Hello and welcome to O.R.K, the home of the Orphan Rescue Kits!. Build an O.R.K yourself or help build one, for as little as $4! O.R.K is an intiative of the Coolamon (Australia) Rotary Club, to assist the survival of African Orphans..enjoy your stay and help us build the O.R.K! Be sure and visit the MAPS Project and the exciting Mountains of the Moon..the links are over there
Here is a story on our leader Marion Bunch this time on the Rotary International web site:
Rotarians for Fighting AIDS (RFFA), a Rotarian Action Group, has joined a broad coalition of organizations in a new initiative designed to combat the spread of AIDS among young people.
Marion Bunch in Nairobi
Rotarian Marion Bunch (left) accompanied by President Ashok, Presient Nairobi Rotary Club in Kenya, Marion is the Founder and CEO of the Rotarians for Fighting AIDS Action Group. She spoke on the launch of the Partnerships for an HIV-Free Generation’. This a Partner between Rotary and various organisations, which are raising funds to battle the AIDS scourge, which has savaged many communities around Kenya and indeed the world. Rtn. Bunch has the hope that AIDS will one day be wiped out, thanks to such partnerships. She stressed the need for proper education among Women and the youth so that they make the right choices as far as HIV & AIDS is concerned. Too many people are getting infected with HIV due to sheer ignorance. To this end, we should all join in and help attain this noble goal of wiping out AIDS.
RC of Nairbi Club Bulletin here:
Rotarians and guests listen to Rtn. Bunch as she explains what
Partnerships for HIV-Free Generation, is all about.
Massive “HIV Free Generation” program launched in Nairobi, Kenya, - December 5, 2008, by PEPFAR (The United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief), with Partners from America’s Entertainment, Business and Industry Titans, along with Rotarians for Fighting AIDS, Inc. (RFFA)
Read the full story here:
Bishop Zebedee Masereka
Message from Bishop Masereka of Kasase Uganda on World AIDS Day:
HIV/AIDS is a devastating enemy against humanity. However, it is wonderful to know that there is a Day when every one can focus on the dangers of HIV/AIDS. In my home Country of Uganda, World AIDS will be observed as usual on December 01.
It is encouraging to know that Governments like that of Uganda and many others in the world are working very hard to try and eliminate the virus and it’s consequences. It is also quite encouraging to know that the prices of Anti Retro Viral drugs, ARVs, have been lowered over the years. But universal access is still eluding many communities. The introduction of nevarepine medications on the markets a few years ago was a great achievement, yet the availability of nevarepine to every one who needs it has not been achieved in many Countries.
Read the Bishop’s full message here:
To see more of Bishop Masereka’s work with AIDS orphaned children in Kasase see:
“My name is Lt. Colonel Shane Kimbrough and I am on the International Space Station orbiting 200 miles above the earth.
During the 90 minutes it takes us to circle the earth, we do not see borders or boundaries. From up here, the task of solving the world’s biggest problems seems less daunting. But when our shuttle today (Sunday), we will return to a world where border disputes and financial crises lead the nightly news. Those challenges define our world and their solutions will define our future.
On World AIDS Day, December 1st, we are celebrating our success in helping to bring lifesaving HIV/AIDS treatment to 3 million people globally, including 2 million Africans. But there are 7 million more people who are in critical need of AIDS drugs and don’t have them. There are also millions at risk of becoming infected with HIV. We can drastically reduce poverty and preventable diseases, including HIV/AIDS, on our planet…………”
Read Lt. Colonel Shane Kimbrough full message below:
Lt. Colonel Shane Kimbrough and crew on their way home and will be back on US soil this Sunday 30th November 2008. To see why Shane has sent us this message on World AIDS Day lookup:
AND DO NOT FORGET TO:
Please look at supporting the Orphan Rescue Kit all you have to do is to click on the buttons above and choose what you want to buy for an orphan of Africa in this case the orphans of Mathare in Nairobi; this World AIDS Day.
Rotarians For Fighting AIDS
Stephen Lewis in Los Angeles at the 2008 Rotary Convention
It is said that the international financial turmoil will undermine the work of agencies like ours. Supposedly there’ll be no money around for charitable purposes. My colleagues and I refuse to accept that. We work from the premise that the struggle against AIDS will not be sacrificed on the altar of financial turbulence.
So we’re defying the odds. And we’re asking you to do the same. In fact, we’re asking you to do more. We’re asking you to join us in a new fundraising campaign called “TURNING THE TIDE”.
It’s our conviction that so much has been accomplished on the ground in Africa, for grandmothers and orphans and women in particular, that if we can fund every worthy proposal, we can turn the tide of the AIDS pandemic at the grassroots.
People will say that the timing is all wrong. We say, to the devil with the timing. We’re on the cusp of bringing hope to thousands upon thousands of people living with HIV/AIDS. Please join us.
More on the work of this amazing human being see:
Also here where Stephen Lewis addressed the Rotary International 2008 Convention in Los Angeles:
Alexandra Ricca from Atlanta Georgia USA.
Alexandra has written a heart warming description on what Alexandra achieved on the Mission to Kenya.
“In Mathare, they say as many as one in three could have HIV. Nick ( a local Kenyan who became a great friend of Alexandra’s) thinks there are approximately 2 million people living in Mathare. Nick was able to talk to me a little about where he has come from and where he has been and wants to go… he was raised in Mathare and his parents died when he was very young. Many of his family members have AIDS and some have died from AIDS-related diseases.
He understands what life is like there and what the struggles are, and he wants to change it. He opened a rescue center for children, started Community Transformers, is part of the VCT team, does home-based care, makes sure children go to school and take medication if they need to. He also takes people to the hospital if they are unable. Children are very near to his heart, and he has the dream of a generation free of HIV and AIDS. Every day when he goes out there to do VCT, he hopes he will get more and more people to come
Other things that have happened- Kenyan children LOVE the camera 
They especially love to look at themselves once a digital picture is taken. They all yell “How are you? How are you? How are you?” over and over again until they get our attention. Or they come up to you, hug you, grab your hand, shake your hand, tug on your shirt… they are amazing little beings. And tough cookies! Some of the dental patients have been having some major work done, and they don’t make a peep. I’ve also had many chances to sit down and talk to some of the Community Transformers. They are so bright. They have such high goals for themselves and are so inquisitive and interested in everything I have to say. They love to ask me questions and love to tell me about their lives. I’m learning so much from them. Nick, one of the CT/VCT team members told me about his uncle who is HIV positive and in turn, his 2 children are. I really was able to get such a great perspective, and learn…….”
Alexandra with her two best mates Maria and Timothy
Read the whole of Alexandra’s story here be inspired and take her wonderful example of service above self and help us make a difference to these wonderful little humans: the orphans of Mathare.
Thank you Alexandra for all that you have done and will continue to do.
Charmaine White with Rotary District 9200 (East Africa) banners.
{Photo courtesy of Bill Pavey}
Here is one story from one of the M2K team of volunteers: Charmaine White from the Rotary Club of Parkwood on the Gold Coast of Queensland.
“Hello to you all I am home safe and sound and I am so pleased that I went and so happy that my home is Australia. I really needed a week to get my thoughts into perspective as I want you all to know that at times in Kenya I really did feel the prayers, love and concern of you all. There were very, very, hard days but the work I did personally and with the other team members was so worthwhile and gratefully received by the people of Mukuru. Our mission went to three areas and also got a water project started so there was plenty to do I have never been blessed by God, Allah and told I am a miracle worker so many times before. Our whole team have received so many thank yous and good wishes for our life, it should last us all for many lifetimes to come.
My Kenyan adventure was a leap of faith that Rotary would look out for me. It was for me to take the risk and go half way around the world on my own, to a place, Africa that I had never been and meet people that I had never met. I was one of 73 volunteers from 10 countries…………..”
Read Charmaine’s Full Story Below:
CONGRATULATIONS CHARMAINE!
Waiting
Eager for Help
We are next!
Anne Glenn from RFFA one of the volunteers has sent this article with some photos.
When Rotarians decide something must be done, powerful forces for good spread in the world. Facilitated and mobilized by Rotarians for Fighting AIDS, Inc., Rotary Clubs from Dunwoody, Marietta Metro, Smyrna, York and Lebanon, PA, and Nairobi North joined Districts 6900 and 7390 and partnered The Rotary Foundation, HopeWorldwide, Heart of Africa, PEPFAR, and The Coca-Cola Africa Foundation to create and fund one of the largest international teams of medical, dental and optical professionals ever assembled. Their purpose was simply to help some of Africa’s poorest children. Rotary’s Medical Mission to Nairobi, Kenya, brought together 72 volunteers from 11 countries (Australia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, India, Japan, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, United Kingdom and the United States) for two weeks. Approximately two-thirds of these volunteers were Rotarians.
Arriving in Kenya on September 20th and 21st, the international team……………continued below:
anne-glenn-mission-to-kenya-story
Keep reading Sally Platt’s accounts of the work being done by these Rotarians and their helpers:
http://sallyskenyablog.blogspot.com/
Children of Mathare.
Photo courtesy of Michael Norwood.
Fay Layton is from the Rotary Club of Orange Calare in New South Wales.
Hi everyone,
Well it has been a busy couple of days since we spoke. I went along to the
US Embassy reception and caught up with the 8 other Australians on this
mission (as I mentioned Alexandra and myself are the only ones staying at
HEART so we don’t see anyone except our team during the day),I learnt from
them that the large team are seeing over 500 children a day and have to
turn a lot away when it’s time to pack up for the night.
In Mathare (my team) we saw 36 children for treatment (56 extractions)
yesterday (and it was a short day!). Our children have already been
screened (over 1,000) so the dentists can get on with the job of
extractions. We usually work until 4.00 - 4.30pm………………
Read more here:
Message from Charmaine White 25 September 2008
Hi all,
It does not get any easier. The poverty is unbelievable.
I saw 26 patients to-day, day three and did 13 extractions. My first permanent today as well. Getting good with the elevator as well.
The kids are so lovely but undernourished. It is great to see how much their parents care for them.
My most extractions in one sitting so far is 3. The interpreters are really good UNI students who have volunteered their time for days. The two dentists that I work with are good, a Japanese man 70 years old Koji and Wayne a Canadian He is very calm and a great mentor.
I was very tired and overwhelmed tonight, so having an early night . We have to be up at 6.00am on bus at 7.00 and 8.00 arrival at Makuru where 800,000 people live in squalid conditions. My power point was everything and more..I will have lots to tell when I get home .
No illness for me, I am being very good with my drugs. And water. The sewerage smell when it heats up at the end of the day, stays with you until a shower at the end of the day.It is hard but all the Rotarians are lovely and I am so glad I came. My highlight today was a little boy I treated with an extract yesterday He walked to see me especially to say thank you, I feel so much better, and shook my hand. I was so tired all I could do was smile. He spoke in swahili and the interpreter had to explain.
Keep reading Sally’s blog below Sally is on her third day in Nairobi and her descriptions are required reading.
Well done Sally and team.
Sally Platt
Sally Platt one of the movers and shakers that made this mission happen is now in Nairobi.
Follow Sally and her work on the Mission to Kenya on her blog:
