John So that you know who we are here we are in Atlanta very recently for a strategic planning meeting. It was a very productive two days and much was achieved. A full report will follow in the RFFA newsletter.
Left to right back row standing are Mr. Glenn, Mike McGovern, Anne Glenn, Olu Olowu, Vivian Smith, Mike Eldon, Patrick Chisanga, Seated L to R: Barry Smith, Marion Bunch, John Glassford and Kate Holmes.
RFFA Awards Outstanding Achievement At Sixth Annual Meeting in Birmingham, England During the Rotary International Convention, RFFA Founder and CEO Marion presented the second annual Jerome W. Schutz HERO Award to Eric Krystal, Rotary District 9200 AIDS Officer and the RFFA Kenya Country Representative. During her presentation, Marion noted Eric’s dedication and selfless service as RFFA’s vital link between the international Rotary community and the orphan children on the continent of Africa.
Recently the Rotary Club of Griffith Avanti in Rotary International District 9700 held a “Mama Mia” night to raise funds for the Orphan Rescue Kits.
It was a kaleidoscope of colour as our their own “Dancing Queen” celebrated her birthday in style by raising enough funds for about five Orphan Rescue Kits!!!!!!!
Well done Griffith Avanti and as soon as we find out who the dancing queen is I will let you know.
ROTARY GIVES PEACE A CHANCE
Wagga Wagga’s Rotary clubs met on Sunday 22nd Feb 2009 to honour those who promote peace at the annual Peace day Ceremony. This was the 17th annual Peace Day held in the Victory Memorial Gardens in Wagga Wagga. We in Rotary strongly believe in promoting peace in the world today. This is one good way to recognise those who strive to do so.
The Wagga Wagga City Council awarded their peace prize to Wirradjuri Elder Aunty Isabel Reid. We feel that by rescuing orphans with the Orphan Rescue Kit we can help promote peace in countries that are not as well off as in the Western world.
Key note speaker was John Glassford from Coolamon Rotary and John spoke on how we can promote peace by supporting the most vulnerable people on earth; the orphans of Africa; now around 12 million in number. John asked the audience to look at the world through the eyes of an orphan and try to imagine what that orphan would think if he or she had been rescued as a child and now holds down a job. John felt that he or she would remember how they were rescued and by whom.
Here are some photos of the event and the ORK banner displayed by our District Governor Fred Loneragan was prominent on the day.
Rotary District 9700’s Governor Fred Loneragan is supporting RFFA’s orphan rescue and is going around all of his 43 clubs promoting the orphan rescue kits. This photo shows DG Fred Loneragan with President Debbie Hall of the Young Rotary Club, one of the 43 clubs in Rotary District 9700 supporting RFFA’s orphan rescue through the Orphan Rescue Kits.
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.
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:
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.
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!
