Rotary Africa Feb 2017

ROTARY AFRICAEstablished 1927 • A member of the Rotary World Magazine Press • February 2017
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4 ♦ Rotary Africa ♦February 2017
Editor Sarah van Heerden
Administration Sharon Robertson
Chairman Gerald Sieberhagen
Directors Greg Cryer
Andy Gray
Peter Hugo
Anton Meerkotter
Natty Moodley
Publisher Rotary in Africa
Reg. No. 71/04840/08
(incorp.associationnotforgain)
PBO No: 18/13/13/3091
Registered at the GPO as a
newspaper
Design & Layout Rotary in Africa
Printers Colour Planet, Pinetown
Advertising Sharon Robertson
Sarah van Heerden
Tariff card on request at
www.rotaryafrica.com
Subscriptions Sharon Robertson
www.rotaryafrica.com (digital)
Contributions rotaryafrica@mweb.co.za
Distribution Rotary Districts 9210, 9211,
9212,9220,9350,9370and9400
(Southern and Eastern Africa)
Contact Rotary Africa
P.O. Box 563
Westville
3630
South Africa
Telephone 0027 (31) 267 1848
Fax 0027 (31) 267 1849
Email rotaryafrica@mweb.co.za
Website www.rotaryafrica.com
The Rotary Emblem, Rotary International, Rotary,
Rotary Club and Rotarian are trademarks of Rotary
International and are used under licence. The views
expressed herein are not necessarily those of Rotary
Africa, Rotary International or The Rotary Foundation.
MEET THE TEAM
From the editor
Sarah
GOOD LEADERSRecently, a journalist I once mentored asked me
to read an article she was tasked to write for a job
interview. The article examined the violence resulting
from an unethical decision made by a political leader.
She included a quote which begged the readers to
support an important programme – the training of youth to
become good leaders and ethical politicians. The person
said his countrymen are tired of leaders who refuse to
act for the benefit of the nation and only consider their
personal gain.
As I glance through today’s newspapers, it seems
there are very few countries which one can honestly
label as peaceful. It seems more and more people are
questioning the integrity of their leaders. I have nothing
against replacing a shoddy leader, but my question is this:
Are there leaders with integrity, who are honest, who are
fair and who understand the concept of Service Above
Self? And where are these leaders?
I think the greatest problem is that there are not
enough good leaders who are prepared to serve their
communities and countries. And this is a problem which
appears to be arising in many countries. Perhaps the root
of the problem is insufficient leadership training.
In Africa and even in most more developed countries,
I have noticed that many of the people don’t understand
basic global and local economics. What frightens me
are comments made by leaders who themselves don’t
understand it.
I believe that this subject needs to be incorporated into
our education systems; at school as well as in basic adult
education. We need to reach as many people as possible
and empower them to become good leaders who will
serve their communities and not their bank accounts.
Why do I care about this?
It is simple really. Content communities are peaceful
and one way to prevent conflict is to ensure good, strong
and responsible leaders are in place. If people respect
a leader, they will respect the decisions made from that
office and trust that their interests are being looked after.
February is Peace and Conflict Resolution/Prevention
month, as well as Rotary International’s birthday. Let us
know how you celebrated or if you have a great peace
project on the go, why not share it with us?

JOHN F GERM
President, Rotary International
Message from the
RI PRESIDENT
upfront
ON THE WEB
Speeches and news from RI President John F Germ at
www.rotary.org/office-president
DEAR FELLOW ROTARIANS,
On 23 February, we will mark 112 years since the
founding of Rotary. It is incredible to think about
how much has changed, in our world and in our
organisation, since the first Rotary club met in
Chicago with Paul Harris as its president.
Some things are easy to compare between now
and 1905. There have been changes in technology,
medicine and society. When we look at a map of the
world in 1905 and a map of the world today, we can see
what’s different. What we can’t do is compare what is
with what might have been. There is no way to compare
our world as it exists now with the world as it would have
been without Rotary.
Rotary has risen to so many challenges in its
112 years. We’ve answered conflict with peace and
poverty with education. We’ve responded to a lack of
basic health care with projects large and small, from
equipping clinics in tiny villages to eradicating polio
across the globe.
We will never know how different the world would
have been if Rotary had never been founded; if any one
Rotary club had never been chartered or if any single
Rotarian had declined the invitation to join a Rotary
club.
But I will say, with absolute faith and complete
confidence, that the world is a far, far better place now
than it would have been without Rotary and that Rotary
itself is stronger because of every one of you.
The world needs Rotary more than ever. It needs
our courage, our optimism and our idealism. It needs
the voice of tolerance, cooperation and hope that we
can offer. It needs the example of an organisation that
has proven that the citizens of all countries can work
together successfully, gladly, and in friendship.
None of us ever knows the full impact of our actions.
None of us knows the effects that will ripple out from
the things we do and say, the decisions we make, the
opportunities we seize and those we let pass. But I think
we all know that when we choose to do good, good will
follow; and that when we choose Service Above Self
as our life’s path, the direction it will take us will be a
good one.
No one can see the future. No one knows what
changes lie ahead. But I have faith in Rotary, and
in Rotarians, that with every passing year, you will
make our world a better place through Rotary Serving
Humanity.

Foundation Trustee Chair’s message
TheObjectofRotaryistoencourage
and foster the ideal of service as a
basis of worthy enterprise and, in
particular, to encourage and foster:
First. The development of
acquaintance as an opportunity for
service;
Second. High ethical standards
in business and professions; the
recognition of the worthiness of
all useful occupations; and the
dignifying of each Rotarian’s
occupation as an opportunity to
serve society;
Third. The application of the ideal of
service in each Rotarian’s personal,
business, and community life;
Fourth. The advancement of
international understanding,
goodwill, and peace through a
world fellowship of business and
professional persons united in the
ideal of service.
Of the things we think, say or do:
1) Is it the TRUTH?
2) Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3) Will it build GOODWILL and
BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4) Will it be BENEFICIAL to all
concerned?
Object of Rotary
The Four-Way Test
what you should know
Join in and show your support for The Rotary Foundation. Here are some ways to get involved:
• Plan a Rotary Day in your community to raise awareness of Rotary and its Foundation.
• Promote projects your club or district is involved in that are funded by the Foundation. Share your photos
and stories on your social media pages using #TRF100.
• Empower The Rotary Foundation to support the good
work of Rotary clubs by making a special contribution.
• Apply for a grant from the Foundation to fund a project.
• Attend the Rotary Convention in Atlanta, 10-14 June 2017.
CELEBRATE THE FOUNDATION CENTENNIAL
Kalyan Banerjee
FOUNDATION TRUSTEE CHAIR
OUR LONG TERM COMMITMENT
TO PEACEThis February, let’s celebrate the success of our
Rotary Peace Centres and the important work that
graduates of the programme are doing throughout
the world to honour Peace and Conflict Prevention/
Resolution Month. I think it’s also important to note
that the launch of the peace centres in 2002 built on
many decades of peacebuilding efforts supported
by our Foundation.
In the 1930s, clubs in France and Germany formed
the first petit comité, now known as an intercountry
committee. Both countries were still recovering from a
devastating war, but the former adversaries knew that
peace, however fragile, was worth keeping. Although
a second world war dashed their hopes, these peace-
minded Rotarians reconvened in 1950. Since then,
Rotarians have formed 250 intercountry committees to
promote international friendship and service.
Rotarians have long believed that international
understanding develops most quickly through personal
relationships. Before study abroad programmes and
international business travel became commonplace,
our Foundation sent scholars and young professionals
to other countries to experience different ways of living
and doing business. For many participants, these
life-changing adventures helped them view the world
through the eyes of their hosts, who often became close
friends.
Every year, our Foundation allocates millions of
dollars for projects that attack the root causes of conflict
– lack of access to education, health care, economic
opportunity, clean water and adequate sanitation.
Our global grants have a unique requirement that
moves the needle on peace even further: To qualify,
project sponsors must include clubs from at least two
countries. In addition to combining local knowledge with
international and Foundation resources, these projects
build friendships that often lead to long-lasting service
relationships between the sponsoring clubs.
Of course, one of the best places to form international
friendships is at our annual convention, where Rotarians
from dozens of countries come together. This year in
Atlanta, we will celebrate The Rotary Foundation’s
100 years of Doing Good in the World. I hope you will
join me and thousands of your fellow Rotarians for the
biggest birthday party of the year!

Convention
ATLANTA ON THE GOIf you are flying to the 2017 Rotary International
Convention, 10-14 June, you’ll almost certainly
arrive at the world’s busiest passenger airport,
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. As
locals sometimes joke, “Whether you go to heaven
or hell, you’ll have to go through Hartsfield first.”
Hartsfield is Delta Airlines’ primary hub, but several
other airlines – including United, American, Lufthansa
and Korean – fly in and out of Atlanta’s airport every
day.
Once you’re on the ground, getting around shouldn’t
be a problem. Unless you plan on road-tripping around
Georgia, renting a car isn’t necessary. Instead, buy a
Breeze card and hop on MARTA, Atlanta’s rapid transit
service, which can take you from the airport to Five
Points Station in the heart of downtown. With a quick
transfer, roll on to the Dome/GWCC/Philips Arena/CNN
stop, which is right by the Georgia World Congress
Centre, the Rotary Convention’s home base.
You can journey to a number of the city’s sights by
rail and where the train can’t take you, a MARTA bus
likely will. Check MARTA’s website for schedules and
route maps.
If you want to check out some historic attractions at
a slower pace, the Atlanta Streetcar is another option.
In a charming loop that starts near Centennial Olympic
Park, the streetcar winds through downtown proper and
into the city’s Old Fourth Ward neighbourhood.
– Deblina Chakraborty
Preregistration savings end 31 March.
Go to riconvention.org.
Rotary Members: 1 227 217
Clubs: 35 263
Rotaract Members: 226 389
Clubs: 9 843
Interact Members: 483 230
Clubs: 21 010
RCC Members: 210 500
Corps: 9 154
AT A GLANCE
* As of 30 November 2016

by PDG Andrew Jaeger, Regional Rotary Coordinator
LOVE TRUMPS HATE
For centuries the great philosophers, theologians
and statesmen of the world have dreamt of a
world at peace. Great thinkers and leaders have
talked about a world in which people live together
in tolerance and harmony. Such a society would
respect everyone and agree to differ, peacefully, on
many aspects of life. Such a society would actually
care about other people whether they were unwell,
homeless, hungry, illiterate, disabled, helpless or
stricken with some or other problem.
The amazing thing is that such an organisation has
been created – we call it Rotary International. The
members of Rotary International come in all sizes,
shapes, races, creeds, colours, religions and lifestyles.
They have been moulded into one organisation to serve
others. That is the noble idea of Rotary. Is it possible
that Rotary international is really a microcosm of that
society of concern and caring which mankind has
sought for generations?
For over a hundred years, Rotary has demonstrated
that people can live and work, share and serve together.
This is true even with all the differences of philosophy,
religion, language, customs, skin colour and political
orientation. Even with all the differences, it is possible
to have an organisation committed to friendship,
cooperation and volunteer service, which leads to
peace.
I must admit that on occasion, even this highly ethical
and idealistic organisation may occasionally fall short of
its full potential. Notwithstanding these shortfalls, it has
been proven over time that the world needs what Rotary
says it is – an international organisation that reaches
out into the world with a programme of peace, goodwill
and hope.
I have given extensive thought to the role Rotarians
play in our current economic and political turmoil, which
has been interesting and turbulent over the last few
months to say the least.
We have been bombarded with angry political
rhetoric and even hate speech. Perhaps it is time
to ask ourselves how we have done; are we true
representatives of our organisation or have we been
swept up in the turmoil and word war? Are we the voice
of reason and peace in the current political debate or
have we fuelled the fire? Have we tried to disarm heated
debates or have we also lost our cool and forgotten our
object of promoting peace in the world?
I have been astounded at the amount of animosity
and even hatred between people and I am sad to say
even between Rotarians.
I read a touching piece in the media that I think
applies to all people from all countries, who are debating
contentious issues:
“Some of the most incredible people I know voted for
Donald Trump and some of the most incredible people
I know voted for Hilary Clinton. The people I know that
voted for Trump are not racist, misogynistic or hateful
and the people that voted for Clinton are not hateful and
intolerable.
“If you are someone who woke up this morning and
is going to start seeing people as who they voted for
and not as the person you have always known them
to be, then you are what is wrong with America. I will
never think any less of any person who has different
views than me, because some of the most beautiful,
inspirational people I know will disagree with what I
believe all day long, but at the end of the day they are
still that beautiful inspirational person I have always
known them as.
“Don’t think less of people because some of their
beliefs don’t align with yours and don’t lose quality
people in your life because you choose hate over love.”
Perhaps in these troubled times we need to take
heed and remind ourselves of the Object of Rotary,
which is to encourage and foster the ideals of service
as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to
encourage and foster the following:
FIRST. The development of acquaintance as an
opportunity for service;
SECOND. High ethical standards in business and
professions, the recognition of the worthiness of
all useful occupations and the dignifying of each
Rotarian’s occupation as an opportunity to serve
society;
THIRD. The application of the ideal of service in each
Rotarian’s personal, business and community life;
FOURTH. The advancement of international
understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world
fellowship of business and professional persons
united in the ideal of service.
Although Rotarians should refrain from issuing
partisan political statements, it is our duty to keep
ourselves informed of political developments in our
communities and throughout the world.
In these troubled times it is also our responsibility as
Rotarians to be what we say we are and what we have
the capacity to do. If we have a dream of world peace,
now has never been a better time to make it happen!

PEACE AND
CONFLICT
Foundation matters
By PDG Patrick Coleman
Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator Zone 20A South
Happy 112th birthday to Rotary International! When
Paul, Gus, Silvester and Hiram met for lunch on
a cold Thursday (23 February, 1905), there was
no comprehension that they were founding an
organisation that would not only bring business
leaders together but would change the lives of
millions of people from every corner of the earth!
The Rotary theme for February is Peace and Conflict
Prevention/Resolution. In this world filled with “wars and
rumours of wars” peace is something that many people
only dream about. Defining peace is the first step in
obtaining peace.
According to Johan Galtung, author of Peace by
Peaceful Means: Peace and Conflict, Development and
Civilisation and considered to be the “father of peace
studies,” defines the distinction between “negative
peace” and “positive peace.”
Negative Peace refers to the absence of violence.
When, for example, a ceasefire is enacted, then a
negative peace will ensue. It is negative because
something undesirable stopped happening (e.g. the
violence stopped, the oppression ended).
Positive peace is filled with positive content such
as restoration of relationships, the creation of social
systems that serve the needs of the whole population
and the constructive resolution of conflict.
Peace does not mean the total absence of any
conflict. It means the absence of violence in all forms
and the unfolding of conflict in a constructive way.
Dr Martin Luther King reminded us that peace is not
only the absence of tension, but also the presence of
justice.
Peace therefore exists where people are interacting
non-violently and are managing their conflict positively
– with respectful attention to the legitimate needs and
interest of all concerned.
Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation
have been able to Lead The Way in peace and conflict
prevention and resolution for 70 years. In 1947, eighteen
“Rotary Fellows” from eleven countries were selected
to serve as ambassadors of goodwill while studying in
another country for one academic year.
In years that followed, programmes such as
the Group Study (now Vocational Training Teams),
Friendship and the Youth Exchange programmes, have
brought people together.
Promoting Peace
Source: rotary.org/en/our-causes/promoting-peace
• Conflict and violence displace millions of people
each year. Half of those killed in conflict are children.
90 per cent are civilians.
• “We refuse to accept conflict as a way of life. Rotary
projects provide training that fosters understanding
and provides communities with the skills to resolve
conflicts.”
• “Through our service projects, peace fellowships
and scholarships, our members are taking action to
address the underlying causes of conflict, including
poverty, inequality, ethnic tension, lack of access to
education and unequal distribution of resources.”
• Rotary’s successes in training peacemakers and
arbitrators are clearly demonstrated by where our
peace scholars are currently serving. The above
graphic shows that our scholars are serving in
almost every aspect of international governance.
We have every reason to be proud of our success, but
there is so much more to be done! Rotary programmes
like Disaster Aid and ShelterBox are reaching out to
people displaced by natural disasters and political strife.
Brilliant young people are reaching out to Rotary clubs
for sponsorship as peace scholars or graduate studies
in our areas of focus. Many of our Rotary clubs are
sponsoring Youth Exchange Students who are able to
experience life and culture in countries other than their
own. All of this enhances our efforts to bring peace and
conflict prevention and resolution.
Thank you, Rotary… Thank you, Rotarians!
RESOLUTION/PREVENTION

El Salvador
In 2013 the Rotary Club of San Salvador (D4240) distributed more than 550
wheelchairs provided by Canadian Rotarians. For the underprivileged recipients,
the chairs bestowed a new life of mobility and the project was deemed a success.
But Peter French, a member of the visiting team from the Rotary Club of Burlington
(D7080, Canada), believed the local community could play a greater role. “From our
first trip, I gained good insight into the equipment, space and talents of the rehab
centre,” said French, a retired manufacturing executive. “This helped convince me that
a wheelchair manufacturing initiative was worth a try.”
French spent about 18 months sketching, generating prototype parts and visiting
MM Robinson High School in Burlington, where shop students crafted metal parts and
used computer-aided design software to help make a new chair. French’s goal was to
“design a simple chair that can be made and maintained by small industries in developing countries.” Using about
$1 500 from the Burlington club and a grant of $4 500 from District 7080 in Ontario, French’s team developed a
wheelchair that whittled the number of parts to 30, from the 130 typical in an off-the-rack chair.
The host club Rotarians assembled most of the first batch of 10 kits of Canadian components before the
Burlington Rotarians returned to El Salvador in April 2016. “We transferred the entire initiative to the Rotary Club
of San Salvador,” French says. “An engineer in that club is modifying our drawings using his preferred system.”
Hungary
Pressure ulcers (bedsores) are almost entirely preventable, yet they can be fatal
if left unchecked. In Hungary, the problem has been exacerbated as health workers –
key to changing the positions of immobile patients – are spread thin. Recognising the
benefits of special mattresses that support body weight evenly to forestall pressure
ulcers, the Rotary clubs of Miskolc-Tapolca and Szekszárd (D1911) joined the Rotary
Club of Sun City West (D5490, (USA) in a Global Grant to expand their use in seven
health centres in Hungary. “I had to sell it to my club and district. I mean, who wants
to talk about bedsores?” said Jim Dowler, of the Rotary Club of Sun City West. Nearly
1 000 Hungarians have benefited from the project. “Isn’t that what Rotary’s about?”
Dowler asked.
Mauritius
The Rotary Club of Vacoas (D9220), on the Indian Ocean island nation of Mauritius,
celebrated its silver jubilee with a burst of activity – six events in one week in May 2016.
The ambitious schedule kicked off with a “mega health day” in which more than 600
people in the village of St Pierre received free health screenings and consultations.
The following days included parties and community service activities. The festivities
were coordinated to get the “population of the island to notice projects carried out by
Rotary,” said Nishta Jooty, president-elect of the club. She added that at least 20 club
members lent a hand at each event.
United States
With the closure of free temporary housing for the families of critically ill patients
hospitalised at a medical centre in Visalia, California. Rotarians sprang into action. In
October, the Visalia Rotary Community Foundation opened the Rotary Respite House,
a building with two units – one with three bedrooms and another with two bedrooms.
Rotarians from the five clubs supporting the foundation - the Rotary Clubs of Visalia,
Sunset, Breakfast, County Centre and Latino Rotary of Tulare County - provided pro
bono services related to purchase of the property and design of the building. “The
thought of losing the house got Rotarians and hospital leaders talking,” explained
Nancy Lockwood of the Rotary Club of Visalia (D5230). The house will address “the
needs of low-income people who could not have afforded lodging.”
WORLD ROUND UPThe activities and accomplishments of Rotary clubs around the world

This event will cover topics relevant to the global activities and
growth of Rotary as they apply to our Zone, as well as to train our
future leaders. It will be an opportunity to meet the senior officers
of our organisation and be part of Rotary’s future in Africa.
SAVE THE DATE!
Rotary Zone 20A Institute(Africa south of the Sahara)
11-16 September 2017
Cradle of Mankind, near Johannesburg
South Africa
Jamaica
Garbage bags in hand, a dozen members of the Rotary Club of Lucea (D7020)
joined Rotaractors and hotel employees to pick up litter, along the beachfront, harbour
area and in empty lots between the resort areas of Negril and Montego Bay, as part of
the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Clean-up in September. “We removed
in excess of 3 000 plastic bottles, plus plastic bags, driftwood, glass bottles, foam and
other materials,” said club member Mervyn Spence. “We felt it is very important in
helping to stop the coastline from being blighted by garbage which is killing sea life and
wildlife, polluting the environment and endangering human health.”
Mexico
Since 2002, the Rotary Club of Xicotepec de Juárez (D4185) has partnered with the
64 Rotary clubs of District 6000 (Iowa, USA) and Iowa’s two largest public universities,
in a comprehensive project aimed at improving health care, education and general
living conditions in the central-eastern Mexican community. Bob Main, a past president
of the Rotary Club of Newton, has solicited thousands of dollars’ worth of donated
equipment, such as water fountains and disinfecting ultraviolet light systems, from
Iowa companies and industry associations. “They’ve heard of the work we do” and are
glad to help, Main said.
Ghana
After the mud walls of the Mafi Zongo EP Basic School collapsed in 2010, the
primary school and its 230 pupils had to use a structure that was little more than
a thatched-roof shed on the grounds of a nearby church. “When it rained, teaching
and learning had to come to a standstill,” said Frederick Duodu Takyi, a member of
the Rotary Club of Ho (D9102), based in the Volta region. The club stepped forward
with about $15 000 to build a two-classroom, concrete-block structure. “The children
were really excited with the facility,” Takyi said. He added that the learning space has
enhanced attendance.

While the fight to eradicate polio suffered a blow last
year when the virus re-emerged in Nigeria, Rotary
leaders and top health experts focused on the big
picture: The global presence of the paralysing
disease has never been smaller.
The headquarters of the US Centres for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta was the site
of Rotary’s fourth annual World Polio Day event on
24 October. Some of the biggest names in the polio
eradication campaign were there to reflect on the year’s
progress and discuss what’s needed to end the disease
for good.
More than 200 people attended the special live
programme and thousands more worldwide watched
online. Jeffrey Kluger, editor at large for Time magazine,
moderated the event.
In a question-and-answer session with Kluger,
CDC Director Tom Frieden talked about the latest
developments in the effort to eradicate polio.
“We have the fewest number of cases in the fewest
number of places in the world right now,” said Frieden.
“We continue to make ground against polio, but we’re
still recording cases in Pakistan, Afghanistan and
Nigeria.”
The total number of cases worldwide as of December
2016 was 34, compared with 74 in all of 2015.
Last August, Nigeria slipped back onto the list of
countries where polio is endemic after cases appeared
in the northern state of Borno, which until recently, was
under the control of Boko Haram militants. Since the
outbreak, a robust immunisation campaign has targeted
up to 40 million children with oral and inactivated polio
vaccines. “Because the new cases were only detected
due to on-going surveillance efforts,” said Frieden, “we
shouldn’t be surprised to see more cases, because
better surveillance means better detection of all polio
cases.”
Polio eradication efforts continue to make progress
in Afghanistan and Pakistan. In Afghanistan, cases
dropped from 20 in all of 2015 to 12 as of December
2016. In Pakistan, they decreased from 54 to 18.
Frieden cited innovative tactics for reaching children
in Pakistan who were often missed in the past. These
include placing permanent vaccination sites at entry
points to the country, provinces and large cities. Rotary
has funded the purchase of cellphones for vaccination
teams, so they can send data to health centres
immediately.
“The virus is cornered; we just have to make sure
never to let it out again,” Frieden said.
Celebrities join Rotary’s gathering
Dennis Ogbe, a polio survivor and Paralympian
athlete, told his personal story of survival. Ogbe
contracted polio at age three at a clinic near his home
in rural Nigeria while being treated for malaria. Ogbe
Experts say the disease is on the brink of eradication
competed in the Paralympics in Sydney in 2000 and
London in 2012. But he says the toughest challenge he
has faced is helping to rid the world of polio.
Shira Lazar, host of the online show What’s Trending,
gave a social media update during the live-streamed
event in which she announced that more than 3 000
World Polio Day activities were happening around the
world. In Pakistan, a huge End Polio Now message was
illuminated at the Kot Diji Fort in the Khairpur district.
Rotary, with support from the US Fund for UNICEF,
also unveiled a virtual reality presentation which
transported attendees to the streets of India and Kenya,
where they interacted with polio survivors and heard
their stories.
“This is very good technology to put people in places
where polio has affected so many,” said Reza Hossaini,
director of polio eradication for UNICEF. “It’s important
we see the places and people we are helping with our
polio eradication programmes.”
Earlier in the day, Frieden and Rotary International
President John F Germ announced major contributions
to polio eradication. The Canadian government
committed $10 million and Michael Bloomberg,
businessman, philanthropist and former mayor of New
York City, donated $25 million. Rotary has contributed
more than $1.6 billion to polio eradication since 1985.
“We started this more than 30 years ago,” said
Germ. “We’ve stuck with it all this time. And soon, we’re
going to finish it!”
WE’RE GOING TO
FINISH IT!

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There is a new book on the block thanks to the Dictionary Project (managed
by the Rotary Club of Kromboom, D9350) which was expanded to
include a brilliant atlas for Rotary clubs to distribute in southern Africa
and beyond.
The Usborne First Atlas is a magnificent publication which includes a
wealth of beautiful pictures, fascinating information and provides the reader
with a realistic and easy-to-understand view of the world. The First Atlas is
sure to ignite the imaginations of many school children and also includes many
facts and figures, such as the highest mountain, biggest island, information on
different cultures, people, customs, industry, landmarks, flags, flora and fauna,
to name a few.
You may ask what is the value of an atlas when, in today’s world, all the
answers are easily found online? Usborne has considered this and in a quest to
make the atlas both a learning tool and “tech-friendly”, the publishers have made
it internet linked. This interactive learning style refers children from the atlas and to
Usborne’s quick links website for additional information
on various subjects.
The First Atlas costs R90 and is sold in boxes of 15 for
R1 350. The first order of 2,600 atlases arrived in Cape Town
in January. To avoid disappointment, clubs are encouraged to
place and pay for their orders as soon as possible.
As the First Atlas and Usborne Illustrated Dictionary
complement each other, it is suggested that clubs distribute
both at schools, as this “pairing” will undoubtedly provide a
brilliant and entertaining crash course in the fascinating world
surrounding our communities.
Place your orders for the First Atlas and Illustrated
Dictionary by emailing: admin@dictionariesforafrica.com
New book on the block!
Advertorial

In 2002, when Teguest Yilma helped found the
Rotary Club of Addis Ababa Entoto (D9212), she
thought polio had already been eradicated from
most of the world. But while Ethiopia had been free
of the disease, Yilma was shocked to learn that
new cases had started cropping up in surrounding
countries such as Somalia.
“I was thinking, it’s not possible, we can’t be free if
the countries around us are not free,” she said. Yilma,
the managing editor of Capital, Ethiopia’s largest
English weekly newspaper, brought a journalist’s skills
to the fight against polio.
She became vice chair of the Ethiopia PolioPlus
Committee in 2014. She believed her expertise in media
could be particularly useful in relaying information
about the campaign to end polio. “What better way of
communicating than with a newspaper?” Her efforts
included publishing information about polio vaccinations
and working alongside fellow Rotary members to
expand immunisations and services to children who
have suffered deformity or paralysis caused by the
disease.
Her journalistic and humanitarian efforts have not
gone unnoticed. Last year, Yilma was given the French
Legion of Honor, France’s highest distinction. “I’m really
interested and I’m really motivated by the truth,” she
said. “Not only the public’s right to know, but also giving
the public information that makes their lives better.”
MOTIVATED
BY THE
TRUTH
By Mark Wilson
In 2011, after a long flight from London, I arrived
at King Shaka International Airport, Durban. With
anxiety, I can clearly remember to this day, I stepped
off the plane into the unknown. I had arrived to
begin a New Generations Exchange sponsored by
the Rotary Club of Canterbury Sunrise (D1120) and
hosted by the Rotary Club of Westville (D9370).
In hindsight, I had nothing to fear. What followed
those hesitant steps off the plane was an adventure
like nothing I had ever experienced before. The ample
opportunities to volunteer made me feel like I was
making a contribution to the world. Taking the time to
listen to my hosts, I learned a lot about South Africa.
The most memorable part of my exchange was the
people. Rotary members and their families inspired
me and these interactions have had a lasting effect on
me. Rotarians showed me the meaning of kindness,
generosity and love. I thank Rotary and the wonderful
people of South Africa for giving me the firsthand
experience of our shared core values. This was the best
introduction anyone could hope for into the global family
that is Rotary International.
From the age of 16, I have been a part of the Rotary
Family. I was a member
and twice president of
Interact and then Rotaract
clubs. Through this, I
have had the opportunity
to speak at many district
conferences and visit many
more Rotary clubs with the
aim of encouraging them
to continue their support of young people.
In August 2016, at the age of 26, I was inducted into
the Rotary Club of London (D1130). Not long after this,
RI President John Germ mailed me: “Mark, your story is
a great one” and encouraged me to share it.
The moral of my story is that we are a family and we
should never lose sight of that. Not unlike any family
that has lasted this long, we have learned that love and
a common cause can unite despite our disparities.
As we continue to grow, we must continue to
embrace all who seek to server humanity, regardless of
age, gender, sexuality, ability, religion, race or otherwise.
In a world that is becoming increasing divided, Rotary
International must continue to shine as it always has,
as a beacon of peace, unity, fellowship and friendship.
A FAMILY THAT UNITES

DON’T MISS IT!
PDG Greg Cryer and D9370 are your hosts at the
Council of Southern Africa (COSA)
Business meeting and AGM
Mount Edgecombe Country Club, Durban
23rd to 26th February 2017
District 9370 is the host of this years COSA Conference and AGM which will be held at the Mt Edgecombe
Country Club between 23 and 26 February.
Leaders from districts 9210, 9350, 9370 and 9400 will gather in Durban to receive feedback from the
current and future DGs and to discuss issues relevant to the policies and administration of Rotary in the
Southern African region.
This year’s theme will be “Fun, Sun & Rotary” and the COSA hosts are planning a programme that
should appeal to all the delegates and partners attending the conference.
Delegates are encouraged to make the most of their trip to Durban by spending at least three nights in
the city and the hosts promise a fun itinerary.
Transport logistics will be provided for those intending to fly into Durban.
The Rotary Foundation will be represented by Elizabeth Lamberti from the Zurich office who will appraise
and update delegates of the Foundation’s current programmes and challenges.
Some of the Topics to be covered will include;
1. DG reports
2. DGE panel discussion
3. Zone coordinator panel discussion
4. Foundation programmes
5. SA Rotary Foundation
6. Council on Legislation
7. Rotary Africa
8. Social media
9. Membership
10. Polio
11. Rotary Family Health Days
Early registration will take place on Thursday afternoon from 4pm and will be followed by a meet and
greet braai at the clubhouse.
Three plenary sessions starting at 9.30am are planned for Friday. They will be followed by a sunset
harbour cruise at 6pm around the Durban Bay.
On Saturday, the two plenary sessions will start at 9am with the AGM following at 2pm - the last formal
item on the agenda is scheduled for 3.30pm. There will be a gala dinner that evening at the main clubhouse.
To wrap up the weekend’s events, the Rotary Club of Durban North will host a Brunch from 10am at the
Mangrove Swamps located at the mouth of the Umgeni River on Sunday. This environmental project has
been supported by local Rotary clubs for many years.
“It is the intention to ensure that this years COSA is outcomes based with an array of topics being
debated and challenged throughout the two days of deliberation – the wealth of knowledge that exists
amongst this gathering of past, present and future district leaders is priceless” said PDG Greg Cryer,
COSA’s outgoing chairperson.
“We are hoping that all COSA members will accept District 9370’s invitation for a weekend of Fun,
Sun and Rotary which will bring our zone leaders together for ongoing Rotary dialogue and the chance to
rekindle class mate friendships’ said PDG Greg.
Should potential delegates have any queries or require further information please contact Hilary
Augustus at aug@iafrica.com or phone (082) 5560299.
Advertorial

December was a busy time of year for 73-year-
old Paul de Groot. The beginning of the month
was spent preparing tractors and other things, in
preparation for his 48th year as host of the Uncle
Willy’s Christmas Parties.
Organised by the Rotary Club of Claremont (D9350),
Uncle Willy’s Christmas parties (an institution for many
children in Cape Town) take place over the course of
20 evenings in December in the grounds of Marsh
Memorial Children’s Home in Rondebosch.
Every night, 120 children and their families attend
the action-packed event, which culminates in Father
Christmas arriving on a sleigh filled with Christmas
presents for everyone. De Groot is the original Uncle
Willy, the friendly host who, in his cowboy hat, holds the
three hour show together by introducing Noddy, Big Ears
and the Christmas Fairy, not to mention the magicians
and musicians. He also makes sure that tractor rides
work according to plan and that the legendary straw
fight doesn’t get out of hand.
“We follow the same story every year and the children
love it,” he said. He recounted how, at one point, Father
Christmas was upset because the Christmas Fairy was
late. When she arrived, she lit up the trees and had
sweets for everyone. “I admire the parents that come
with their children every year, for six to nine years in a
row,” he joked.
The parties are not fundraisers. They are held to
provide holiday fun for children and their parents and
are run entirely by volunteers, mainly from Rotaract.
Parents bring a gift for each of their children and
the children bring something of theirs to give to an
underprivileged child who wouldn’t normally receive
a Christmas present. This teaches children the gift
of giving from a young age. All profits and donations
received are spent on Rotaract service projects.
De Groot was a 25-year-old Rotaractor when, after
spending a few years helping at the original Uncle
Paul`s parties in Constantia, he initiated Uncle Willy’s
Christmas Parties. “There’s no time for boredom. It’s
fun,” he said. The retired advertising executive, whose
hobbies include breathing new life into vintage cars and
motorbikes, is also an active member of the Rotary Club
of Claremont.
From the beginning, and later as a trustee, he played
a key role in the phenomenal growth of the Cape Town
Cycle Tour which the club co-owns with the Pedal
Power Association as equal partners of the Cape Town
Cycle Tour Trust (CTCTT). “In 1983, it was suggested
that Rotarians volunteer to marshal and manage the
logistics of the Cycle Tour; we haven’t looked back
since. It was and still is a fantastic way for us to raise
funds for various Rotary projects,” he says.
Already familiar with hosting Uncle Willy’s Christmas
Party, it was no surprise that de Groot was given the
responsibility of being the starter at the cycle tour,
something he has done every year for 33 years. “I
came up with Hoopla thing and now if I don’t do it, I’m in
trouble,” he laughed.
Wary of the spotlight, De Groot is shy to discuss
recognition he has received for his loyal contribution
to Rotary club projects in Cape Town and beyond. In
addition to his involvement in the Cape Town Cycle
Tour and Uncle Willy’s Christmas Party, de Groot is
also a Founding Director of the Reach for a Dream
Foundation, and is on the Board of Marsh Memorial
Children’s Home.
Rotary International awarded de Groot the World
Community Service Award in honour of his loyal
contribution to Rotary’s projects. “I’m not a sports
person. I don’t play cricket or rugby, so this is my sport,”
said de Groot. He hints that he is not done yet and is
already planning another big event for one of Rotary’s
beneficiaries. “It’s still under wraps for now,” he said
with a big smile.
Paul de Groot, otherwise known as Uncle Willy or the Cape Town Cycle Tour’s “hoopla” man. Inset: Paul
with Noddy in front of the castle.
NO TIME FOR BOREDOM

JUSTICE FOR ALL
Gary Haugen, leader of the International Justice Mission, contends
that humanitarian work means little if basic safety is threatened
A Rotary Conversation

How are poverty and violence related?
When people think about the world’s poorest people,
they don’t usually think about violence. They think of
hunger, disease and a lack of education and job
opportunities. But just as important is daily vulnerability
to violence, and not necessarily the violence that makes
headlines: War, genocide, mass atrocities.
The form of violence that is far more destructive is
what we call everyday violence – that’s sexual violence,
police abuse, land theft and forced labour. On a daily
basis, these types of violence make it very difficult for
the common poor person to improve his or her situation.
You can give all kinds of goods and services to alleviate
poverty, but if you’re not able to restrain the hands of the
bullies that have the power to take it all away, you won’t
see the kind of progress you want.
Abuse of power is a very simple human dynamic. It’s
what a kid will understand in the schoolyard: There’s
the kid who’s stronger and bigger than everybody else
and he’s abusing that power to take something from
the victim, whether it’s lunch money or possessions or
just their dignity. You see the same dynamic in the adult
world; it just manifests itself in more adult, violent ways
over time and on a bigger scale.
Your address to the Rotary Convention focused
specifically on the issue of slavery. Why this
message for this audience?
We are in a moment in history when forces are
coming together to make it possible to end slavery
in our lifetime. For the first time, enslavement is
completely against the law everywhere. It’s an ancient
evil that still exists, but it’s no longer the centre of the
global economy.
Rotary has demonstrated a unique capacity to
focus effort on a global problem that simply shouldn’t
exist anymore. Look at the example of polio: We have
a vaccine that works perfectly well and we agree that
everyone should be safe from this disease, but there’s
an access gap. Similarly, everyone should be safe
from slavery and no parent should have to worry about
a child being enslaved. We know that a combination
of effective law enforcement and excellent survivor
support can measurably reduce slavery and violence
overall. Rotarians, in their work to end polio, have
shown the kind of focus and determination we need to
succeed in that struggle.
How do you respond to scientist Steven Pinker? In
his book The Better Angels of Our Nature, he argues
that this is actually the least violent time in history.
If you look at the broad scope of history, there is,
on average, less violence in our world today. That’s
good news because it shows progress is possible. But
think of the comparison with polio – fewer people are
vulnerable to the disease, but does that mean we don’t
finish the job? Like polio, the violence that remains in
our world is more concentrated in the lives of the world’s
poorest people.
Wealthier countries provide a measure of security
and law enforcement on a public basis, but in the
developing world, personal safety often means hiring
private security. The world is now divided between
those who can afford to pay for their own protection and
the billions who are left in lawless chaos, experiencing
extreme levels of violence.
What role can more powerful members of society,
like Rotarians, play in improving the situation?
In much of the developing world, the public systems
of justice are so broken that those with wealth and
resources do not depend on them. Every culture
debates the role of government and the range of
services it should provide, but there should be no doubt
that the most basic of those services is seeing to the
security of its citizens. Those with the opportunity to
In 1994, Rwanda was reeling from the genocide of
as many as 1 million people over 100 days, the apex
of decades of civil conflict in the East African nation.
Gary Haugen, then a young human rights
attorney working for the US Department of Justice,
landed in Kigali to head a United Nations unit
investigating the genocide and gathering evidence
needed to prosecute the perpetrators for war crimes.
“There was basically no functioning government,”
Haugen recalls. “So much chaos is unleashed when
there isn’t a civil authority exercising control. A lot of
people tried to help, sending food and medicine and
providing housing and education, but when it came
to the problem of violence, very few people stepped
up to that challenge.
Haugen established the International Justice
Mission (IJM) in 1997 to address violence in
developing countries. The organisation has 17 field
offices and works with local investigators to rescue
victims of violence, support survivors, strengthen law
enforcement and bring violent criminals to justice.
In his 2014 book, The Locust Effect: Why the End
of Poverty Requires the End of Violence, Haugen
argues that the progress made in the global fight
against poverty means little when citizens’ basic
safety is threatened.
At the 2016 Rotary International Convention in
Korea, Haugen spoke about one of the most harmful
forms of what he calls the “everyday violence
affecting the world’s poorest people – forced labour,
or slavery. “Slavery is not a relic of history,” he
said, noting that an estimated 35 million enslaved
people are hidden in plain sight, all over the world,
generating $150 billion in profits for traffickers who
seldom face prosecution.” It’s more widespread and
brutal than ever. And it’s more stoppable than ever
before.
Haugen sat down with contributor Sallyann Price
in Seoul to talk about the importance of addressing
violence and safety in development work.
“The world is now divided between those who can afford to pay for
their own protection and the billions who are left in lawless chaos.”

lead must invest in public security so all citizens can
enjoy that same safety.
It’s fascinating that the most common forms of
violence in the developing world are almost always
against the law already. The problem is not the absence
of law, but the absence of law enforcement that protects
everyone. That’s our focus at IJM.
When did you first see this pattern?
After I graduated from college, I lived in South
Africa. The big issue at the time was the apartheid
crisis. That’s where I started to see what it was like to
live in a society of violent oppression and abuse. After
law school, I went to work for the US Department of
Justice, where I worked specifically on the problem
of police abuse in the United States. I started to see
that no matter where you are in the world, no matter
which country you’re in, people with power – whether
political or police – tend to abuse it if they are not held
accountable. I saw the particular problem of violence
against the poor when I was sent to Rwanda in 1994 to
direct the UN’s investigation into the genocide there. A
lot of people tried to help, sending food and medicine
and providing housing and education, but when it came
to the problem of violence, very few people stepped up
to that challenge. Slavery in this era strikes me as a
similar issue: We are aware of it, we can stop it and it is
up to us to take that responsibility.
How does IJM help a community plagued by
violence?
In many parts of the developing world, people have
given up hope that law enforcement will ever protect
the poor from violence. Our work demonstrates that
it’s possible to change. The recovery of that hope is a
game-changer.
We begin with what we call collaborative casework
with the local authorities. We recruit a local team of
lawyers, investigators and social workers and start
working on individual cases. As we try to bring the
criminals to justice, we start to see the broken points in
the criminal justice system.
When we begin working on a case, we pursue a
baseline study to measure the prevalence of different
types of violence and the performance of the police
and the courts. Working from those two baselines, we
can measure when the criminal justice system starts
working better and violence decreases. Over hundreds
of cases over many years, we’ve documented that it is
possible to transform a broken law enforcement system
into one that protects poor people effectively.
How is that progress measured?
One measure of success is the relative ease or
difficulty of committing a particular crime. Cambodia
is a great example. When we started working there 15
years ago, you could arrive in Phnom Penh and within
an hour you could easily purchase a child for sex. That’s
much harder to do now. Our project there focused on
enhancing the criminal justice system’s capacity to
send sex traffickers to jail and we’ve seen hundreds of
convictions since then. Our baseline study found that as
many as 30 percent of commercial sex workers there
were children. That figure is closer to 1 percent now.
Also, because the Cambodian authorities are effectively
enforcing the law, IJM is no longer needed. That’s our
ultimate objective.
How does IJM determine where to intervene?
IJM uses a variety of criteria for assessing the
location of a future project, including prevalence of
crime and the political will of the government and local
law enforcement to address crime. Because our model
of justice system transformation centres on building
capacity in the public justice systems of the countries
and communities we’re working in, it is imperative that
there be at least some desire to address the problem
from within law enforcement.
How can Rotary members help keep communities
safe as they plan humanitarian aid projects in the
developing world?
Ask people what they need and connect with local
groups addressing those needs. Since people are less
likely to talk about violence, Rotary members should
be very intentional about facilitating conversations
to explore specific problems. Once you start the
conversation and sharpen your focus on this issue, you
start to see it over and over again.
Rotary is already raising the bar of excellence in
terms of sustainability and accountability in its projects.
But violence fights back in a way that is different from
hunger or homelessness. If you take on violence, you
may end up putting yourself on the line in some manner.
The willingness to take on this challenge is a powerful
message.
JOIN THE FIGHT AGAINST SLAVERY
Millions of people are being held captive for commercial gain. Mass
migrations, poverty, natural disasters and conflict create situations in which
vulnerable adults and children are exploited. No nation or neighbourhood
is immune. While slavery is illegal everywhere, it is likely happening near
you. The Rotarian Action Group Against Slavery raises awareness and
helps Rotarians take action against slavery and human trafficking through
its programmes, campaigns and projects. The group is made up of 1 600
members and supporters across 65 countries who support clubs around
the world.
Rotarian Action Groups are open to Rotarians, family members of
Rotarians and Rotaractors who want to join together in support of clubs
and districts planning and implementing service projects in their respective
areas of expertise. To join, visit ragas.online.

This year, is The Rotary Foundation
centennial and clubs have been celebrating
the milestone. To encourage this, the D9400
Foundation Committee offered a $1 000
prize to the club which formulated the best
centenary celebration.
President Nicky Savvides of the Rotary Club
of Boksburg Lake (D9400) suggested his club
should celebrate the centenary with a cruise on
the luxury Vaal cruiser, the Spirit of Jen. The
cruiser’s owners, who also own Stonehaven on
Vaal and are members of the Rotary Club of
Vanderbijlpark, assisted the Boksburg Lake club
to put together a family fun celebratory breakfast
cruise. Stonehaven’s only request was that
Rotary Club Vanderbijlpark should be included
in the event. Boksburg Lake agreed and decided
to invite as many clubs as possible to join the
celebration.
Sixteen clubs were represented on the cruise,
including those of District Governor Grant Daly
and District Governor-Elect Jankees Sligcher,
as well as the past and present chairmen of
the D9400 Foundation Committee, PDGs Greg
Stathacopoulos and Francis Callard. Also
among the 100 guests (one for each year of the
foundation’s existence) were representatives
from two radio stations and the local newspaper.
PDG Greg Stathacopoulos told the guests about
The Rotary Foundation and impressed a number
of younger visitors, who were surprised at the
admirable activities of The Rotary Foundation.
Rotary Ideas helps clubs find volunteers, partnerships and in-kind
donations, as well as funding. More than 1 220 projects have been
posted on the platform since it launched in August 2013. And, unlike
other crowdfunding sites, Rotary Ideas emphasises partnerships.
HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF ROTARY IDEAS
1. Share your project page through social networks like Facebook,
Twitter and Instagram.
2. Include as many details about the project as you can. Use photos
to illustrate needs.
3. Once donations are committed, use the Contributors tab to see
who has pledged funds.
For more information contact the Ideas team at social@rotary.org.
Top: PDG Greg Stathacopoulos (of the
Rotary Club of Benoni) with Boksburg Lake
President Nicky Savvides. Right: President
Siobheanne Landsberg (of the Rotary Club
of Springs) and her husband, Dean.
CENTENNIAL
RIVER CRUISE
FIND PROJECT PARTNERS

Free vitamins for
moms and babies.
Does your Rotary Club or a local partner
organization work in Maternal/Child
Health or Nutrition?
Vitamin Angels offers qualified organizations
working with children under 5 and/ or
pregnant women free in-kind grants of:
• Vitamin A supplements
• Albendazole (deworming)
• Multivitamins for pregnant and
breastfeeding women
Visit www.vitaminangels.org/grant
or email programs@vitaminangels.org
to learn more or apply. Mention Rotary Africa.
Residents of Arcadia Place Old Age Home were
treated by the Rotary Club of Claremont (D9350) to
a fun day trip.
The group travelled by bus around the Peninsula,
enjoyed a cable car ride to the top of Table Mountain
and a tasty lunch of fish and chips at Hout Bay’s Fish
on the Rocks restaurant. Cloud cover on the mountain
did not stop the group from exploring; even those using
walkers participated. They also received goodie bags
filled with toiletries, sweets, biscuits and socks donated
by children from SACS Junior School.
“This is the fourth year that we have arranged a
surprise treat for a group of elderly people who live
on government pensions. It is rewarding to see how
excited they become about the trip which is often filled
with first time experiences and many laughs,” said Ian
Robertson, president of the Rotary Club of Claremont.
“The trip is arranged to coincide with International Older
Person’s Day, celebrated on 1 October.”
Members of the Rotary Club of Claremont treated
44 pensioners to a surprise day trip. At the top of
Table Mountain is Jo Maxwell, a member of the
Rotary Club of Claremont, with Madge Lapperts and
Moira Smith.
ALL AROUND
CAPE TOWN projects

REBUILDING A SCHOOLAbout 30 years ago, a community-based initiative
started a primary school for the children of Nyanga.
On a small piece of land in the middle of the
neighbourhood, some light structures were built
to house the school, which was named Stormont
Madubela Primary School after a legendary
community leader.
Over time, funding was sourced to build solid
classrooms, a library, a kitchen, ablution facilities and
administration offices. They were either constructed
from brick or installed as converted shipping containers.
Soon the school had 300 children in seven grades and
a number of educators, administration staff and cooks,
who provided lunch for the children on a daily base.
Today, the facility has been registered as an
independent school and it receives government
subsidies. However, these subsidies were too low to
fund necessary building maintenance. This led to the
buildings deteriorating significantly; broken doors,
cracking floors, sagging ceilings and leaking roofs
became the norm. Due to insufficient security, the
school was also vandalised and often broken into.
Some classrooms were overcrowded and even the
outdoor areas were too small to accommodate all the
learners during break times.
Many scientific studies have proven that
environmental conditions shape one’s attitude and
behaviour. A broken, dirty, run-down school triggers
careless behaviour towards the property, other learners
and even towards oneself. Negativity manifests in
our thinking and doing and there is no chance for a
successful career under these circumstances!
In the early 90s, the outreach programme of the
Cape Town based Ananda Kutir Ashram became
aware of the critical situation of the learners and began
providing sandwiches and other support to the school.
The Ashram members started yoga classes for the
learners in 2010.
In the meantime, the school buildings continued to
fall apart and desperate to see it repaired, the Ashram
approached the Rotary Club of Cape Town Noon Gun
(D9350) for help.
The club recently was pulled from the brink of
collapse by its tiny, but dedicated group of members.
Membership had plummeted following a number of set-
backs.
DG Ian Pursch explained that despite the setbacks,
the remaining members were deeply committed to
One of the corridors at Stormont Madubela Primary before the club began the refurbishment project.

LOOKING
AHEAD
The Rotary Club of Cape Town Noon
Gun is busy raising funds to ship
second hand school furniture it
sourced in Germany.
The furniture is in mint condition and
the club has raised in the region of a
third of the estimated R60 000 needed
to cover the shipping and clearing costs.
Once the furniture is received and
delivered to the school, the final phase
of the project will be completed.
For further information see:
www.facebook.com/rotarynoongunclub
or
www.stormofgoodhope.co.za/
reviving the club and enthusiastically
undertook the refurbishment project.
The club sourced more than R2 million
in funding from the German organisation Ein
Herz für Kinder to renovate the buildings. It
also partnered with the Swiss organisation
Ubuntu Verein, which facilitated the project
management. The damaged buildings
were repaired and repainted, a new kitchen
and toilets were installed, roofs were
replaced, risky containers were removed,
new classrooms provided or extended,
more security devices were installed and
additional outdoor play space was created.
The local nursery, Just Trees, donated two
fig trees to add a touch of nature and shade
for hot days.
Renovation plans and processes were
discussed at public meetings and local
stakeholders were included in the six-
month renovation process. The South
African National Civic Organisation played
a crucial role in liaising with the community,
while the volunteer neighbourhood watch
group, SECTOR, which is supported by the
South African Police Service, contributed by
ensuring safety around the school property
at night.
Last May, the renovated school was
officially handed back to the School
GoverningBody.Itishopedthattheupgraded
school will inspire and shape the attitudes of
the children to help them mature as positive,
respectful adults, who will continue to share
the powerful and committed spirit of the
founders of the Stormont Madubela Primary
School.
Above: The government grant the school received was not
enough to fund general building maintenance and the school
fell into a state of disrepair. Below: One of the refurbished
classrooms. The final phase of the project has yet to be
implemented.
Advertorial

By Mohamed Tayub
The Rotary Club of Pershore (D1100 England) and
the Rotary Club of Limbe (D9210) sponsored four
sustainability projects at the Yamikani Child Care
Institution.
The four projects were the expansion of the vegetable
garden, maintenance of the borehole, construction of a
chicken coop and an alteration to the back perimeter
brick wall.
Growing their own vegetables has not only added
to the Institutions self-sufficiency but it has allowed
them to grow and incorporate new vegetables in the
children’s diet. The children learnt that through planting
and caring for their crops the land sustains them and
provides a food source.
An unreliable water source coupled with a broken
borehole provided some challenges to the preparation
and maintenance of the vegetable garden. Thanks to
funding from the Rotary Club of Pershore, the borehole
was quickly restored to working condition. During the
restoration of the borehole it was found that the structure
holding the water tank was unsound and a new one
was built to replace it. Not only was the borehole fixed
but the pipes leading from it to the tank were dug up,
checked and replaced where eroded.
The chicken coop was constructed from bricks,
making it able to withstand the elements. Chickens will
be purchased in the first quarter of 2017.
With security being of utmost importance to protect
the children and the property of the Yamikani Child Care
Institution, it was decided to raise the back perimeter
wall by ten rows of bricks and to affix broken glass and
barbed wire to the top of it as a further deterrent.
The height of the back wall was increased to further secure the orphanage.
FOUR PROJECTS TO HELP ORPHANS
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Hippotherapy (horse therapy) was first recognised
in the 1960s by European therapists. It is now
globally acknowledged as a valuable alternative for
physical, occupational and speech therapy
Trish Hart, an occupational therapist in Hout Bay,
has turned to horses to assist her in providing care and
development for members of her community who suffer
from motive disorders.
Occupational therapy helps people tackle activities
associated with daily living. With children, this includes
being helped to play and attend school. Older people
might need therapy to help them manage themselves
at home or at work.
Trish added hippotherapy, a medical tool where the
horse’s movement stimulates the neurological changes
which aid in postural control, to her practice.
Trish explained why she chose to add hippotherapy:
“Horses have never lost the admiration of humankind
because of what they are, what they can do and the
loyal friend they become. I have developed a passion to
concentrate on the use of horses to help patients with
their disorders.”
She further added that “I have children who have
never seen a horse, much less ridden one, take to
Pocahontas (Trish’s piebald mare) like a duck to water
yet others show absolute fear.”
Each patient is introduced to Pocahontas. Trish
then teaches them how to touch and groom thereby
developing a communication channel between the
patient and Pocahontas. This also builds self confidence
in the patient. Only once the patient and Pocahontas are
comfortable with each other do the riding lessons begin.
A slow introduction between patient and Pocahontas
builds a relationship which in most cases, starts with
nervousness and ends in beaming smiles and cries of
delight.
Since starting her practice Trish has faced numerous
obstacles, one being how to safely lift her patients into
the saddle. Trish realised she needed a mounting
frame/ramp so she would not have to lift her patients
into the saddle.
Trish made a rough sketch of what she would need
and presented it to her father Ian Hart, a member of the
Rotary Club of Constantia (D9350) and asked for his
thoughts.
Like any good Rotarian, Ian turned to his club for
help. Lloyd Whitfield, an engineer and member of the
Constantia club, said he could fabricate the frame if he
BACK TO THE DRAUGHTING BOARD
The Rotary Club of Constantia saddles up for the challenge

had a workshop to work in. Richard Rawson,
another engineer and club member, offered
up his home workshop for the project.
Lloyd and Richard started the project and
within a week, Lloyd found his draughting
pencils and both of them had refreshed their
welding skills. Soon, the frame was painted
and ready for delivery.
The only set back in the building of the
frame was in the delivery when Richard
realised they had overlooked the logistics of
delivering a fully built frame. However, a few
modifications were made to a trailer and the
frame was delivered.
It was amazing to see how the addition
of the frame had changed Trish’s practice.
“Pocahontas acclimatized very quickly to
the frame and now walks up to it and is not
disturbed when the children walk up the ramp
and are guided into the saddle,” said Trish.
The patients who need greater assistance
crawl up the ramp to the platform, while the
less mobile are carried or wheeled up before
they are easily settled safely in the saddle.
The mounting frame and platform are used to
groom and feed Pocahontas which improves
the connection between the patients and
horse.
“Simple acts can go a long way” said
Lloyd “We Rotarians are compassionate
people with a passion to help. So, at a cost
of less than R5 000, as well as a bit of old
fashioned blood, sweat and tears, a problem
was solved and a challenge was met”
Meet the Construction Crew! PDG Lloyd Whitfield (right) and PP Rich Rawson review the drawings of the
platform and ramp. Below: Trish and her assistants help some of the young patients from the ramp into
the saddle.

“In the short span of 6 weeks, the children have
shown continued interest and improvement in
absorbing new information. The positive energy
is contagious and exciting. With only a handful of
weeks under the belt, SOUNS is already proving
itself,” was the observation of a Peace Corps
volunteer of the SOUNS project.
The Rotary Club of Pretoria East (D9400)
implemented the SOUNS reading project in March
2011. Contact was established with Peace Corps
Volunteers almost immediately and the training of
volunteers started in 2012.
Two groups of volunteers arrive in South Africa
every year and recently the 11th group of volunteers
has undergone SOUNS training. In total, 139 volunteers
have been trained and 145 new sets of SOUNS letters
handed out. The project impacts on the lives of 5 000
pupils each year.
The Peace Corps volunteers are encouraged to
donate their SOUNS sets to a community member
(counterpart) who will continue using SOUNS to benefit
the community. When this cannot be achieved, the
volunteer is encouraged to return the SOUNS letter
set to their headquarters for re-cycling. This process
functions well. The Peace Corps volunteers are
stationed in very rural areas in Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal
and Mpumalanga. The Pretoria East Rotarians were
interested to note that whenever the topic of Rotary
was raised, the highly motivated Peace Corps members
became keen to find their nearest club and establish
contact.
Although the outcomes of this project with Peace
Corps are difficult to pin down because its footprint is
so wide, some special cases do exist. One volunteer
based between Bronkhorstspruit and Groblersdal was
able to position sets in 12 different crèches.
The most recent group of 12 volunteers to receive
training were for the most part based in Limpopo. They
were trained by Robin Jones of the Rotary Club of
Pretoria East and his wife, Edie, on how to use SOUNS
in crèches, in Grade R, Grade 1 and as a remedial
tool for children who have reading difficulties. Each
volunteer left the training session with the necessary
skills, a SOUNS set, a writing board, an Usborne
Illustrated Dictionary (all of which were donated by the
Rotary Club of Pretoria East) and details of the Books
in Homes programme which is run by the Rotary Club
of White River (D9400).
A FLOURISHING PARTNERSHIP
Peace Corps volunteers being trained in the SOUNS programme. The project was rolled out by the
Rotary Club of Pretoria East in 2011 to teach literacy to young children at crèches and schools within its
community. As many as 5 000 children are reached by the SOUNS project each year.
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A Global Grant obtained by the Rotary Clubs of
Durban Bay (D9370) and Shelton Skookum (D5020)
in conjunction with three other Rotary clubs has
helped empower the local crafters who supply Woza
Moya Crafts. The clubs used the grant to employ
two craft consultants who have worked closely with
the crafters on product and skill development.
At the opening of Buzzart 2016, the annual KwaZulu-
Natal Society for Arts (KZNSA) exhibition, KZNSA
Director Angela Shaw thanked the clubs for their on-
going support of the unique partnership between Woza
Moya and KZNSA. Dr Marion Spence, John Hinck
and other Rotarians attended the opening and were
impressed by the items on display.
Nearly half of the grant period has passed and the
Woza Moya team has benefited greatly. The craft team
has received on-going training and support from the two
craft consultants. Product Design Specialist, Angela
introduced the embroidery group to geometric and
mandala designs, a new item has been added to the
famous sock monkey range and the grannies’ knitting
group had their quirky beanies redesigned using new
colours and elegant stripes.
Craft Sales and Marketing Consultant, Venessa
Muller (who was employed by Woza Moya for a year
as part of the Global Grant), has been hard at work. Her
duties have included improving procurement systems,
training the craft team in production planning, stock
control, budgeting and costing and communicating with
customers.
Woza Moya is an income generating project of the
Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust that helps people in need
regain hope and dignity by using their creativity to earn
an income. At present, Woza Moya acts as an agent for
more than 300 crafters.
As the HIV/AIDS pandemic increased more families
turned to the centre for help which trained them in
different crafts. Woza Moya markets the goods made
and has a shop on the centre premises.
Its products are also sold online (wozamoya.org.za),
through Oxfam in Australia and at the KZNSA Gallery.
The AIDS centre has proven that with the right care
and access to medication, lives can be turned around.
It has found that economic empowerment is one of the
most important factors in fighting the pandemic as it
gives the crafters the opportunity to look to the future.
In doing so they take ownership of their disease and
are motivated to regain and maintain their good health.
Rotarians visited the Woza Moya shop and met some of the staff and crafters.
GLOBAL GRANT CRAFTS HOPE

by Peter Minjale (K2 TASO Director)
The President of Rotary Club of Lilongwe (D9210),
Nurul Usman, and two Rotarians, Alfred Mwambila
and Martin Isyagi, visited Manyenye located in the
Kasungu district, Malawi.
K2 Tigwiranemanja AIDS Support Organisation
(K2 TASO) invited the Rotarians to visit and meet the
residents and leaders of the village. The Rotarians
also witnessed the process of in-door spraying to kill
mosquitoes.
This is one of the malaria prevention projects the club
supports and was undertaken to reduce the occurrence
of malaria in the community. The programme was
approved by the District Health Officer of Kasungu
District.
A SPRAY IN TIME CAN SAVE LIVES
Children under the age of five years are exceptionally vulnerable to malaria and the use of IRS (mosquito
spray) remains the best method of eradicating mosquitoes harbouring the parasite which causes malaria.
Lilongwe President Nurul Usman prepares a
Hudson Sprayer to demonstrate its effectiveness.
A spray operator demonstrates how the chemical
agent is sprayed on the walls of people’s homes
and other structures to kill mosquitoes.

Thanks to a donation of surfboards to Philisa
Abafazi Bethu (PAB), a non-profit organisation
in Lavender Hills, youngsters have spent their
summer enjoying exhilarating surfing lessons. PAB
is a community based organisation in Lavender Hill
that works with local children, women and elderly
people who have been victims of abuse.
The Rotary Club of Newlands (D9350), which is
PAB’s corporate sponsor, approached The Liberty
Wharf Trust for a donation of ten surfboards for PAB’s
children’s surfing programme. The imported surfboards
are made of a softer material which helps to protect the
children from getting injured should they get hit by a
board while learning to surf.
The Newlands club also donated wetsuits to be used
for PAB’s swimming and surfing lessons and works to
regularly expose the children to different settings away
from their community which is rife with drugs and
gangsterism.
The main objective is to get these children out of
harms way through regular physical exercise. Not only
do these activities create a stimulating environment for
the children but they also learn about the importance of
exercising and staying healthy.
“Our aim is to get these children out of negative
environments on a regular basis so that they can see
that there are places free of abuse and good people who
have their best interest at heart,” said Terry Lancaster of
the Rotary Club of Newlands.
To ensure that the children are safe while travelling
to the Muizenberg beach, the Rotary Club of Newlands
fitted new tyres to the vehicle which transports the
children and ensured it underwent a routine safety
inspection.
The club plans to get other sponsors involved to
donate more surfboards and a trailer to transport the
boards.
“We would like to thank Liz Benninger for introducing
us to such a worthwhile project and The Liberty Wharf
Trust for joining us and sponsoring the first surfboards.
This has been an exciting project to be involved in and
seeing the faces of these children light-up when we
showed them the new surfing boards was priceless. It
is fulfilling to know that, in a small way, we are making
a difference in their lives and helping to shape their
future,” concluded Lancaster.
Rotarian Terry Lancaster of the Rotary Club of Newlands shares in the excitement as the club presented 10
surfboards to the children of Philisa Abafazi Bethu (PAB) in Lavender Hill. The surfboards were donated by
The Liberty Wharf Trust through the Rotary Club of Newlands.
SUMMER SURF TIME

With the weather once again coming to the party,
the 42nd annual Rotary Club of Umhlanga charity
golf day teed off at Mt Edgecombe Country Club in
November.
Under the polished organisation of Rotarian Barry
Roberts, 132 golfers took to the manicured greens to
support the Rotary club.
President Lisa Sukdev and fellow Rotarian, Anna
Kalinowska, donned Gatsby costumes and sold raffle
tickets to the value of R16 000. All players received a
spot prize before concluding the day with dinner
Despite tough economic times, a total of R160 000
was raised. Over the last 20 years the annual golf day
has raised more than R2.5 million which the club has
used to assist those in need.
Rotarian Barry Roberts (centre) organised the event. With him are President Lisa Sukdev and Anna
Kalinowska. Below: Rob Hay and Mark O’Brien busy packing the spot prizes for the players.
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RUNNING TOTAL
REACHES R2.5M

Early in 2016, Siham Boda of the Rotary Club
of Waterfront (D9350) led a discussion with the
EarlyActors from Rahmaniyah Primary School
about what they would like their EarlyAct club to
achieve.
One of the first suggestions came from Abdullah
Kapangura who said, “We want to help stop fights on
the playground.”
Against the background of the violent ‘fees’ protests,
gang violence and exceptionally high levels of violent
crime in the area, it was hardly surprising that the
inevitable playground scuffles have resulted in some
conflict.
Two Waterfront Rotarians, Siham Boda and Chris
Fick, are seasoned commercial mediators and after a
discussion with Principal Rawoot, they enlisted the help
of Hugh Fynn, a former principal.
The team constructed a peer mediation programme
with appropriate conflict resolution techniques. The
concept had to be simplified so that it could be taught in
a few sessions (with periodic top-ups). It needed to be
practical so that it would make sense to primary school
learners and above all, it needed to be workable and
provide the children with a few ‘power-tools’ to change
the outcome of a playground fight.
During the training sessions, the learners were
asked to discuss recent incidents of conflict they had
witnessed or experienced. This ranged from playground
altercations to family disputes where the fights started
over something relatively small and escalated,
sometimes resulting in violence.
The overwhelming response from the children was
that conflict is negative and ultimately unproductive.
What amazed Siham and Hugh was how quickly
they realised that conflict presented an opportunity to
engage an issue and that there was an alternative – a
different, more constructive way to resolve disputes and
engage each other.
Initially, feedback from the teachers was anecdotal.
Learners were reporting that they resolved conflicts
with their siblings, inside their families and on the
playground. It was only once they started keeping track
of the ‘incidents resolved’, that they realised that during
the last three terms of 2016, more than 150 playground
fights had been resolved.
This project succeeded because the learners were
committed and received a lot of support from the
teachers, the principal, Hugh Fynn and members of the
Rotary Club of Waterfront.
This year, the club will implement a second phase
of the project at Rahmaniyah Primary School. The plan
is to enhance the training with extra modules on how to
de-escalate aggressive behaviour.
Siham hopes to expand this programme to several
other schools, using the teachers as mentors and
trainers. Rotarians who work with EarlyAct and Interact
Clubs as well as those who wish to participate are
welcome to join the programme.
PEACE BUILDING
The need for a mediation and conflict resolution programme was identified during a discussion with
EarlyActors.

Youth
The Rotary Club of Durban-Merewent (D9370) has chartered Interact clubs at the Pather, Fairvale and
Umbilo Secondary Schools. The learners and their educators were excited at the prospect of becoming
more involved in their communities.
The President of the Interact Club of Collegiate High School for Girls, Catherine Woodhead (right), recently
gave an informative and interesting report to the Rotary Club of Port Elizabeth (D9370). With her are Carla
Grobler, President Denise Pudney and PP Kas Kasongo.

OURCHRISTMASWRAPUP
At a meeting on 13 April 1956, the Rotary Club of
Pietermaritzburg (D9370) established its Seniors
Club. Now in its 60th year, this project is the club’s
oldest project and continues to provide wonderful
and dynamic services to the elderly.
In December, the Seniors Club treated 60 residents
of the NCVV Home for the Aged to a Christmas Tea
Party. Although a number of them were confined to the
home’s frail care facility and could not attend the main
function, the club made sure they were also treated to
cakes, slabs of chocolate and Christmas cards.
Preparations commenced early on the day with
Rotarian Trudy Stegan and her team setting up the
venue. All the eats for the NCVV party were sponsored
by friends of Rotary and the excess was donated for
use at a funeral tea.
Claude Charles, a retired musician, set up his sound
system then began playing his guitar and singing well-
known songs while the residents took their seats.
Not only did many sing along happily, but there were
a few brave souls who got up and danced. Claude,
a regular helper at many of the Seniors Club events,
performs without charge as a service to the elderly and
is appreciated by all. Early last year, the Rotary Club
of Pietermaritzburg recognised his contibutions with a
Community Service Award.
The Rotary Club of Pietermaritzburg supports a
number of homes for the aged. Among them is Azalea
Gardens where residents are often treated to social
activities, such as games of Bingo or Beetle every
second month.
Residents pay to play and the funds raised go
back to the home to purchase necessary items such
as Jo-Jo tanks for water-harvesting. Other homes
benefitting from the Seniors Club programmes are the
Isabel Beardmore Home for the aged and the Aryan
Benevolent Home. The residents of these homes are
also entertained on a fortnightly basis. While Bingo is
popular, residents often prefer to simply chat over tea.
On occasion, singers like David Holby and the pastors
of the Wheatfield Mission are invited to entertain or
some other activity is presented and enjoyed by all.
These residents are also given a Christmas Lunch by
the Rotary club.
Four homes for the aged in the city fall under the
care and management of the Allison Homes Trust (King
George V, Queen Mary Place, Catherine Spencer and
Prince Alfred homes). Residents of these homes are
also provided with regular social events, entertainment
and treats.
There is little doubt that the elderly, especially those
with limited means, face many challenges. The Rotary
Club of Pietermaritzburg recognises the significant
contributions made by these people and believes that
every effort should be made to make them feel valued
and cherished.
Residents of the NCVV home enjoying their Christmas Tea Party. Photo: Jason Londt.
PARTY TIME IN PIETERMARITZBURG

Reportback
Uncle Jumbo’s Christmas Party,
an interactive party for children, is
presented annually by the Rotaract Club
of Port Elizabeth (D9370) and supported
by the Rotary Club of Port Elizabeth.
The event has become an institution in
the city and has run for 53 years. Funds
raised at the party are distributed to
various charities. Children enjoy seeing
their favourite storybook and movie
characters in person at the event.
Right: Thankfully, Billy Pullen was on
hand when Noddy’s car needed some
attention! Below: Ready to meet their
fans are Noddy (Matthew Currin), Big
Ears (Derek Bakker), Peter Pan (Ethan
Currin) and Mr Plod (Jarryd Vorgers).
Khanya Hospice Nursing staff busy sorting the toys which Jay and Priscilla Ramsunder, their friends and
family collected. The toys were distributed by the Rotary Club of Amanzimtoti (D9370).

Hundreds of people flocked to attend the Rotary Club of Ladybrand (D9370) Christmas Market. More than
30 stall holders set up their stalls in the exquisite gardens of My Housy Guest House. While their parents
shopped, children indulged in candy floss and had fun on the jumping castles. The club donated the funds
raised at the market to CANSA.
Members of the Rotary Club of Chatsworth (D9370) spent three days collecting non-perishable food at
the Chatsworth Centre for their Unite Against Hunger Campaign. The hampers were distributed to needy
people during the festive season.
The members of the Rotary Club of Port Alfred (D9370) collected Christmas gifts for needy children at their
annual Tree of Joy collection. The gifts were sorted and delivered before Christmas. As Sakhisizwe Creche
was closed for the holidays, the Rotarians stored the gifts and delivered them to the slightly overawed
toddlers in Nemato Township when school reopened.

The Rotary Club of Chatsworth (D9370) hosted a blood donor drive at the SANBS branch in Chatsworth
Centre to help increase the stock levels for the festive season. A total of 32 pints of blood were collected
and interestingly, all the donations came from first time donors.
The Rotary Club of Edenvale (D9400) manned a gift
wrapping station from 9 December until Christmas Eve.
More than R34 000 was raised. At the stand are Debbie
Mather, Secretary Linda Clarke, Taffy (Interactor) and
Jane Trumble.
A number of children had a very merry
Christmas thanks to the Rotary Club of
Klerksdorp (D9370), which took Father
Christmas to visit Manu Dei School for
Disabled Children. One little girl who can’t
speak was so overjoyed by the visit that later
that evening, she repeatedly tried to phone
Father Christmas. Rotarian Brian Smit heard
of this when he spoke to her mother to find
out how the little girl was. Thankfully, Father
Christmas was on hand to speak to his little
fan. Unable to speak, she laughed the whole
time.

Fourteen supervisors and assistants from five pre-schools in Kenton-On-Sea and Marselle attended the
final meeting of the Pre-School Support Group. At the meeting, President Tony Swift, of the Rotary Club
of Kenton on Sea (D9370), gave certificates to those who had regularly attended meetings. The club’s
youth services committee had run a competition to find the most improved pre-school and the winner was
announced at the meeting. Ekuphumleni Pre-School won first prize and received plastic tables, chairs,
educational toys and games. The second prize of educational toys and games was won by Lukhanyo Pre-
School. This project is linked to the club’s Teacher Workshops and aims to encourage and assist teachers
at all schools, especially those where resources are limited.
The Rotary Club of Paarl (D9350) gave Eduboxes (educational toy sets) to a number of local primary and
nursery schools, including the Paarl Stimulation Centre for Disabled Children. Each Edubox contains ten
teaching tools, such as an abacus and a clock. With some of the children are Moemiena Salie (head of Paarl
Stimulation Centre), Willem Muller (governing body chairman), President Marita van der Sluys, Rotarian
Deon Erasmus, Johanna Mphuting (teaching assistant) and Rotarian Abie Martin.
For many years, the Rotary Club
of Tygerberg (D9350) has assisted
the Blue Mountain Primary School,
situated next to the Clara Anna
Fontein Development. The school
educates 227 learners from
previously disadvantaged families.
Before the 2017 school year began,
the club delivered enough stationery
to equip each of the learners for the
year. At the handover are Rotarians
Gordon Ludski, Nigel Lambert,
Principal Mr Baatjies, President
Marcel Hoogebeen, Sabine Ehrmann
and Rene Lesch.

Roundup
The Rotary Club of Durban-Clairwood Park (D9370) celebrated the 10th anniversary of its literacy festival
at Junagarth Primary School. To celebrate, the school organised a literacy festival where learners
showed their talents and received books and prizes from the principal and club president.
Anns from the Rotary Club of Helderberg (D9350) assisted with arranging a KFC donation of lunches
for the volunteers at the Somerset West Village Garden. The community project grows and provides
vegetables to the unemployed people of Somerset West.
The Rotary Club of Swellendam (D9350) was
asked by the Cape Town Cycle Trust to administer
the 2016 Coronation Double Century Cycle race.
The gruelling 203 kilometre cycle race saw 3 000
riders, grouped in teams of 12, follow a route
over four mountain passes in a test of stamina,
teamwork and technique. Due to the enormity
of the task, the Rotary Club of Swellendam was
supported by the Rotary Clubs of Breede River
Winelands and Melkbos, its Interact club, other
service organisations and the Swellendam
community. More than 200 people were also
employed by the club to assist at the event. Seen
on the right are some of the volunteers selling
cold drinks at the event.

The Rotary Club of Durban Clairwood Park (D9370) celebrated The Rotary Foundation Centenary at
Greyville Race Course. Consul Mr SKS Rawat (Consulate of India, Durban) was the guest of honour.
President Sarita Sirohi welcomed the 150 guests and the sponsors to the races before explaining the
importance of supporting The Rotary Foundation and initiatives such as End Polio Now.
Under the leadership of Ian Milne (front), the Rotary
Club of Beacon Bay (D9370) participated in a potjie
cooking competition. The Rotarians sold servings
of the potjie to eager customers.
To increase its visual presence in the city, the Rotary
Club of Port Elizabeth (D9370) erected a Rotary
sign at its meeting place, The Club on Bird Street.
President Denise Pudney with fellow member and
owner of the premises, Phil Gutsche.
A highly successful garden tea fundraiser was held by the Rotary Club of Durban-Merewent (D9370) at the
Chatsworth Hospice after which the club presented a donation of R60 000 to the hospice.

The Rotary Club of Swellendam (D9350) hosted 10 Swedish Rotarians during their Friendship Exchange
to South Africa. The Swedes spent five nights in Swellendam and toured the Bontebok National Park on
the first day. This was followed by a heritage walk with Rotarian Johan Kriek, the recently retired curator
of the Drostdy Museum. During a braai at The Hideaway, President Noelene Cole briefed the visitors
on Swellendam club’s projects. The visitors shared a presentation before performing some traditional
Swedish songs. The following day was spent on a wine tour which culminated in a visit to the award-
winning Marbrin Olive Farm. The last day of the visit coincided with the 51st anniversary of the charter of
Rotary Club of Swellendam. To celebrate the anniversary the Rotarians enjoyed a cruise on the Buffeljags
Dam, which was followed by a swim, a braai and cupcakes.
During a Christmas party it held for the residents of TAFTA Lodge, the Rotary Club of Durban-Clairwood
Park (D9370) presented the lodge management with new curtains for the hall and two sitting rooms. The
lodge is home to 160 residents. The club received a certificate of appreciation from TAFTA

The Rotary Club of Westville (D9370) used a District Grant to purchase and install a rainwater harvesting
system at Headway-Natal. The organisation was established in 1981 by Aubrey Marrs, whose son had
been injured in a car accident. Headway began as a support group that met once a week. In 1998, a
house was purchased in Westville from the Lynn family, whose son had also suffered a head injury. The
organisation offers rehabilitation and occupational activity programmes five days a week and assists with
the rehabilitation of persons who have suffered head injuries. It also gives guidance and support to their
families and friends. At the handover of the system are Chris and Fran Beekman, Dawn and PDG Richard
Fisher, Vince Dümmer, Frank Butler, Margie Christie and Colleen Ruggier.
A fun day of face painting, singing and dancing was enjoyed by families of Banana City Informal Settlement
and members of the Rotary Club of Durban-Clairwood Park (D9370). The visit was held as part of the club’s
Foundation centennial celebrations. The children were given centennial t-shirts and a number of treats.
The 2016 Swift Half Marathon
was a resounding success. The
annual event, sponsored by
Hulamin and the Rotary Club of
Pietermaritzburg (D9370), drew
a record attendance. The overall
winner was Slindile Gubese of
Phantane Athletic Club in a time
of 1.7.52. The first woman home
was Linda Gabela of Muden
Athletic Club in a time of 1.32.56.
With the winner of the women’s
race is race director, Alex
Anthony. Photo: Jason Londt.

ACCOMMODATION OFFERED
*** B&B ACCOMMODATION in Kimberley.
Staying over in Kimberley? The Nook B&B
*** Semi-Self Catering B&B offers excellent
accommodation and rates. All rooms luxury en-
suite with private entrance and secure parking.
Close to CBD and places of interest. For more
info contact Rtn Rob Gibson at 072 116 8390
Web: www.thenookbnb.co.za
‘ABOVE THE WAVES’. SIMON’S TOWN.
Self-catering flat for 2, overlooking False
Bay, historical Simon’s Town and its harbour.
Close to Cape Point and the penguins
at Boulders, the 9 hole golf course and a
stone’s throw from the beach. Off-street
parking. R600 p/n
Contact: peteandme@mweb.co.za or call
021 786 3331 Off-peak season special: stay
for 7 nights and pay for 6.
KIMBERLEY’S GUM TREE Lodge offers budget
accommodation (200 Beds) from R150 pp in
backpackers. R200 pps or R500 dbl en-suite.
Twin sharing accommodation R250 single or
R400 dbl. Meals in adjacent Gumtree Lodge
Restaurant (Licensed). Your host Jeannette.
Tel: 053 832 8577, cell 076 371 0930, fax: 053
831 5409, E-mail: gumtreelodge@telkomsa.net
Website: www.gumtreelodge.com
PRETORIA. Park Gables Guesthouse***,
conveniently situated, offers first class B&B
accommodation in a warm, homely atmosphere,
while respecting comfort and privacy.Asanctuary
away from the hustle and bustle of city life!
Rooms en-suite. Secure parking. Near Gautrain
Hatfield Station. Visit www.parkgables.co.za Call
012 344 0390 for reservations. Discount applies.
STUDENT ACCOMMODATION 2016 in Port
Elizabeth. Fully-furnished single and sharing
rooms available in Summerstrand, Central, North
End and Millpark (Cape Road). All residences
are close to shuttles or walking distance from
campus. Our prices are affordable. Please call
or WhatsApp at 082 743 6939 or email us at
quickaccommodation@gmail.com
MISCELLANEOUS
CONSTANTIABERG FUNERAL Home: Sensitive,
dignified and personal service by Alan Lindhorst
– all hours, anywhere within 200km of Cape
Town. Very reasonable prices & premiums. Cnr
Kenilworth & Rosmead Ave, Kenilworth.
021 671 2400 or 083 653 6536.
DISCLAIMER: All opinions published are
not the opinion of the publisher. The publisher
is not responsible for the accuracy of any of
the opinions, information or advertisements in
this publication. No responsibility is accepted
for the quality of advertised goods or services
or the accuracy of material submitted for
reproduction. To the extent permitted by law,
the publishers, their employees, agents and
contractors exclude all liability to any person
for any loss, damage, cost or expense
incurred as a result of material in this
publication. All Rotary Marks (Masterbrand
Signature, Mark of Excellence and so forth),
as well as ROTARY are trademarks owned
by Rotary International and used herein
under licence.
Email
rotaryafrica@mweb.co.za
Get your free,
up-to-date Which
Club Meets Today
emailed to you
GET IT NOW!
SCOTTBURGH
122 en-suite rooms.
Overlooking beach. Airport
transfers arranged.
Daily and evening
entertainment.
Special rates for seniors.
Tel: 039 978 3361
Fax: 039 976 0971
Email: info@bluemarlin.co.za
www.bluemarlin.co.za
NEWLY
REFURBISHED
AMAKHOSICONTAINERSALES
STORAGE : REFRIGERATED : CONVERSIONS
BEST PRICESAND QUALITY : 3m, 6m, 12m
27 YEARS EXPERIENCE
DENNIS WESLEY:0837336208dennisw@acsales.co.za

Rotary Africa Feb 2017

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Rotary Africa Feb 2017