to assist with counselling. with previous years.’ things taking place online, and that In the past year, the Sue Lambert Norwich Marchesi Rotary hopes to unfortunately the internet is probably the Trust undertook over 8,800 therapy continue assisting with funding in the root of most of the evils. sessions given by their 60-plus trained coming Rotary year. As Rotarians we “We have got to start genuinely asking counsellors. believe child abuse is a stain on civilised the question how much more are we as a The aim is to increase the support society that no decent community can society going to tolerate?" He described they can give to meet the increasing tolerate. • it as presenting the police and the demand which the circumstances of community with devastating challenges. lockdown inevitably will have provided. Norwich Marchesi Rotary has decided The more money that can be raised rotarygbi.org August/September 2021 | Rotary | 17 “AMY WAS BEING RAPED REGULARLY BY HER FATHER AND HAD BEEN SINCE SHE WAS JUST EIGHT. WHAT MADE IT WORSE WAS THAT HER MOTHER KNEW, BUT WAS TURNING A BLIND EYE.”

18 | Rotary | August/September 2021 rotarygbi.org Library image Rotary | FEATURE A dark secret hidden behind closed doors Lady Philippa Dannatt is the Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk and a trained counsellor. Here she describes first-hand the scale of child abuse which is going on behind closed doors.

| DAVE KING | O her teachers at school, of indication that she was being abused. “It is about changing, and with Amy Amy was the troublesome “She loathed swimming classes she really managed to change and move child. because it meant getting undressed. forward after years of working together.” She had started “When it was non-uniform days, Now, Amy is at university after promisingly but then her she would wear big, black, bulky clothes completing an access course. She has Tmarks in class went into a tail-spin. to hide her figure. She made herself changed her life around. Amy dressed dowdy. Her appearance as deliberately unattractive and as “This is a case of a young person who was unkempt. Her attitude was quiet and deliberately morose as she could in the came to me, who has broken all sound sullen. She loathed swimming classes, hope that somebody would ask her what barriers, and is just amazing. I am very and would get into a tantrum with the was wrong. proud of her,” added Philippa. teachers about getting undressed in front “All the school did was to telephone “It is a long journey, two to three of the other girls. Amy’s mother to tell her that she was not years. Some people think counselling is But then Amy had a secret. working. The school got it so wrong.” just smiling and nodding and saying ‘yes, A dark secret. Amy left school with few yes’. But it really isn’t. Amy was being raped regularly by qualifications. It was a few years later, “I am a pro-active counsellor. With her father and had been since she was just while attending evening class where she Amy, she was so angry at the way the eight-years-old. What made it worse was formed a good relationship with her school had not picked up on what she was that her mother knew, but was turning a teacher, that she unloaded about the scale going through. They should have known, blind eye. of abuse she had suffered. she said. Calmly telling the story about Amy The police were called, and her father “It is said that in every class of 18, is Lady Philippa Dannatt, the Lord received a lengthy prison terms. He was there is one child who is being sexually Lieutenant of Norfolk, who is a trained jailed not just for the years of sexual abused. It is very much out there. counsellor with the Sue assault, but police found worst grade “I persuaded Amy to write to the Lambert Trust. paedophilia on a laptop which Amy said headmaster so she could have a chat with With centres in Norwich and Great he had forced her to watch with him. him about this whole business, to advise Yarmouth, the charity has been working The wife of retired General, Richard the school how they could intervene for more than 20 years supporting the Dannatt, the former Chief of the General successfully in future. victims of child sexual abuse which, Staff, Philippa first worked with the “Instead, we took a furious phone call according to the NSPCC, is on the counselling service Relate while living in from the headmaster who said ‘how dare increase – especially after Covid. Germany. this girl come and stir up trouble’. He Theirs is work dealing with “When Amy came to see me at the complained it was nothing to do with him horrendous cases of sexual abuse, which is Sue Lambert Trust, she was an absolute since the incident had happened under a being replicated the length and breadth of joy to work with,” reflected Philippa. previous regime. the British Isles. “Amy is very artistic, so we did a “So I did something I’ve not done “Amy came to me at the Sue Lambert lot of expression stuff through poetry before. I wrote to him on Sue Lambert Trust when she was 21,” explained and drawings, sometimes quite dark, paper, using my name and my title, and Philippa. “It was hard that her mother sometimes funny. said I was very disappointed was their was turning a blind eye. Ironically, the “Counselling is about creating approach. mother worked as a carer in a care home. change. When someone comes to you, “It had the desired effect. Amy was “Amy couldn’t tell the teachers what they are at their lowest ebb, sometimes invited back and the headmaster was was happening, but would give every kind suicidal, so the only way is up. charming to her. rotarygbi.org August/September 2021 | Rotary | 19 Rotary | FEATURE Library image

“He invited all the senior staff into “Child sexual abuse is so deeply his office who showed her the system shocking. It cuts across every level of they now have in place to identify young society. people to give them a safe place to be in. “Regrettably, there will be a need for This is exactly what Amy needed. agencies like the Sue Lambert Trust. “Amy was able to talk to the staff "Awareness is so important and for | Fact file | about the kind of things they should be the victims to be believed. It is awful how looking for. Things like the young person many people have no idea that child sex CHILD ABUSE who doesn’t want to get dressed in their abuse happens, and far less who actually • An estimated 3.1 million adults were victims gym kit, someone whose work suddenly believe it when people try to tell them. of sexual abuse before the age of 16. goes off the rails, and then ask: why is “I would say please keep your ears • Prevalence was higher for females this happening? and eyes open. Please believe people, than males. “I think the most telling thing Amy of whatever age, if they try to tell you • Many cases of child abuse remain hidden. said was ‘please never ring home’. Don’t something. One in three children sexually abused by an ring the parents, because the chances are “However horrendous or unlikely the adult did not tell anyone. that they could well be the perpetrators. story sounds, please don’t shut them up. "That was something the school Let them tell their story. It is only when • Over 90% of sexually abused children were abused by someone they knew. learned that day.” we get these stories out there, that we Philippa admitted that she is not create an awareness of what is happening. • It is estimated only one in eight victims easily shocked, but there are times when “I give presentations and tell of sexual abuse come to the attention of she is deeply saddened by the depravity. audiences of stories like Amy. statutory authorities. Sadly, the Covid lockdown has "Sometimes it frightens people. • Traumatic life experiences can have provided a fertile ground for these crimes "But I am also aware that there a significant impact on people’s lives, to thrive. will be people in a respectable crowd of increasing the risk of poor physical Philippa explained: “Someone once people, listening to my presentation, who and mental health, and poorer social, said to me ‘We don’t have that kind of will be abusers themselves, and equally educational and criminal justice outcomes. thing happening in Norfolk’. It is hard to there could well be someone in that room Source: National Association for People believe. There is still an awful amount of who has been abused.” • Abused in Childhood denial and disbelief.

20 | Rotary | August/September 2021 rotarygbi.org RotaryTalk | fromOPINION the top…

ROTARY INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT SHEKHAR MEHTA

REETINGS my dear changemakers, As we focus on membership in Rotary this month, I ask you to help make history this year. GFor more than 20 years, our membership has stood at 1.2 million. Rotary is a vibrant organisation with a 116-year history, members in more than 220 countries and geographic areas, and a rich legacy of work in polio eradication and other humanitarian programmes. Rotary has changed so much in our own lives and the lives of others. As we Serve to Change Lives, don’t you think Rotary could have an even greater impact on the world if more people were practicing Service Above Self? “MY VISION IS TO INCREASE My vision is to increase Rotary membership to 1.3 million by July 2022, and the call to action is simple: Each ROTARY MEMBERSHIP TO 1.3 One, Bring One. This year, I want every Rotarian and MILLION BY JULY 2022, AND THE Rotaractor to introduce a new person into their club. CALL TO ACTION IS SIMPLE: We are a membership organisation, andtalk members from topEACH ONE, BRING ONE.” are our greatest asset. You are the ones who contribute so generously to The Rotary Foundation. You are the ones who dream big to bring good into the world through meaningful projects. And of course, you are the ones who have put the world on the brink of eradicating polio. do. Projects focused on the environment are also attracting As we make membership a priority this year, let us interest the world over. Do participate in these projects focus on diversity by reaching out to younger people and locally and internationally to make this world a better place especially to women. for us and for all species. Every club should celebrate its new members, and Each of you is a Rotary brand ambassador, and all of every Rotarian who sponsors a member will be personally the wonderful work done by Rotarians around the world recognised by me. And those who are successful in needs to be shared outside the Rotary community. Use bringing in 25 or more members will be part of our new social media to tell your friends, colleagues, and relatives Membership Society. the stories of Service Above Self. Even as we share the gift of Rotary with others, let us Finally, I’m challenging every club, during the coming be sure to engage these new members, because an engaged year, to plan at least one Rotary Day of Service that will Rotarian is an asset forever. And remember that engaging bring together volunteers from inside and outside Rotary our current members and keeping them in our clubs is just and will celebrate and showcase the work of your club in as important as bringing in newcomers. your community. l Let us also be ready to form new clubs, especially flexible ones. I am very bullish on clubs that hold virtual or hybrid meetings, and satellite clubs and cause-based clubs can also be very effective ways of growing Rotary. | INFORMATION | As you grow more, you will be able to do more. Let Visit rotary.org to find out more about us keep empowering girls through our work in each of all of these initiatives, along with other the areas of focus. Scholarships for girls, toilets in schools, ways to Serve to Change Lives. health and hygiene education — there is so much we can

rotarygbi.org August/September 2021 | Rotary | 21 Talk from the top…

friendship, leadership, integrity, diversity and service. It is Build Back Better about being kind and open to engaging with, and learning S we tentatively emerge from an extraordinary year, from, others to embrace our unity as human beings. These where we all adapted to challenges unforeseen in values will never change. A Rotary, and as individuals in unison with everyone It is important that we enjoy our volunteer work with across the world, it is time to take a deep breath and those we are alongside. There is no single right way to offer contemplate the future. service. Variety and options that align with many different So many have experienced so much pain and loss passions and perspectives are key. and yet, simultaneously, this pandemic has served as an Rotary GB&I is ahead of the game with respect to enormous catalyst for so much change. embracing environmental issues which is now recognised Uncertainty exists, but there are some things we know as our new seventh area of focus worldwide. for sure as Rotarians invested in our motto of Service Above We need to track our carbon footprint. This does not Self: we need to come together to help our local and global mean abandoning in-person gatherings where travel is communities recover. necessary but it does mean measuring and offsetting Our work is closely aligned to the United Nations' that impact. sustainable development goals which provide a blueprint for There are many ways that we can progress our Rotary peace and prosperity for people and the planet now and activities in the virtual world, sometimes more effectively into the future. with less demand on our personal time, but the value of They first coined the phrase Build Back Better in 2006. interpersonal connection and coming together can never be Let’s take the lessons learned this past year and ask how can surpassed or replaced entirely. we build forward better, fairer and greener? I say let’s combine the value of both in-person and The answer is a shift in mindset and culture which virtual moving forward in all respects from meetings to means changing our behaviour. This is true for everyone fundraising and projects. including Rotary. Alternative strategies, goals and fresh There is much to do to help our communities and make ideas are embodied throughout the 2021-24 Action Plan a positive social impact. We are all People of Action. for Rotary GB&I which will drive greater collaboration, Let's get to work! #bettertogether #onlytogether. l cohesiveness and continuity. If COVID-19 has taught us nothing else it is that we must act in unison for the greater good. Meeting online forced us to look beyond the walls of our clubs and realise the whole world of Rotary is open to us. Those opportunities were always there but it took a global pandemic to help us to think differently. | Nicki Scott Rotary is built on a strong foundation of amazing values: RI Director & Leader of the Association for Rotary GB&I

22 | Rotary | August/September 2021 rotarygbi.org Get on board and enjoy the ride! ELL, that was a challenging year as we all experienced life under lockdown and the Wdifficulties the pandemic caused. However, it proved our ability to adapt, which is one of our core principles. I would like to thank all of you for having the foresight to vote for change at our recent Annual Business Meeting. It was an overwhelming result with over 90% voting for the new Board. The Board will become a reality in July 2022. In the meantime, we cannot afford to stand still, and a new style Executive will be in place for the next Rotary year as a forerunner to the Board, which I will chair. Rotary International Director, Nicki Scott, has put together a three-year action plan with input from all the co-ordinator team leaders. This has been a mammoth task. All of the co-ordinator teams have embraced the action plan. It has taken time and effort to remove the stranglehold of one-year strategies. Our thanks go to all of them for planning for change. to what we always did, think of new and innovative forms So, what will these changes achieve and how will they of meetings. affect the clubs? I would ask you to think of this. Plan the style of your To support clubs and districts we have co-ordinator future club meetings; not for the current members, but for teams comprising Foundation, Membership, Public Image, those members who have not yet joined. Service (currently Humanitarian), Learning Development We must take a hard look at ourselves and ask if our and Training. club is attractive to new members? There are also specialists for Peace, End Polio Now, Those that know me are aware that I am an advocate Diversity and Compliance, Endowment and Major Gift for change, not just for the sake of it, but because the clubs Advisers. deserve better. My role will be to lead and support all the co-ordinator I will also continue to work closely with Nicki Scott, our teams, ensuring they are on track to meet their agreed Director and Association Leader, as we have been for over action plans and that the districts and clubs are supported the last year and a half. better than they have ever been. We are in exciting times. All I ask is that you embrace Each district will have a dedicated group of co- these changes, get on board and enjoy the ride as our ordinators and specialists who they will meet with regularly communities need Rotary more than they ever have. l to share ideas, collaborate and give support and leadership. The co-ordinator teams have already started to work together and are not just tied to their particular area of focus. Clubs will be provided with a complete list of the support available, along with direct contact details of each team member or specialist. This means the assistance is easily accessible. | David Ellis As we come out of COVID restrictions, clubs will be Chairman of the Executive for Rotary GB&I re-thinking the way they meet. Please don’t just revert back

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Please take 10 amazing and I am so very thankful that the opportunity Overseas 00 44 16977 45250 Mobile ______Email ______REF COLOUR SIZE QTY PRICE TOTAL Please tick this box if you do not wish minutes during your next club meeting to discuss ways to join Rotary was given to me back in 2002. (we are here 9am-6pm Monday-Friday, to receive emails from James Meade about special o‘ ers available to our web to get more involved in the Foundation this year. Like for so many, Rotary has provided me a strong, 9am-5pm Saturday). site customers (your email address will not be passed on to any third party)  It could be planning an online fundraiser to benefit trustworthy network of like-minded people from which See our privacy policy at: Order online www.jamesmeade.com www.jamesmeade.com/privacy the Foundation or partnering with other clubs for a genuine friendships have developed over these almost 20 Deduct £5 when ordering two or more I enclose a sterling cheque made P&P £5.50 FREE We may in the future make customers names or complete and return the coupon alongside. payable to James Meade or charge my available to selected trusted retailers, UK global grant project. years. So now, let’s all share Rotary and invite our family, Total charities and organisations whose products O‘ er ends 11th October 2021. Allow 7 days mastercard visa or american express we feel might be of interest to you. 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BLOCK CAPS PLEASE Ordering and delivery O er Name (Title) ______code For credit and debit card orders phone Address ______RM51 UK 0333 241 4463 Postcode ______Tel ______Overseas 00 44 16977 45250 Mobile ______Email ______REF COLOUR SIZE QTY PRICE TOTAL Please tick this box if you do not wish (we are here 9am-6pm Monday-Friday, to receive emails from James Meade about special o‘ ers available to our web 9am-5pm Saturday). site customers (your email address will not be passed on to any third party)  See our privacy policy at: Order online www.jamesmeade.com Deduct £5 when ordering two or more www.jamesmeade.com/privacy I enclose a sterling cheque made P&P £5.50 FREE We may in the future make customers names or complete and return the coupon alongside. payable to James Meade or charge my available to selected trusted retailers, UK Total charities and organisations whose products O‘ er ends 11th October 2021. Allow 7 days mastercard visa or american express we feel might be of interest to you. Should card you prefer not to receive these postal for delivery. mailings please tick  expiry Last 3 digits on reverse or 4 on the front for AMEX. From time to time, we’d like to send you our latest catalogue and special o‘ ers by post. (current catalogue price refers to James Meade Men’s If you would prefer not to receive these, July, September and October 2021 catalogues). Telephone UK 0333 241 4463 Overseas 00 44 16977 45250 please tick  Post to: James Meade, FREEPOST CE451, Dept RM51, Crawhall, BRAMPTON, Cumbria CA8 1BR Rotary | FEATURE

Rotary is at a tipping point Former Rotary International President, Barry Rassin, is spearheading a taskforce which is looking at the future shape of the organisation globally

ARRY Rassin has spent a lifetime working in the health service, initially in America and, more latterly, at home in the Bahamas. “CUE BARRY’S LATEST ROLE AS CHAIRMAN So the former President of OF THE ‘SHAPING ROTARY’S FUTURE’ BRotary International is well positioned to take COMMITTEE, BRINGING TOGETHER MANY the temperature of Rotary as the world fights back against COVID-19. LEADING LIGHTS IN THE ORGANISATION, “We are doing very well as an organisation,” he assesses. “We AS WELL AS THE ROTARY INTERNATIONAL are almost at stability with our number of members, but that is TEAM IN EVANSTON, USA.” dropping only because of COVID-19. “Basically we are stable at 1.2 million members, but I don’t think that is healthy. We need to grow, even though Rotary’s numbers are better than most other organisations like ours. “On the other hand, our service around the world is members, but the losses are something we have to fix.” extraordinary. I see us as the best humanitarian organisation Cue Barry’s latest role as chairman of the ‘Shaping Rotary’s in the world. Future’ committee, bringing together many leading lights in the “We are still doing the work of Rotary. But, with the challenges organisation, as well as the Rotary International team in of membership, my thinking is that we could do a lot more service Evanston, USA. if we could solve that challenge of engaging our members and Their brief is simple. To look at Rotary in light of today’s world, meeting their expectations about what we do today. answering the question: if Rotary started now as an organisation, “One of our biggest downfalls is that we have lost 1.4 million what would it look like? people from Rotary in the last 10 years. We are bringing in One hundred and sixteen years on from when Paul Harris

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founded Rotary as a business networking club in Chicago, so the Districts would be brought together under a regional board nature and shape of Rotary, as well as the world, has changed. defined by language, culture, and geography. There would also be It is fair to say, too, there has been a seismic change in both an international global cadre - a pool of experts in various facets of since Barry was President of this global movement between Rotary working closely with clubs. 2018/2019. The cadre would have no administrative responsibility, but Paul Harris’s 1905 model was a networking model. Today, would focus instead on bringing their expertise to the clubs. Rotary is a member organisation which does service. The challenge At the local level there would be sections of clubs, with WITH A GIFT IN YOUR WILL is to provide the support and relevance to Rotarians so they can maybe 10 to 25 clubs, led by a Section Leader who would only be YOU CAN BRING CERTAINTY AT A TIME OF FEAR, GRIEF AND CHAOS appreciate being part of the movement. responsible for guidance and motivation. Rotary’s core values will always remain the same. “But we will “The key is getting to all the clubs to make better clubs,” added create a structure that will enable us do even more than we have Barry. The administrative responsibilities move to the Regional done so far, in a much better manner,” he explained. Board and the club motivation goes to the Section Leader. When Typhoon Vongfong hit the Samar region of the Philippines, The roadmap is to create a Rotary structure which is more In this post-Covid era, the London-born Rotarian stressed that regionalised, by definition, rather than Rotary’s 34 zones which are every Rotary and Rotaract club needs to re-think about what they Dana and her two siblings fled their home to seek shelter with defined by number of members. His team is working on an action are doing, and how they are doing it. “We are asking clubs to think plan which nurtures leadership qualities among Rotarians. if they are relevant to today’s world. their grandparents. When the storm finally passed, Dana’s parents With each zone having an average membership of 35,000 “We want them to step back and ask themselves: are we returned to the wreckage that had been their home. Rotarians, there is a need to differentiate, said Barry, on the meeting the needs of our community, are we representing our basis of culture, demography and other unique features, without community by having members from all aspects and are we compromising on Rotary’s values. engaging every member of our club to be engaged in everything Thanks to gifts in Wills, ShelterBox could provide Dana’s family with urgent supplies such as “The idea is that the structure should be closer to the Rotary that we do?” clubs so that we are able to enhance our Rotary clubs,” he explained. Asked what Paul Harris might say to the current generation of tarpaulins and ropes. Through your gift, the care and compassion you have shown to families “There are weak clubs around the world and we are not Rotarians, Barry Rassin laughed, and replied: “Paul Harris would struggling in the aftermath of disaster or conflict throughout your life can continue on in the world. addressing that issue. say, remember what I said: ‘Sometimes we are evolutionary and “District Governors are overwhelmed with all the duties of sometimes we need to be revolutionary’. administration. We want to create a structure which will be able to “I am one of those who believes we need a revolution. To receive your free Guide To Gifts In Wills call us on 0300 0300 500 help every single club, giving them a degree of priority. “I believe this is a tipping point for us. COVID-19 has created “Less than 6% of our District Governors are under 60, so this opportunity for us. and ask for Prue, or email [email protected] we are not getting our younger people to take on leadership roles “If we don’t protect our membership, everything else is going because it is extremely time-consuming. So let’s break it down.” to decline. We have got to fix that, because if we don’t we stop doing What is being hatched are regional pilots, with Australia, the level of service, then we stop donating to the Foundation, and

New Zealand and the Pacific islands likely to develop the plan for so on. ShelterBox is a charity independent of Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation ShelterBox Trust is a registered development and communication during this Rotary year, with a "Membership is key, but the bigger picture of Rotary has got to charity (1096479) and a limited company in England and Wales (04612652), President: HRH The Duchess of Cornwall. start in 2022-23. be dealt with.” l

28 | Rotary | August/September 2021 rotarygbi.org VISIT SHELTERBOX.ORG/LEGACY FOR MORE INFORMATION “ When it comes to writing a Will, family and friends always come first. But more people like me are choosing to include a gift to ShelterBox to make sure their global family is safe in the years and decades to come.” Mary

WITH A GIFT IN YOUR WILL YOU CAN BRING CERTAINTY AT A TIME OF FEAR, GRIEF AND CHAOS

When Typhoon Vongfong hit the Samar region of the Philippines, Dana and her two siblings fled their home to seek shelter with their grandparents. When the storm finally passed, Dana’s parents returned to the wreckage that had been their home.

Thanks to gifts in Wills, ShelterBox could provide Dana’s family with urgent supplies such as tarpaulins and ropes. Through your gift, the care and compassion you have shown to families struggling in the aftermath of disaster or conflict throughout your life can continue on in the world.

To receive your free Guide To Gifts In Wills call us on 0300 0300 500 and ask for Prue, or email [email protected]

ShelterBox is a charity independent of Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation ShelterBox Trust is a registered charity (1096479) and a limited company in England and Wales (04612652), President: HRH The Duchess of Cornwall.

VISIT SHELTERBOX.ORG/LEGACY FOR MORE INFORMATION Rotary | FEATURE

Climate change is a humanitarian crisis

The environment has become Rotary’s seventh area of focus at a time when the world’s infrastructure is crumbling. We see the images of horrendous disasters, such as flooding and drought, but what is the reality? Lucy Carr from the Rotary charity ShelterBox describes life on the front line.

| LUCY CARR |

LIMATE change is creating The effects of climate change one of the hottest places on earth, it is an unprecedented need for disproportionately affect the poorest now almost impossible to make a living emergency shelter around the communities around the world, as well as from the land or the lake, increasing world. increasing the numbers of people living in displacement and strengthening the Right now, the climate poverty. influence in the region of terrorist Ccrisis is causing irreversible damage, Vulnerable families are on the front organisation Boko Haram. robbing families of their homes, line, often forced to leave their homes ShelterBox has supported over 11,000 livelihoods and loved ones and changing to survive – either because disasters are families, mostly in Cameroon, but also in lives forever. becoming more severe, or to find food, Chad, Nigeria and Niger, who were forced Climate change is a humanitarian water or to make a living. It is estimated to flee. Sadly, there still remains a huge crisis. At ShelterBox, we see this when we that a staggering 1.2 billion people could shortage of emergency shelter for displaced work with communities who have lost be displaced by the climate crisis by 2050. people. everything to tropical storms, flooding and Our changing climate is intensifying The climate crisis is having a huge drought – disasters all intensified by our extreme weather and worsening already impact on people who depend on heating climate. complex situations in conflicts and predictable weather for their livelihoods: More and more communities are war zones. those who farm or live a nomadic life are experiencing the consequences of these Since the 1960s, the Lake Chad Basin now struggling to feed their families. extreme weather events. 1.7 billion people has shrunk by about 90%, turning the area ShelterBox has supported these around the world have been affected by to desert. communities, like families in Somaliland climate and weather-related disasters People living in the region previously who couldn’t grow crops or feed their cattle during the past decade. relied on the lake for their livelihoods. In and sheep. Rural Somali communities rely

30 | Rotary | August/September 2021 rotarygbi.org Rotary | FEATURE

Families collect ShelterBox aid in response to persistent drought in Somaliland, 2018

may be at risk of storm surges. Properties "SHELTERBOX PROVIDES AID TO FAMILIES REELING at higher risk are often cheaper. FROM THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND, Those who can’t afford to live in safer WHERE FAMILIES ARE AT RISK OF BEING DISPLACED areas create homes where they can, even if they will be more vulnerable to disaster. SEVERAL TIMES, WE DESIGN OUR AID PACKAGES TO In 2019 severe flooding in Asunción, BE MOBILE AND FLEXIBLE." Paraguay, forced Mirta and her family from their home. “I'm tired of always having to move on livestock for their income and survival Like many others caught in the each time there are floods, but we don't but a three-year drought in the country direct pathway of the storm, John was not have another option. We simply can't has now killed up to 80% of the region's prepared for its power or severity. “Because afford to buy a home out of the flood- livestock. For these communities, extreme we’ve never had a cyclone like that, it affected areas,” she said. weather is the biggest threat. meant that we were not ready enough,” Most of ShelterBox’s responses “We used to sell our goats in Hargeisa he explained. have been in areas of the world where for a good price,” says Nimo from Adjusting building techniques to communities are already vulnerable and Somaliland. “We were living happily and cyclone-proof shelters is vital to ensuring have limited resources to endure the effects could buy basic necessities and even meat. safety in the future. of extreme weather events. It was a very good life. But over time, John worked hard to repair his ShelterBox provides aid to families things have changed. family home, supported with tarpaulins, reeling from the effects of climate change “The livestock died, even the ones accompanying aid items and training and, where families are at risk of being that are left cannot be sold to the market provided by ShelterBox in partnership displaced several times, we design our aid because they are in poor health. We are with CARE Vanuatu. packages to be mobile and flexible. struggling with life now.” He added: “I must make a house, a Combine that with training – on ShelterBox also supports families good house, that if there is a strong wind it everything from drainage ditches to living in vulnerable locations, who are can't blow it out. divert floods, to bracing and strapping increasingly affected by extreme weather "So that in the future if another techniques for stronger shelters – and events, and are often ill equipped to cyclone comes we will be safe there.” families can better protect themselves for withstand their increasing severity. People continue to live in places that the future. Climate change is leading to an they know are at higher risk of hurricanes Climate change is not a tomorrow increasing number of category 4 and 5 and floods for a variety of reasons. issue. Together, we can take action to storms. The 2020 Atlantic hurricane For many, it’s their social and support families on its frontline today. • season broke a series of unwelcome firsts, cultural ties to an area, homes where their as the most active on record with 30 communities have lived for generations. named storms and 14 hurricanes. For others, the opportunities outweigh “We had never seen a cyclone like that the risks, and they have no choice but to | Information | on Pentecost before,” shared John, whose stay where they can make a living. www.shelterbox.org Vanuatu home was destroyed by Cyclone Fishing communities want to be close [email protected] Harold in April 2020. to the sea, but these low-lying coastal areas rotarygbi.org August/September 2021 | Rotary | 31 Rotary | FEATURE

Reap the rewards of Toastmasters’ alliance

In January 2020, Rotary International forged a strategic alliance with Toastmasters International. But what does that mean in practice?

| PAUL STERMAN |

BOUT a year ago, Angelie International and Rotary International we’ve learned here and do something Bharwaney and several makes it easier to do that. Though better out there,” said Scott, who does members of her Rotary club members can’t participate in Rotary leadership consulting for companies in the started a new community service projects as an official Toastmasters retail, service, and hospitality industries. project. The group teamed activity, they can join in as individuals. The parallels between Toastmasters upA to tackle trash. “I think for Toastmasters to join in our International and Rotary are uncanny. Taking over the maintenance and service projects would be amazing,” says The roots of Rotary were founded in improvement of a large pathway in Canons Angelie, Club President of the Harrovian Chicago, Illinois, in February 1905, when Park, in north-west London, the Edgware Toastmasters Speakers in London and a Paul Harris, Gustavus Loehr, Silvester and Stanmore Rotarians spent the first Past President of Edgware and Stanmore Schiele, and Hiram E. Shorey gathered Wednesday morning of every month Rotary. in Loehr's office for what would become collecting pieces of rubbish. The potential of that shared energy known as the first Rotary club meeting. When passers-by asked, Angelie to help others is why Toastmasters and Toastmasters began as a series of explained what the group was doing, and Rotary forged the alliance. speaking clubs organised by Ralph C. they expressed appreciation. “It just took a Officially announced at the beginning Smedley during his time working for few hours of my time and it made me feel of 2020, it is aimed at capitalising on the the Young Men's Christian Association better,” she says of the beautification effort. strengths of each organisation, helping to (YMCA). The first unofficial meeting was Angelie is not only a Rotarian, but further personal and professional growth held in Bloomington, Indiana, in March she is also a member of Toastmasters, for members of both groups. 1905 – just 134 miles south of Chicago. where helping others is also a central Scott Brown, a Toastmaster in As director of education at the YMCA, tenet, with members helping each other Roanoke, Indiana, says teaming up can Smedley saw a need for the men in the to gain confidence, while improving help Toastmasters use their skills to community to learn how to speak, conduct communication and leadership skills. positively impact people around the world. meetings, plan programmes and work on She said her fellow Toastmasters To advocate for their service projects, committees, and he wanted to help them. would find it gratifying to collaborate on leaders must communicate why such He named the group the Toastmasters Rotary service efforts, which range from efforts are vital and inspire volunteers to Club since ‘toastmaster’ was a popular local projects to humanitarian service work together. term which referred to a person who gave around the world. “Rotary being such a great service toasts at banquets and other occasions. The alliance between Toastmasters organisation, they can help us take what Today, Toastmasters is a global, non-

32 | Rotary | August/September 2021 rotarygbi.org “THE AIM OF THE ALLIANCE IS FOR TOASTMASTERS AND ROTARIANS TO ENHANCE THEIR SKILLS, BROADEN THEIR NETWORKS AND INCREASE THEIR POSITIVE IMPACT IN COMMUNITIES THROUGH A NEW COLLABORATION.”

profit organisation with more than 16,800 allow both groups to learn more about the have spoken at their clubs. clubs in 143 countries. Its members attend other. Plus, sometimes you might not find club meetings where they learn how to be For their part, Toastmasters are being a great fit for a mentoring relationship in more confident speakers, communicators encouraged to invite Rotarians to their your Toastmasters club, added Scott. and leaders. clubs to give a speech and to be provided, “Sometimes the perfect person to Toastmasters’ vision for the ongoing in true Toastmasters’ style, feedback and help is sitting in another organisation ... collaboration with Rotary is to change tips to improve their delivery. like a Rotary club.” more lives for the better, and positively In turn, Toastmasters are being Helping Rotarians improve their impact communities around the world. encouraged to speak at Rotary club speaking skills, he added, is rewarding, “Collaborating with Toastmasters meetings and events, offering a potentially because it enables them to more effectively will provide our members with even more larger audience. advocate for humanitarian service, opportunities to develop and improve their Such experiences can help members including fighting disease, promoting leadership and communication skills,” said stretch their skills, said Canadian, peace, and supporting education and John Hewko, General Secretary and CEO Deborah Richards, who belongs to both health efforts. of Rotary International. organisations. “I think that would be an “Toastmasters can teach Rotarians to “In turn, members of Toastmasters interesting challenge for a Toastmaster,” be better at what they’re already doing,” he can connect with more people, take said Deborah from British Columbia. pointed out. advantage of new speaking and learning Mentoring is a core Toastmasters The Rotary alliance will provide opportunities, and make a difference in principle, and Scott Brown from Roanoke, plenty of networking opportunities their communities through Rotary.” believes strongly in the value of mentoring to build personal and professional For Toastmasters, they can benefit by those outside of Toastmasters, which he connections. gaining experience of speaking outside of calls “real-world experience.” Networking has always been a the organisation, strengthening mentoring That’s one reason why he embraces valuable part of Rotary meetings, and evaluation skills, expanding the Toastmasters/Rotary link. noted Deborah Richards, the Canadian professional and personal networks, as well Last year, the long-time Toastmaster Toastmaster and Rotarian. as broadening perspectives on the world. led a large public speaking workshop for Rotary collects data on members’ Rotary clubs can link with their Rotary leaders, and since then he and professions, and the clubs’ members Toastmasters counterparts at a local level, other Toastmasters have spoken at Rotary represent a variety of businesses and possibly by hosting a joint meeting to clubs in Indiana and, in turn, Rotarians industries. Toastmasters could seek new rotarygbi.org August/September 2021 | Rotary | 33 Rotary | FEATURE

Rotary colleagues in a specific industry, and leadership development courses such as engineering, teaching, or for Rotary. marketing. “The strategic alliance with Rotary is “I could see where a Toastmaster exciting and allows both organisations to might be interested in that networking, leverage our unique and similar strengths,” especially if they own a small business, says Deepak Menon, Toastmasters' | Fact file | for example,” said Deborah, a member of International President for 2019-20. Cloverdale Rotary. “We look forward to providing our TOASTMASTERS Deborah is programme director in current and prospective members with • Toastmasters International is a non-profit the Health Sciences Division at the Justice ongoing additional offerings that meet educational organisation that teaches public speaking and leadership skills Institute of British Columbia. their evolving needs.” through a worldwide network of clubs. She has participated in such service Back in England, Angelie Bharwaney, projects with her Rotary club, such an airline administration and customer • Headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, as cleaning local streets and creating services manager, said that being in the organisation's membership exceeds scholarships for students. Toastmasters has boosted her confidence 364,000 in more than 16,200 clubs in 145 The aim of the alliance is for as a speaker. countries. Toastmasters and Rotarians to enhance And from Rotary, she has reaped the • Since 1924, Toastmasters International has their skills, broaden their networks emotional satisfaction of volunteer service. helped people from diverse backgrounds and increase their positive impact in She is happy about the alliance. become more confident speakers, communities through a new collaboration. “I think it’s a good thing for both communicators, and leaders. The advent of the global COVID-19 organisations, to be honest,” says • The Pathways learning experience is pandemic a year ago has stunted Angelie, whose husband, Suresh, is also a Toastmasters' education programme. development of the initiative. Toastmaster and Rotarian. This multi-language online learning tool However, it is intended that the “It will help both of them.” • allows you to leverage over 300 practical ongoing relationship between the two workplace skills, including: interview organisations will begin at grassroots level preparation; online meeting management; with local club members learning and | | leadership development; project Information management; and conflict resolution. working together. Article was first published in Toastmaster Additionally, Toastmasters will create • www.toastmasters.org magazine, with additional reporting. a set of eight structured communication

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Don’t panic Captain Mainwaring! An Olympic champion I READ with much interest the June I GREATLY enjoyed reading about edition of Rotary magazine, in particular ‘celebrity Rotarians’ (Rotary, June, 2021). It the feature about celebrity Rotarians. would be interesting to add a list of fictional I suggest that the next edition might Rotarians, for which Captain Mainwaring include an addition to your list. Godfrey of Dad’s Army would surely be a leading Brown was a member and President of contender. Worcester Rotary Club and in the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, he won a gold | Gerald Blake medal in the 4x400 metres relay and a Barnard Castle Rotary, County Durham silver medal in the individual live in Sussex where he died in 1995. 400 metres (pictured right). A blue plaque was placed at the Royal ©International Olympic Committee, Switzerland Godfrey studied English and Grammar School in 2013 as a tribute History at Peterhouse College, to him. Cambridge. After graduation, he started Godfrey joined Worcester Rotary a career in education at Bedford School. Club and was President in 1974 and He then moved to Cheltenham 1975. He was, indeed, an illustrious College before becoming Head of the member of Worcester Rotary Club. Royal Grammar School in Worcester from 1950 to 1978. | Murray Mylechreest After he retired, Godfrey went to Worcester Rotary

Rotarians flying high THE recent article about ‘Celebrity Rotarians’ (Rotary, June Clarence Birdseye, the frozen food inventor from Gloucester 2021) was fascinating. However, there are many more, and some, Rotary in Massachusetts, and Franz Lehár, the composer, from worthy of mention were, in fact, active and regular members. Vienna Rotary. Lehár is particularly interesting because he Rotary International has a list of over 150 famous Rotarians, conducted a performance of his operetta 'The Merry Widow’ at many of whom were practising Rotarians. the 1931 Rotary International Convention held in Vienna. Among them were Orville Wright, the early aviator, from Dayton Rotary, Nigel Gresley, designer of the locomotive the | Basil Lewis ‘Flying Scotsman’ and Vice President of Doncaster Rotary, Humberside Rotary

36 | Rotary | August/September 2021 rotarygbi.org Books warn What about children of dangers Nobel laureates? I ENJOYED the feature on reading in the I HAVE been reading the most recent recent edition of Rotary (June 2021). edition of your magazine and, as always, Members may be interested to hear of it is full of interesting and stimulating an initiative which I started involving the articles. I was particularly interested in production of a series of children's books the list of famous Rotarians (Rotary, highlighting the dangers that children face June 2021). in their young lives. I have a Hungarian daughter-in- The Purple Pup Stories develop the law and during the summer of 2016 everyday dangers that are featured in the was visiting her and my son at their booklet ‘Watch Out’, which was supported home in Budapest. by Rotary in the Thames Valley. Like a good Rotarian, I looked to The organisation OK Our Kids, already see if there were any clubs meeting in involving a number of Rotary clubs, aims Challenging the city during my stay. to get these books into every school and to I eventually went to one which every child in the UK. climate change contained the largest number of expats. At a cost of only £2 each, Rotary clubs What I do recall is that one of the club may wish to support their local schools by opinion members was a Nobel prize winner, I buying and distributing the books. think for literature. This will give teachers and parents the THE letter written by Don Heys, in Your excellent list of famous opportunity to talk to children about every response to the article about climate Rotarians did not include any Nobel day dangers in an informal and interesting change, cannot go unchallenged laureates so, when you have time and way, while enjoying Toni Goffe's wonderful (Rotary, April 2021). if the idea appeals, perhaps you could illustrations. There is no dispute that CO2 is publish another listing. There must Further details from Tony Churchill essential for photosynthesis, but too surely be some. on 07854 444775 or okourkids.org.uk much CO2 will lead to plant damage. Don Heys refers to the views of Joseph S. D’Aleo, a US meteorologist | Michael Rooze | David Brodie and climate change sceptic. Comber Rotary, County Down Jordans and District Rotary, D’Aleo is part of a group of Buckinghamshire US meteorologists who base their scepticism on weather pattern modelling and not climate modelling. There is no dispute that CO2 levels are rising, which leads to Give youth a voice the trapping of heat in the earth’s I AM exceedingly proud of my Rotary club their events. This partnership in its fifth, atmosphere resulting in an increase and the creative ways we have supported highly successful year has raised Rotary’s in global temperatures and increasing our community, and each other, during image with parents significantly. acidification of our oceans. these difficult times, despite having a However, I believe all clubs now need Even a casual observer would not mature membership. younger members from the range of new dismiss evidence of melting ice caps We are anxious the essential work of clubs - eclubs, passport clubs, satellites - and glaciers, leading to rising sea levels Rotary must continue and have worked telling us why they joined Rotary, how it due directly to global temperature hard to gain new members over the years - came about and what works for them, and increase. Unfortunately, rising CO2 but with limited success. what doesn’t. levels are the culprit. In the past, we have endeavoured If they use their voices to give us Rotary is to be applauded for to form a Rotaract group at our local positive workable models in detail, surely highlighting a serious threat to the university but sustaining this has been this would spark ideas for increasing planet’s future health. Climate change problematic. membership in our different communities, directly affects our ability to undertake We have a wonderful RotaKids club and benefit all. altruistic works throughout the world. which we run face-to-face weekly, when Frank Williams restrictions allow, or by Zoom. | Pauline Kenyon | This is part of our service programme, Bangor Gwynedd Rotary, Gwynedd Crickhowell Rotary, Powys working closely with the school to support rotarygbi.org August/September 2021 | Rotary | 37 Readers' letters

What climate change? IN reply to the letter from Stephen Kirkman in Rotary magazine (June The value of corporate membership 2021), I offer the attached link DURING my presidential year at promoting the club overall, it has been Where is the Climate Emergency? Tonbridge Rotary in 2010/2011, I was especially productive within our new wattsupwiththat.com extremely pleased and proud to induct Business Partners Scheme which was Among other things it shows that the first female member into our club, launched in 2020. sea levels are rising at the same rate as since it was originally chartered in 1924. Despite the problems caused by for the last 150 years or so with Surprisingly, this event was seen as the pandemic, we have succeeded in no acceleration. more than revolutionary by a few senior enrolling 18 business partners, four of Droughts are fewer, floods are not members, but we have now grown to whom are corporate business partners. increasing, wild fires have decreased a position where we have inducted five Following on from this, Janet has dramatically over the last 100 years, women, including one who became worked hard to ensure that we very crops are doing better every year partly President in 2018 and one who will effectively meet our commitment to due to the increase in CO2 in the become President in 2022. enhance their individual and varied atmosphere and there is no increase in Individually and collectively, all five profiles within the community, whilst the number of refugees due to climate continue to make notable contributions they, in turn, help the club meet its change. to the overall workings and activities of various financial commitments through In fact, according to the data, there the club. annual subscriptions. is no ‘climate emergency’. Even the However, I must mention our very Rotary is, and must be seen to be, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate first female member, Janet Sergison, inherently inclusive in all it does, and Change expresses doubt regarding whose contribution is particularly the Tonbridge club fully supports and possible anthropogenic causes for noticeable through her role as social benefits from this ideal. changes in the climate. media and public relations officer. Whilst her professional approach | Eddie Prescott | Gordon Daly to this position has been effective in Tonbridge Rotary, Kent Falkirk Rotary, Stirlingshire

Why not honour Don’t need a spare magazine I AGREE with John Holden’s comment | Chris Webb Greta Thunberg? re ‘Why print a magazine at all?’ (Rotary, Bakewell Rotary, Derbyshire GIVEN our mutual interest in the April 2021). environment and climate change I Only six of our members do not have Editor’s note: If you have a spare copy suggest we make Greta Thunberg a computer and would benefit from the of the magazine, why not give it to a an honorary member of Rotary printed word. prospective member? Or with your club’s International. It would be wonderful My husband and I are members of details attached to the front cover, why publicity with the younger generation the same Rotary club and would be quite not leave it at a local library, community the world over. happy to share a copy. I am sure that, in this centre, doctor’s or dentist surgery, coffee day and age of advanced technology, one shop, or in the reception area of your | Robert Wadd copy sent to an address where there are two business? If you still don’t want the spare Chesterfield Rotary, Derbyshire members living together could be organised copy, then email: [email protected] with in the ‘dispatch office’. your name, address and club details.

38 | Rotary | August/September 2021 rotarygbi.org Readers' letters | CONTACT US Every issue, Rotary magazine publishes a series of letters from Rotarians featuring a number of topical issues We welcome your letters on any subject to do with Rotary. Submissions should be no more than 250 words long. If you would like to contribute please write including your name and address and then emailing: [email protected] or post to: Rotary magazine, Rotary in Great Britain & Ireland, Kinwarton Road, Alcester, Warwickshire B49 6PB The comments made on this page do not necessarily represent the views of Rotary in Great Britain and Ireland, and Rotarians.

Make joining Rotary easier I WAS intrigued by Graham Taylor’s article in April’s edition, so I wanted to share a very different perspective from my club on the outskirts of Cardiff. During my working life, I was approached by a number of Rotary clubs, but I had no intention of joining as I felt Rotary was an exclusive and formal organisation. Later, I was invited to join meetings of Garth Rotary, which was then a satellite club of Chelwood Bridge Rotary. The meeting was lively, and it was very clear the club had a strong working bond with a clear vision of working closely with the local You’ve got a Freund indeed! community. There was a good mix of people IT is now two years since I returned to by two differences: hand shaking and the who had experience of a wide range of Rutland after living for well over 20 years expression “Freund”. qualities and skills. So three years ago I in Germany, much of it in the charming I continue to receive the German was welcomed as a new member. spa town of Bad Salzuflen. Rotary magazine each month so benefit In 2019, Garth became a fully- The town’s Rotary club is partnered from both British and German Rotary with Ipswich East, so I became acquainted news. fledged chartered club. We have 25 with Rotary when helping a friend arrange A very popular feature of the German members with just under a quarter annual visits and, later, became a member magazine is Freund Alexander Hoffmann’s female. Although this is a relatively myself. humorous stories about the fictious Rotary small proportion, this does not reflect There are not many positives coming Club of Bröckedde, one of which is always the huge contribution they make. out of the pandemic, but online Rotary on the final page. Graham suggests becoming a meetings is one, so I sometimes attend On return to the UK, I started member of Rotary is an arduous and both Uppingham’s and Bad Salzuflen’s translating them and passing them on to painstaking experience. Nothing could each week. my new club, Bad Salzuflen’s partners in be further from the truth about our There are just over 1,000 German Ipswich, and a friend in the far north of membership process. We welcome Rotary clubs compared to around 1,700 Scotland. anyone who can make a contribution. in Great Britain & Ireland. However, Since then, their distribution has Garth provides a refreshing Germany’s clubs have a larger membership spread to all the partner clubs and insight into how becoming a member numbering close to 55,000 compared to Freund Hoffmann and I have developed of Rotary can enrich your social life, some 47,000 Rotarians in these isles. the project of offering a collection of as well as supporting those in genuine There are also over 130 German clubs Bröckedde stories in English, for the need. benefit of our respective clubs and in time with British partner clubs, so over the The most significant bonus of for Christmas 2021. years many hundreds, if not thousands, being part of Garth Rotary is the of British Rotarians will have enjoyed To give readers a taste, you can find entertaining, pleasurable and leisurely German hospitality, and vice versa. the translation here: rotary-ribi.org/clubs way in which functions and meetings Many others will no doubt have We, Freund Alexander Hoffmann, the are held for the benefit of all, even in attended Rotary meetings whilst on cartoonist Marcus Schäfer and I hope you times of Zoom! business trips or holidays or the 2019 enjoy them. Rotary International Convention in They also puncture that old cliché, Hamburg. that Germans have no sense of humour! | David Williams As you would expect, club life is Garth Rotary, South Glamorgan similar, although any guest attending a | Colin Gordon German Rotary meeting might be struck Uppingham Rotary, Rutland rotarygbi.org August/September 2021 | Rotary | 39 Book a free talk for your club

Book your free Mercy Ships Zoom talk today to find out how The Mercy Ships Speaker Network is the Global Mercy will double our surgical and training capacity a group of volunteers, many of whom in West Africa. have served onboard our hospital ships, who offer free talks about the work of Mercy Ships. To book a free online talk Thanks to Rotarian’s Global Grant pledges, the Global Mercy will be joining our for your group please contact fleet this year and we would love to update your club with our plans for the largest [email protected] purpose-built hospital ship in the world that you made possible.

Supported by Rotary clubs www.mercyships.org.uk/rotary in Great Britain & Ireland Registered Charity No: 1053055. Registered Charity in Scotland No. SC039743. Company No: 3147724 (England and Wales)

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Fifty years of building future leaders

Jim and Jenny Banks from Stonehaven Rotary in Aberdeenshire have been involved in the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards scheme for more than 30 years. Here they reflect on a golden age of developing youngsters’ thinking and physical skills.

| JIM & JENNY BANKS |

HE Rotary Youth Leadership communication, character, charisma, activities at Nethy Bridge saw mixed teams Awards were started by confidence and courage - all of which are compete in swimming, athletics and various Rotarians in Australia in 1959. essential to strong, imaginative, involved challenges around the centre. It was officially adopted by leadership. Two very successful camps at Rotary International 50 years A district RYLA committee was Ardeonaig saw a huge demand for places Tago in 1971. formed and the first RYLA camp was held for girls and it was decided to hold both Scotland North Rotary (District 1010) in July 1984 at a cost of £140 per candidate camps at Nethy Bridge from 1990. was the first area in Great Britain and at Abernethy Outdoor Centre, Nethy Bridge There have been many eminent Ireland to get involved. The first RYLA in the Scottish Highlands. It was for speakers at both camps, however the most camp was held in the Highlands 37 years boys only. distinguished visitor to date, at the girls’ ago in July 1984. Following four very successful camps camp, was the visit of HRH The We have been involved from the start for boys, it was proposed to offer girls the Princess Royal. and ran the first girls’ camp in July 1988. same opportunity. Jim along with Jenny She addressed the girls, answered The RYLA journey began in 1983 Banks were asked to run the girls’ camp questions and watched various groups when John Tyler, an American, joined at Ardeonaig Outdoor Centre, part of the of girls tackle the mental and physical Aberdeen St. Fittick Rotary Club. Abernethy Trust, near Killin in Stirling in challenges around the centre. It was a great He had been involved with a RYLA July 1988. privilege for Jim to introduce her and show camp in America and persuaded the St. Five counsellors and 37 girls attended her round. Fittick club and the district that this was the first RYLA girls’ camp. As there were Scotland North Rotary has a great a project which would benefit the young no women in Rotary, the counsellors were partnership with the Abernethy Trust, people in the area. selected from various walks of life. whose staff are dedicated to providing safe, The objectives of RYLA can be Both boys’ and girls’ camps were enjoyable and exciting activities. expressed in the six Cs: commitment, held during the same week. A joint day of Through these activities, candidates

42 | Rotary | August/September 2021 rotarygbi.org “THERE IS ONE SPEAKER A DAY, FOLLOWED BY A DAY’S OUTDOOR ACTIVITY INCLUDING HILL WALKING, WATER SPORTS, MOUNTAIN BIKING AND GORGE WALKING.”

find out more about themselves, others and how important it is to work as a team. The programme has evolved and been fine-tuned over the years and gives the candidates an experience they will never forget. There is one speaker a day followed by a day’s outdoor activity including hill walking, water sports, mountain biking and gorge WHAT IS RYLA? walking. ROTARY Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is an intensive leadership In the evening, activities include quizzes, discussions and experience organised by Rotary clubs where you develop your skills as a sports. All activities are done in groups of eight. leader while having fun and making connections. Counsellors, now called mentors, who give up their week do so What are the benefits? because they also gain so much, through friendship, meeting new Connect with leaders in your community people, enjoying fresh air and hopefully having a positive effect on and around the world: the young people of today. • Build communication and problem solving skills They are the future. Stonehaven Rotary continues to sponsor • Discover strategies for becoming a dynamic leader two places on the RYLA week-long, full-time residential leadership • Learn from community leaders, inspirational speakers, development course. and peer mentors Last year, like so many other events, it was cancelled but the • Unlock your potential to turn motivation into action 2021 RYLA camp took place in July, with the club funding an additional place. • Have fun and form lasting friendships This is a rare opportunity for youngsters to experience and What’s involved? learn things about themselves, working in a team and about leading RYLA events are organised locally by Rotary clubs and districts for and supervising other people. • participants ages 14-30.Depending on community needs, RYLA may take the form of a one-day seminar, a three-day retreat, or a | Information | weeklong camp. Typically, events last from three to 10 days and include rotarygbi.org/join/youth-programmes presentations, activities, and workshops covering a variety of topics.

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Out of disaster comes hope From the devastation of an horrific explosion in Beirut a year ago, Rotarians from across Great Britain & Ireland have helped fund the rebuilding of part of a hospital destroyed by the blast.

| DAVE KING |

SMALL explosion, black The disaster prompted worldwide aid, of the UK/Beirut fund-raising campaign, smoke, fireworks and including from the Rotary family. Within talking to Rotarians across the UK about then the absolute terror of days, Putney Rotary from London had set the project. They established an avenue being caught in arguably up a donations page and were in contact to donate funds, amalgamate donations the largest non-nuclear with Habib Saba, President of Beirut from collaborating clubs and districts, and explosionsA in history. Cosmopolitan Rotary. minimise transfer fees. It was August 4th, 2020 when 2,750 The focal point of Rotary efforts was The target was to raise $140,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate stored in Karantina Public Hospital, the only public (£99,000) from Great Britain and Ireland. Hangar 12 of Beirut Port in Lebanon hospital in Beirut, which lay 900 metres The cogs of the Rotary network were exploded with the force of a 3.5 magnitude from the epicentre of the port explosion and turning in these isles, and across the world, earthquake. was severely damaged. as a sense of unity and collaborative spirit Over 200 people died, more than The plan was to fund a new Mother began to build momentum. 6,000 people were injured when buildings and Child wing of the hospital. Fund-raising was wide and varied, and ceilings collapsed, lethal shards of glass At the time, Beirut Cosmopolitan including a classic car drive from John became daggers, windows shattered and Rotary was liaising with RC Whitby Sunrise O’Groats to Land’s End organised by Hedge doors were blown off their hinges. from Canada, who would become the End Rotary from Hampshire, a Lebanese Ten fire fighters burnt to death - three Global Grant international sponsor, along picnic and a street collection, as clubs from one family, and 300,000 people were with other clubs and districts globally. and districts donated considerable money displaced from their homes. Damage was Putney Rotary, led by President Louise towards rebuilding Karantina Hospital, estimated at up to £10.6 billion. McCance-Price, became the cornerstone notably Districts 1040 (Yorkshire and

46 | Rotary | August/September 2021 rotarygbi.org Rotary | NEWS & EVENTS

"THE FOCAL POINT OF ROTARY EFFORTS WAS KARANTINA PUBLIC HOSPITAL, THE ONLY PUBLIC HOSPITAL IN BEIRUT, WHICH LAY 900 METRES FROM THE EPICENTRE OF THE PORT EXPLOSION AND WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED."

North Lincolnshire) and 1130 (London), able to commence rebuilding the hospital global Rotary family. along with financial contributions from the and on 4 August 2021, exactly one year “With the benefit of technology and, Rotary clubs of London, Purley and Putney. after the Beirut Port Explosion, the Mother in particular Zoom, we have entered each By St Valentine’s weekend this year, and Child wing of the hospital will be other's homes and hearts, breaking down thanks to participating clubs and districts launched.” barriers and misperceptions and drawing in Great Britain and Ireland, and around Speaking to clubs in Rotary GB&I, ever closer to each other all in the midst of a the world, Beirut Cosmopolitan’s initial Habib Saba said: “Despite the dire rampant Covid pandemic, and all the while target of approximately $400,000 was circumstances in Lebanon - with a with grace, humour and good spirit. reached. The Global Grant application was political, economic and financial meltdown, “It is indeed a testament to the values, locked on St Valentine’s Day. capital control, a severe devaluation of the power and unity of the Rotary family A month later, The Rotary Foundation Lebanese pound, spiralling inflation, more worldwide.” • has approved the $391,000 Global Grant than half the population living below the for Beirut’s Karantina Public Hospital. poverty line, and to add insult to injury the The paediatric ward which was August 4th Beirut Port Explosion which destroyed in the explosion has been rebuilt shook the nation - the silver lining has been with the help of the Swiss Government. the outpouring of support and comfort This will act as an interim ward until from around the world and specifically the | Fact file | the final location for the paediatric ward in the new wing of the hospital is completed KARANTINA PUBLIC HOSPITAL this month. • The Global Grant for $391,000 was The Global Grant for medical submitted on February 20th, 2021 for equipment for this project was planned to paediatric & neonatal operating theatre be installed in time for the anniversary of and paediatric ward equipment. the blast. Read the extended story online: • It was approved on March 30th, 2021. Once the new paediatric ward is up Rotarygbi.org/news and running, an interim ward will be • Globally, over 150 Rotary clubs & districts participated. converted into the only Governmental dialysis centre for children, in addition • From Great Britain & Ireland, 116 Rotary to being a day hospital for children with clubs, 2 Inner Wheel clubs and 4 districts cancer in Lebanon. | Information | contributed. Dr Robert Sacy, founder of the NGO Putney Rotary: • Great Britain contributed $141,000 Assameh, thanked clubs writing: “After the putneyrotary.org.ukproject/ towards the Global Grant. blast of August 4th, we were devastated and international-project-beirut-campaign • Internationally, contributions came from without any hope concerning the future of seven countries: Canada, Great Britain & our children in Lebanon. Beirut Cosmopolitan Rotary: Ireland, USA, Netherlands, Germany, Italy “Thanks to the international www.rcbclebanon.org/ & Lebanon. friendship, solidarity and support we were rotarygbi.org August/September 2021 | Rotary | 47 Rotary | FEATURE

Every year, Rotary salutes its Champions of Change recognising Rotarians for their valuable work in the community. Theirs is a snapshot of the amazing work which Rotarians and Rotary clubs perform on a daily basis. In addition, Rotary also honours volunteers with close links to clubs whose community projects are making a huge impact.

Sylvia Keris Eccleshall Mercia Rotary, Staffordshire

HE Buddy Bag Foundation is a national charity founded in 2015 to Thelp make a difference to children entering emergency care after domestic violence, which has increased during the Covid pandemic. Sylvia’s work for the Foundation over the past couple of years is the most recent example of her willingness to work for others. There are around 48,000 children who require emergency care every year in the UK. The Buddy Bag Foundation supplies record of volunteering which Sylvia holds. or sewing toiletry bags - for a worthwhile these children with a Buddy Bag containing For the past 10 years she has helped at cause and, at the same time, this has essential items to help restore a sense of the Walton Hall Special Needs School in helped participants to remain valued and comfort and love. Eccleshall. She has supported overseas stay connected during the pandemic. Sylvia has been heavily involved development projects in Asia, Africa, South Separately, Sylvia carried out a novel recently with The Buddy Bag Foundation, America and in Kosovo. costumed activity last December, with by initiating a nationwide knitted teddy Through her Buddy Bag volunteering, the support of The Buddy Bag Foundation, bears appeal and has enlisted the help of Sylvia has demonstrated what can be done which raised £552. other Rotarians and keen knitters from to make a significant contribution to a She also carried out a 145-mile across the country to take part. valuable national charity in the UK, without walk along the Grand Union Canal from With the help of Stafford Castle Rotary, necessarily raising cash, and even during Birmingham to London in 2019, pre- Sylvia is able to transport the teddy bears Covid restrictions. pandemic, raising over £3,000, which was to The Buddy Bag Foundation’s depot at By doing so, she has managed to shared between The Buddy Bag Foundation Sutton Coldfield and assist with packaging motivate an impressive array of Rotary and End Polio Now. the buddy bags, which are sent to refuges clubs as far afield as London, voluntary Rotary club contacts along this route, around the country. organisations and members of the public and previous charity canal walks, were the She has collected in many thousands to work for The Buddy Bag Foundation on a starting point of her Teddy appeal for The of teddies so far, with that figure rising significant scale. Buddy Bag Foundation. • weekly. And she is now also a collecting During the recent COVID-19 point for the fabric toiletry bags, pencil lockdown, this project work has provided | Information | cases and Lego which the charity needs. opportunities for people to carry out buddybagfoundation.co.uk This is one aspect of an impressive valuable work - such as knitting teddies

48 | Rotary | August/September 2021 rotarygbi.org Champions of Change Winners

“WITH THE SUPPORT OF WESTBOURNE ROTARY, GREG TEAMED UP WITH THE MULTI- ETHNIC CHARITY, UNITY IN VISION, TO SUPPORT THE BLACK, ASIAN AND MINORITY Greg Singleton ETHNIC COMMUNITY WHO WERE STRUGGLING Westbourne Rotary, TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE.” Dorset

HEN lockdown started in March course meals a day from a commercial Greg said: “Despite these numbers 2020, Westbourne Rotary in kitchen, all distributed free of charge. being nothing short of a miracle, making W Bournemouth decided to focus Greg is supported by a dedicated team it happen has not been easy, and would on supporting the homeless who were of volunteers, including many BAME chefs not have been possible without the infinite being brought off the streets and put into who have brought flare, cultural colour and love, support and solidarity from our temporary accommodation. flavours to the menus. community since day one. • At the heart of this was Greg Singleton, who recognised there were vulnerable sections of the community who were being left without Government support during COVID-19. So Greg, who has a registered kitchen at his home in Southbourne, started cooking hot meals which could be prepared cheaply and delivered to a hotel which was housing the homeless. Greg began his working life as a management accountant, but then did a complete about-change by running a patisserie. The Rotary club had access to supplies of food and initially the project began with 15 meals a day being prepared. As the pandemic’s grip took hold, Greg recognised there were other sections of the community that needed help with feeding their families. With the support of Westbourne Rotary, Greg teamed up with the multi- ethnic charity, Unity in Vision, to support the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community who were struggling to put food on the table. This was quickly followed with referrals from other agencies highlighting other families in the Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch areas who were in need of hot meals and weekend food parcels. As the operation grew, Greg’s home became too small to cope with the demand and new, larger kitchens were found to prepare and cook the food. In the first year of the project, Greg and the team of volunteers had provided a staggering 17,000 meals to families in the area. Westbourne Rotary Club had gone from a small cooking operation in Greg’s kitchen to providing more than 60 two- rotarygbi.org August/September 2021 | Rotary | 49 “THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC, DOUGLAS HAS USED HIS SOCIAL MEDIA SKILLS TO CREATE AN ONLINE FOLLOWING WHICH HAS BROUGHT KIDNEY DISEASE TO THE Douglas Kerr FOREFRONT OF PEOPLE'S THINKING.” e-Club South West Peninsula

N his nomination, the then District transplant. He never complains and, on weakness, shortness of breath, congestive Governor (1175, which is Rotary in the March 24th this year, he received a kidney heart failure and many other associated ISouth West Peninsula) William Wills transplant. factors in order to help raise funds to help writes: “We cannot think of anyone more After joining Rotary, Douglas became other people who are living with the same worthy for this award. Douglas would not a Community Ambassador for Kidney condition. expect to be nominated due to his humble Research UK. He is a volunteer raising the “Kidney disease ruins and destroys nature.” profile of the organisation across the lives,” he said. And yet the Rotarian from Ham, south-west. Douglas joined the e-Club on the day it near Plymouth, is a whirlwind within his Throughout the pandemic, Douglas chartered and plays an integral part in the community, engaged with a number of has used his social media skills to create club where he is the lead for the Twitter projects and he campaigns for those with an online following which has brought social media. On a daily basis, he interacts life-limiting conditions. kidney disease to the forefront of people's with organisations, volunteers and the In 2018, supported by his wife thinking. public to promote the work of the club. Annemarie, Douglas led the team to set up Douglas has used his experience to As a Rotarian, he has contributed the Plymouth Group of the Motor Neurone help others, creating resources which were ideas of how the club can get involved with Disease (MND) Association. not there before. activities locally. • His efforts ensured that Plymouth During March, and before the City Council adopted the MND Charter in transplant, Douglas overcame his October 2018, to help 'influence positively limitations by walking at least 8,500 steps the quality of life for people with MND and a day for a full month in aid of Kidney | Information | their carers in the community'. Research UK. mndassociation.org Douglas overcame his own health While waiting for the transplant, www.kidneyresearchuk.org issues to organise events and activities to Douglas had to overcome lethargy, fund-raise for the charity - from cake sales to a dinner dance. He also gained the support of Plymouth Argyle Football Club through the Argyle Community Trust. This initiative has gained considerable political support, notably a campaign to widen the message of 'scrap6months' - a pledge to ensure that people who are terminally ill can access welfare benefits quickly and sensitively. Douglas set up the MND group, along with the help of Annemarie and the association’s area co-ordinator, because he felt an affinity since he has been living with a life-limiting condition. One of Douglas’s achievements through campaigning was to assist a young patient getting moved to suitable ground floor accommodation after a gruelling two-hour meeting with the local housing authority. Douglas has been on kidney dialysis for nine hours each night for a considerable period of time and was in need of a kidney

50 | Rotary | August/September 2021 rotarygbi.org Champions of Change Winners

“LIVING ON THE PROMENADE IN FLEETWOOD, MICHAEL NOTICED HOW FAMILIES SOMETIMES HAD TO LEAVE DISABLED MEMBERS ON THE PAVEMENT OVERLOOKING THE BEACH, WHILE Michael Gray THE REMAINDER WERE ABLE TO ENJOY THE Fleetwood Rotary, SAND AND SEA WITH EASY ACCESS.” Lancashire

HE Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs The project has not been easy to set been held back. charity was three years in the up. There has been red tape and various Beforehand, many disabled people Tmaking – and its driving force was obstructions to overcome during the would travel several hours from north- Rotarian, Michael Gray. planning process. west England to find a beach that was The charity provides the unique ability A couple of false starts would have disabled-friendly. for families with someone who is disabled, beaten some people, but with Mick’s But Michael believes there are to enjoy the beach experience in an easily tenacity and belief, the idea has come to hundreds of disabled people desperate to accessible way. fruition. take advantage of this life-changing facility The beach wheelchairs allow users to The project has been a huge success. making memories which they thought paddle in the water, sampling the sort of Michael has brought joy and pleasure to they would never be able to do. seaside activities which many of us take so many people. It has only been because The evidence for a nationwide roll-out for granted. of the Covid restrictions that progress has is mounting every day. • Now they can experience the thrill of enjoying the beach and feeling the sea lapping at their feet – some, for the first time ever. Living on the promenade in Fleetwood, Michael noticed how families sometimes had to leave disabled members on the pavement overlooking the beach, while the remainder were able to enjoy the sand and sea with easy access. Normal wheelchairs are impossible to push on soft sand, so Michael searched for a way of overcoming this barrier. After considerable research, he came across a group in Scotland which was using specially-built chairs with bulbous wheels which prevented them from sinking in the sand. The former police chief superintendent brought the idea to Fleetwood Rotary who, together with District 1190 (Cumbria and Lancashire), provided initial funds to buy one chair. Michael then sought premises to operate from along the beach. Now, through his hard work and with the help of a willing team of around 40 volunteers, Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs has seven special chairs, along with a hoist, and specialised equipment, which is housed at the beachside property. There is free disabled parking alongside the premises, together with a ramp providing access to Fleetwood beach, even at high tide. rotarygbi.org August/September 2021 | Rotary | 51 “USING ROBUST MONITORING AND FEEDBACK ON THE FILTERS FROM A NUMBER OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, HE SYSTEMATICALLY IMPROVED John Griffith WATER FILTER DESIGNS.” Cleadon & District Rotary, South Tyneside

T was back in 2008 when John Griffith also supply filters to Water Survival Box, reduction in plastic waste and the burning was asked to use his engineering skills and have recently signed an agreement to of wood to boil water. Ito help support the Rotary North East’s supply filters to ShelterBox. This is a venture which attracts both floundering ‘Aquafilter’ project. The Safe Water Trust has assisted Rotarian volunteers to help build the filters, At the time, John was running a humanitarian crisis worldwide by supplying so reducing costs, while many Rotary clubs design and development consultancy in water filters via Humanitarian NGOs, to and charities have helped support the Washington, Tyne & Wear developing Malawi, Bangladesh (to Rohingya refugees), venture through raising donations. textile machinery. and Palestine. Addressing growing community needs, The business was sold, so John and These water filters save lives by John has designed two types of filter. his wife Gill decided to use money from providing clean drinking water and offer There is the family filter, which filters up the sale initially to help a district project significant social economic benefits in to 90 litres of clean water per hour and is supplying water filters to developing developing countries and emergencies. designed for extended families. countries. By providing clean drinking water, To further address community needs, But when that project folded, John and infant mortality is drastically reduced; a second filter was developed by John, Gill decided to start again, supported by the children no longer get sick and miss out on the community filter which filters up to Cleadon & District Rotary Club. education, while educational achievement 300 litres of clean water per hour and is John re-designed and developed the is greatly increased. designed for use in villages, clinics and filter, and then set up the manufacturing There are also significant economic schools.• and distribution of innovative water filters benefits through reduced parental care to areas of the world most in need. and increased capacity to work. | Information | As a result, John established Grifaid, a The water filter project also offers grifaid.org charity supporting the distribution of water many environmental benefits with the filters worldwide. Using robust monitoring and feedback on the filters from a number of developing countries, he systematically improved water filter designs. John also set up The Safe Water Trust Limited, a not-for-profit company, to develop and manufacture the water filters in a 5000 square foot research, development and manufacturing facility in north-east England. Now, water filters, under the Grifaid brands are recognised as market leaders in terms of design, longevity and cost effectiveness. Since 2009, 45,000 filters have been deployed in more than 50 countries, providing safe drinking water to more than a million people. John and Gill have visited Grifaid filters in use in Cambodia, The Gambia, Ghana, Haiti, India, Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda, often with repeated visits. They work closely with the Derbyshire- based Rotary charity Aquabox, which assembles the filters for its own use. They

52 | Rotary | August/September 2021 rotarygbi.org Champions of Change Winners

“MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE INCIDENCE OF MALARIA HAS BEEN REDUCED BY OVER 70%. THEY ARE AWAITING MALARIA FIGURES FOR THE SECOND YEAR WHICH Christianah Hayter THE COMMUNITY IN THE GAMBIA Milton Keynes EXPECTS TO BE EVEN BETTER.” Grand Union Rotary, Buckinghamshire OLLOWING a holiday to The Gambia Grand Union Rotary and supported by a Gambia expects to be even better. back in 2006, Chris developed Global Grant from The Rotary Foundation. The drainage project has heightened Fstrong bonds with the West African In The Gambia, they were supported by community awareness, and changed country. Fajara Rotary and the total project cost was behaviour towards maintaining safe In particular, she connected with the in excess of $46,000. sanitation. Training has been provided in Bakau community, a village on Gambia’s The result has been immense. environmental sanitation including anti- Atlantic coastline to the west of the capital, Work on the outfall started in 2019 littering and waste management. Banjul. and, although not completed, it has proved By 2019, Chris decided to join the After seven trips in seven years to The effective in taking the water away from the Milton Keynes Rotarians and further the Gambia, it became evident there was a village, reducing the amount of standing work of Rotary. need to improve the education, health and water which mosquitoes breed on. Chris’s enthusiasm, dedication and environment of Bakau, and Chris needed to Bakau no longer suffers from determination in supporting change in the galvanise the community to work towards devastating flooding of homes and the Bakau community has proved profound.• a solution. amount of standing water has been So the seeds were sown for the ‘Oasis reduced. Project’, a charity which began in 2007. More importantly, the incidence of Chris founded the Starlight School which malaria has been reduced by over 70%. | Information | is responsible for the education of 200 They are awaiting malaria figures for the theoasisproject.org children in Bakau. second year which the community in The Alongside that, she worked with community leaders to start health screening programmes, including eye testing. In 2013 Chris, who was then not a Rotarian, worked with the Milton Keynes Grand Union Rotary Club on a drainage project in Bakau, a village subject to terrible floods during the rainy season. The project aimed to reduce the number of cases of malaria by addressing the long-standing issue of poor storm water management. The key was to reconstruct village drains, starting with the outfall to the river, reducing the amount of waste accumulating which blocked the drains. This project required working closely with the local planning authority, the cleaning and environment agencies, as well as the National Roads Authority. Existing drains were repaired, cleared of rubbish and silt which was blocking them, and then covered to prevent further debris build-up, clearing the water course. The idea was to provide a safe sanitation system which could be easily maintained. The project started in 2017 thanks to initial seed money from Milton Keynes rotarygbi.org August/September 2021 | Rotary | 53 Marketplace

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Simply making a difference

Each year, six non-Rotarians are chosen as Community Champions as a mark of their work with Rotary and the impact their projects have made to communities in this country, and around the world.

Denise Campbell because of the virus. For the past 18 years Then, Denise (pictured above), Nominated by: Denise has always responded when she approached a local cafe and asked whether Billingshurst & District has seen a need in the community in West they would be willing to help by providing Rotary, West Sussex Sussex, and is Chair of the Billingshurst home cooked ready meals at cost. Community Partnership. The Community Partnership arranged OVID-19 caused sudden and In the immediate wake of Covid, the collection and delivery of these meals. immediate hardship to a significant Denise worked with Rotary, two churches Funding was provided by the Horsham number of families. Many were and the parish council to provide shopping District Council Covid Support Fund and C funding has recently been secured to pay unable to feed their families adequately services and prescription collections for the due to loss of earnings, being furloughed, vulnerable. for meals until March 2022. • or because families needed to isolate

and support, especially those who had Christine Boatwright cost, and for as long as was needed. been abused emotionally or sexually. She works tirelessly to raise the Sudbury Rotary, Suffolk However, many could not afford the funding needed each year and Sudbury kind of fees which private practice required Rotary has regularly supported the Kernos or access on-going therapy. Centre which has received 4,308 referrals hristine is the founder and Director This was her inspiration for setting up since 2003 – the oldest was 93-years-old of Counselling at the Kernos Centre, the Kernos Centre in 2002. Christine had a and the youngest, just five. based in Sudbury, Suffolk. • C vision when she set up Kernos that anyone After working in private practice and needing counselling and support should be | Information | voluntarily as a counsellor for 14 years, able to access this, without charge, if they Christine became aware of the number of kernos.org.com could not afford to contribute towards the people who needed on-going counselling

56 | Rotary | August/September 2021 rotarygbi.org Community Champion Winners

Hugh Scudder Gerry Watkins Kate Oakley Dawlish Water Rotary, Cirencester Rotary, Kinver Rotary, Devon Wiltshire Staffordshire

n 1990, Hugh Scudder was motivated erry Watkins is just an ‘ordinary or more than 28 years, Kate Oakley by the images of children trapped in working bloke' with an was a teacher. She first volunteered Iorphanages in Romania. He joined Gextraordinary vision, energy and Fin Uganda in 2007, two years after several humanitarian aid missions before desire to make a difference. losing her husband. And in 2012, Kate set being instrumental with setting up a new He has been the driving force behind up Planting For Hope Uganda, a registered charity to embrace Moldova in Eastern a community project called ‘The Big Yellow charity working in Kititi, a bush village in Europe. Bus Project'. south-west Uganda. Hugh developed the charity Christian In February 2017, Gerry read about a The charity has improved many lives Response to Eastern Europe. Moldova is rough sleeper whose tent was set alight through education, improving health the poorest country in Europe with many behind Cirencester Church. facilities, safe water and sanitation, job needs. Several times a year, the charity After raising significant funds mainly creation, sustainable agriculture, solar takes a 40-tonne articulated truck laden through organising a classic car event electricity and improved accommodation. with humanitarian aid and a Christmas and music concerts, Gerry bought an old Through the charity’s work, women truck with over 5,000 Christmas shoeboxes, double decker bus. Over an 18-month have set up their own businesses, which have been collected in association period, he worked hard, on top of his sustainable agriculture provides with Dawlish Water Rotary for over 20 day job, transforming it into temporary employment, produce for both commercial years. Soup kitchens have been established overnight accommodation. and home consumption. to supplement food aid, but these also play The doors to the bus were opened for The school in Kititi has grown from 286 an important role in providing an outlet business on Christmas Eve 2018. pupils in 2014 to 620, of whom 435 cannot for children to have fun and discuss issues Since then, despite many hurdles pay anything. However, food, education troubling them. In 2020, £100,000 was spent and challenges, Gerry has developed the materials and, for some, dormitory supporting families and soup kitchens. service provided to include a converted accommodation, are all provided. These efforts have been supported business premises offering refuge for up to The charity’s work has been supported by regular collections of bedding, clothing, 17 homeless persons overnight. by Kinver and Bewdley Rotary clubs in useful equipment including school items Many volunteers have been inspired to South Staffordshire and Worcestershire, such as books, pencils and pens, children's join Gerry in delivering the service, not least plus a Rotary District 1060 Foundation toys and bicycles and badly-needed every his wife of many years, Mandy. • grant. • day medical equipment such as walking frames and crutches.• | Information | | Information | | Information | cr2ee.org.uk bigyellowbusproject.co.uk plantingforhopeuganda.com

involved a church, synagogue, a Sikh to communities across south-west Dame Helen Hyde Gudwara, Hertfordshire County Council Hertfordshire with volunteer drivers. Watford Rotary, and Rotary. For the past year a large proportion Hertfordshire Helen assisted the project in co- of the daily organisation is down to Helen, ordinating a large network of supporting a former headmistress. She runs the HUB uring COVID-19 Helen Hyde added charities and local donors. three days a week supporting the team of to her charity activities by joining Watford Rotary paid for food volunteers. Da project to feed vulnerable adults ingredients through £3,000 of their own Her work includes work supporting and children during lockdown. funds and £1,000 from a district grant, so deprived families in Africa, and One Vision As the patron and trustee of the inter- local restaurants could prepare meals is part of this work helping to provide much faith group One Vision, Helen has helped to during the pandemic. needed items.• organise a daily delivery of approximately Many of the children and families were 2,000 meals a week to vulnerable people in identified through the Hertfordshire free south-west Hertfordshire. The project also school meals advisor. | Information | provided groceries and toiletries. From the original idea, the project onevisionproject.org This was a partnership which also has grown into a daily food delivery Editor's| Rotaryletter FEATURE and finally... From Managing Editor Dave King [email protected]

Butterflies flying in formation!

ERE’S a challenge. Pick a topic You do so by reaching into a toolkit of through Zoom. Effective communication you know something about communication skills; eye-contact, correct lies at the heart of everything we do. – maybe Rotary. Then, stand stance, vocal variety, appropriate gestures, Think about those times when folk in front of a mirror and, with speech structure, using props, and recognise you as a Rotarian, and ask what minimal preparation, speak audience engagement. Rotary is all about. It’s not easy to answer Habout that subject for a minute. At Toastmasters, I once asked my in a few sentences, is it? But we should It’s not easy. Shades of the BBC quiz mentor how to overcome the nagging fear learn to marshal those skills. show ‘Just A Minute’ with no deviation, before speaking in public. She said: “You’ll Rotarians do great things. We’re hesitation or repetition for just 60 seconds. never get rid of the butterflies. The trick is project people whose actions tend to speak The ice breaker for every club meeting to get those butterflies flying in formation.” louder than words. of Toastmasters International is called And she was so right. But, for the sake of Rotary’s relevance ‘table topics’. Sixty seconds to stand up and Fear keeps you constantly on your and the future of our organisation, if we’re speak on a random topic thrown at you. toes. It nestles alongside a quiet confidence not communicating effectively, then how As a fresh-faced whipper-snapper 30 as you carry a toolkit of communication can we ever hope to grow? years ago, I joined a Toastmasters club at strategies to dip into, while looking out at the American air base at RAF Mildenhall, an audience. I am planning to publish a series of  Suffolk. At that first meeting, in front of It’s why I am so pleased that Rotary articles in Rotary magazine in 2022 20 US servicemen and women, plus a few International has forged an alliance with about homelessness, mental health, locals, the table topic was to talk about me. Toastmasters International, since the two and helping with employment. Is I was jelly-legged. You have roughly organisations share close similarities, and your club involved with projects along 20 seconds, from the time you are given whose members can clearly benefit from these lines in your community? I am the topic, leave your chair and walk to the the different environments. keen to find out more. Please email lectern, to think of something pithy to say. Some may say they are too long in the me at: [email protected] I rambled, I was incoherent, I was tooth to learn new tricks. Really? For the latest updates on what’s rubbish. I lasted barely 30 seconds Surely, one of the reasons we join  before a round of applause diplomatically Rotary is for personal development. What happening in Rotary in Great Britain concluded my pathetic effort. could be a greater skill than improving our & Ireland follow me on Facebook, and But, very quickly, I got better. communication? share those posts on your club pages. The strategy for table topics is to have We have all had to adapt our You will find me: @rotaryeditor a punchline. What’s the bottom line of communication over the past 18 months your story? Then, working backwards, use an anecdote to support the punchline. Think of a smart opening. If you’re “YOU HAVE ROUGHLY 20 SECONDS, FROM THE desperate, repeat the question for added TIME YOU ARE GIVEN THE TOPIC, LEAVE YOUR thinking time. That's classic politician media training, by the way! CHAIR AND WALK TO THE LECTERN, TO THINK Toastmasters taught me a valuable OF SOMETHING PITHY TO SAY. ” life skill; how to communicate effectively.

Rotary magazine | CONTACT US | Rotary International in Great Britain & Ireland | Editor: | PR Officer: | Publisher: | Advertising Sales Agency: Kinwarton Road, Alcester, Warwickshire B49 6PB Dave King [email protected] Contently Limited Century One Publishing 01789 765 411 rotarygbi.org [email protected] contentlylondon.co.uk Amber Kyriacou 01727 739 196 [email protected]

Editorial material and opinion expressed in Rotary do not necessarily reflect the views of Rotary International in Great Britain & Ireland or the publisher. Every effort is made to ensure that the magazine’s content is accurate. Information is published in good faith, but no liability can be accepted for loss or inconvenience arising from error or omission. The editor welcomes contributions of articles, news items, photographs and letters, but is under no obligation to publish unsolicited material. The editor reserves the right to edit for clarity or length. Contributors must ensure that all material submitted is not in breach of copyright or that they have obtained any necessary permission, in writing, for its reproduction. While every care will be taken with material submitted to Rotary magazine, no responsibility can be accepted for loss or damage. Rotary International in Great Britain & Ireland believes in the highest standards journalistic integrity. Rotary International in Great Britain & Ireland and the publisher do not accept responsibility for advertising and insert content. Advertisements are accepted at face value and no liability can be accepted for the actions of advertisers.

58 | Rotary | August/SeptemberFebruary/March 2021 2021 rotarygbi.org Stamp Duty Paid!*

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