Fotos:  http://picasaweb.google.com.br/vitoriocabral/MarchaDaPaz#

Passou neste domingo pelo Centro de São Paulo a Marcha Mundial pela Paz e Não-violência. Com uma concentração inicial na Rua Barão de Itapetininga, caminhou pelas ruas de São Paulo terminando no Vale do Anhangabaú, onde aconteceram shows diversos.

Infelizmente  não foi o sucesso esperado,  longe disto e por motivos talvez até desconhecidos, já que contou com o apoio da prefeitura e teve divulgação suficiente para mobilizar mais que 400 pessoas ( número aproximado de pessoas na Marcha).

Com exceção do Interact São Paulo ESPRO, Rotaract SuPerPUC, Rotaract São Paulo ESPRO, Rotaract Rio Branco e Rotary Perdizes, os outros clubes da família Rotária estiveram ausente ao evento. Assim como a maioria das organizações sociais, partidos políticos, igrejas e tantas outras entidades da sociedade civil que por motivos desconhecidos não se empenharam e mobilizar. Imaginem que dentro de São Paulo, congregando todas estas entidades temos facilmente mais de 10.00 delas, e nem ao menos um representante de cada esteve presente, vergonhoso.

Seria o minimo conseguirmos mobilizar para a PAZ da mesma forma como conseguimos mobilizar para a  para a Marcha de Cristo ou para a Parada Gay. Ou então como T-Mobile consegue neste vídeo:

Talvez as empresas devessem começar a pensar suas ações de responsabilidade social com maior fundamentação, talvez as entidades da sociedade civil devessem ter um estrutura mais tática, talvez um monte de coisas…

Afinal parece que estamos vivendo um hibrido, onde o Estado não tem mais seu valor, tampouco autoridade legitimada frente a sua população, onde ao mesmo tempo as empresas tentam ocupar o lugar do estado forçosamente, mas tudo o que fazem é mobilizar para causas bobas e inúteis. Sem qualquer eficácia ou capacidade de mudança social.

Longe de eu ser o dono da solução, mas o fato é que as pessoas continuam morrendo por conflitos diversos, a corrupção continua impedindo que possamos virar a página para nos tornarmos um país desenvolvido, o COP-15 foi um fracasso e as enchentes estão matando. E nossa sociedade está parada, esperando o epitáfio.

(This is part of one long post that begins with “Bali-Arrival”)

When the next morning finally arrived, only Matheus and I joined in the trip to the Rotary project. Mariana opted to take a free sleep in. We went by car up (and down) a ridiculous half-paved road. At one point we almost got stuck half way up a hill that felt nearly vertical. One tire had gotten stuck in a pothole, and I smelled burning rubber before it came free. We parked at the village school, SD Negeri 3 Belimping (this means it is the third public Elementary School in the Belimping district), and continued up on foot. It was a hard walk, and we were followed for short stretches at a time by mangy looking dogs. The project we were visiting was a water tank which provided clean water to this village. It was located near the top of a hill overlooking alternating strips of rice paddies and eel ponds. I’m not quite sure what the purpose of the visit was, we simply sat around and rested for a bit, before taking a picture or two, and then heading back down. The real task that day, I suppose, was in the school. The school had recently acquired three new computers, and the Rotaract club was teaching the students how to use them. It looked like slow work, but all the students seemed so excited.

After returning to the hotel to get Mariana and the bags, we left for Alas Kedaton, a temple which regards monkeys as sacred. There were monkeys everywhere. We were required to use a guide, which was provided free of charge as long as we agreed to visit their shop afterwards. Pak Wastio bought peanuts which we could both feed to the monkeys, and use as bribes just in case they jumped up onto us, and refused to come down. This actually happened a few times, twice to me, once to Matheus and three times to Pak Wasito. Mariana was terrified after Naya told her they would bite you if you kept your hand closed when you fed them, and avoided such encounters at all costs. There are two tribes of monkeys at this temple. The first one is more aggressive, literally grabbing onto your skirt or shorts, and refusing to let go until a treat is given. The big males terrorized the smaller monkeys, and ate most of the peanuts. Mariana and Matheus managed to give a few to a mother monkey with a small baby clinging to her torso with its pink hairless hands and feet. The mothers were surprisingly human in their movements. They would sit nursing their young, cradling them in nearly an identical manner to a human mother. We took a path that wound around the outside of the temple, and came out underneath a tree nearly full of large flapping forms, which our guide informed us were Fruit Bats. A few where wheeling around overhead. Later, we were given the opportunity to hold one. The man in charge instructed us to pinch it by the wing, while it clung to our waist with its feet.

The coolest thing was easily the younger monkeys. We took an interest in several of the younger ones, and so the guide told us to hold out a closed hand. They would come right up to you, and open up your hand, almost like an infant. The hands even felt the same. One was fascinated by my thumb, and slowly bent it back and forth several times. It was an eerily human action.

Lunch was on a cliff overlooking a roaring sea which rushed in and out of the sea caves at the foot. There were three traditional Indonesian dancers who would choose members of the audience to perform with them. Much to the delight of everyone, except perhaps him, Matheus was chosen, and showed off his own version of the dance which took the form of a very awkward left to right shuffle with both arms outstretched. After lunch we took a short stroll along the cliff to Tanah Lot. This temple is located on a stone out at sea, and is only accessible at low tide. All along the way there were other smaller temples, some barely attached to the lip of the cliff. One was connected to land only by a bridge of stone, under which rushed the waves on their way to the shore.

We spent that night back in Kuta. It was our first chance to explore the city on our own. The city center was actually fairly close to our hotel, just a short walk down the beach across the street. Mariana and I lost Matheus when she wanted to make a souvenir detour through the Discovery Mall, but met back up with him at the Hard Rock Café for dinner. We had an early night, because we both still needed to pack for Lombok. We would be taking a small plane, and had been informed that we could only bring carry-on luggage. This appeared to be a great hardship for Mariana. She ended up bringing three bags for six days.

For those of you that have been coming to the Westminster Rotaract Club for a while you will be vaguely reminiscent of the good old soup run. However with a bountiful load of new members and guests it is time to refresh everyone’s memory.

THE SOUP RUN

What is it?

The soup run is first is a charity project lead by Imperial College. Essentially it is all about giving food and hot drinks to homeless people in London. Just for the record… It doesn’t actually involve soup

How is it done?

Deals have been set up with several food outlets in London, such as Wholefoods, Pret a’ Manger and Eat. They donate their leftover food for the soup run charity, which is in turn handed out to the homeless.

Who does it?

Mainly Imperial College students. As Rotaractors we simply help out and thereby also support our local community. Around the time of Fresher’s Fair, they do not really need our help as student support is plentiful. However come winter and exam times and they love when we come along.

When is it?

Every Sunday evening patrons meet in Weeks Hall (Imperial College) kitchen where all the sandwiches are sorted out and tea/coffee/hot chocolate is prepared before going off in a van to the drop off point in Holborn (you can get transport back to Imperial College or simply jump on bus/tube from Holborn, if you prefer).

Why do it?

It feels simply great to give something back to the community. When all the sandwiches have been handed out, most people stick around and have a chat to some of the homeless people. Some are very eager to talk and enjoy getting a little bit of attention as they are so used to being ignored on the streets of London. There are interesting stories to hear, lovely people to meet and life experiences to be made.

If you are interested in going along one Sunday, grab me after the next meeting and I will get you in contact with the organisers and answer any other questions. Alternatively drop a line here on the blog.

/Sheila Kjaerhus

Hey there!

The banner and a couple of certificates for a summer camp organised by the Rotaract Club of Thane North in 2008 was designed by Maverick AAP. Well, it wasn’t Maverick back then.. but anyway!

This is the banner which was printed out on flex for the summer camp for school children.

The banner for Rotaract Club of Thane North's Summer Camp '08

This is the certificate that went out to all the kids for participating in the camp. A few kids were gathered during the camp for a picture, and that’s what made this certificate a truly personal and memorable one for the kids.

Participation certificate for Rotaract Club of Thane North's Summer Camp '08

This is the certificate that was presented to supporters as a Thank You item. Printed out in size A5

Thank You certificate for Rotaract Club of Thane North's Summer Camp '08

It was a normal island sunny day with a slight breeze of sweet salt air blowing by….

But this particular Sunday was a day when blood, sweat and tears filled the St. Andrews field with pure Rotary Glory!

Rotary got their revenge on that fateful Sunday! While Rotaract exudes strength, youthfulness and courage; Rotary skillfully rose to the occasion digging deep into their arthritic, tylenol and beer dowsed aching bones! Catching fly balls, sliding into home despite the pain and physical long term damage , Rotary stole the glorious Soft Ball trophy; for perhaps the first and only time! But, for now the Trophy belongs to ROTARY!

GO ROTARY!

A mere three days after our South India adventure, we were bused off to Vikramgad for the JOSH Adventure RYLA.

Just like the Monsoon RYLA in Panvel and the International RYLA in Delhi, the JOSH RYLA was a youth conference open to Rotaractors and young business professionals. Unlike past RYLAs, this one was pretty bukwas (our Germans went so far as to compare it to Hitler’s Youth), but it did possess some redeeming qualities.

RYLAs are a great way to meet a lot of really cool people, and at this one I was happy to see a few friends from the old RYLAs there too – namely Almitra, Kusshal, Sanyogita and Neha.

It also helped that I just so happened to be placed on the winning team.

Heck yes.

The RYLA consisted of two days of team sports, puzzles and activities. There were a lot of rope courses, but also a lot of really dumb puzzles that made us all feel like we were wasting our time there.

My one teammate Ojo and I participated in the one pool activity, where we had to carry hundreds and hundreds of plastic balls from one side of this 50 foot long pool to the other. It was dark and the pool was pretty much 20% water and 80% dead insects. This went on for about 30 minutes. It was incredibly exhausting, but a lot of fun. I don’t think I would have enjoyed the RYLA at all if it weren’t for how awesome my team was.

The next night each team had to participate in a big fashion show. We were each given a theme and materials and were told to design clothes for a girl and a boy on our team. Our theme was “nature and pollution.” So the girls designed a dress for Ojo to make her Mother Nature, and the boys designed a suit for Benny (the other inbound on our team) to make him pollution.

I helped with the dress and made this awesome skirt out of palm leaves, as well as a circlet of flowers. It kind of made me realize how much I missed doing creative, crafty things. So now I’ve talked with Razia, my counselor, who owns a clothes shop near where I live, and she’s going to hook me up with some tailoring lessons. So that way I can make my own Indian clothes! Awesome.

Anyway, after the fashion show came a really horrible dance party and “campfire”. Ye gods.

The next day, we finished the remaining activities, and moved onto the awards ceremony, where the people in charge proceeded to give awards to themselves for about two hours. Fun stuff.

. . . . aaaaaand right after the RYLA, we’re hurtling towards the Gujarat Desert on an AC sleeper train. No rest for the wicked.

We spent our first night in Gujarat in an orphanage in Bhuj. We showered amidst the crocodiles in ice cold groundwater.

No lies.

Which makes for an interesting time when you’re with people from seven different countries, because every three seconds you hear someone shrieking in a different language.

My favorite thing about Gujarat was without a doubt the weather. No more humidity, no more heat, just pure dry cold. I was so happy to be able to dress cozily again.

Also, the fashion of Gujarat is extremely interesting. While far from being something I’d wear myself, it’s nice to see all of the Gujarati women in these very flashy, colorful clothes.

Our down time just spent hanging out at the orphanage in Bhuj was actually my favorite part of the trip. We explored the countryside a bit, enjoyed the sunset, played frisbee and cricket with the kids and found a lot of adorable stray dogs. At one point the kids carried about 10 puppies to us, it was the most adorable thing in the world. It was a very peaceful and relaxing time, and I’m never going to forget it.

Before our first night was over we were taken by the Rotarians to Fun World – a tiny Rotary-funded theme park smack dab in the middle of the desert. It was pretty cool, though, and I’m happy to have survived it.

Our friend Aditya on the ferris wheel.

Also there was this random whale skeleton there?

Indian theme parks are pretty perilous. The ferris wheel was a ferris wheel of DEATH and went about 20 times faster than any ferris wheel should go. Then we went on this crazy ride pictured above, where you could actually see where the seats had ground against the metal supports.

Later, back at the orphanage, we crowded together and experienced American culture in the form of watching The Hangover before going to bed, exhausted.

The next day we took a bus to Kutch, where the festival would be held. The festival is called Rannutsav – “desert festival” – and is a celebration of joy and good harvest.

We arrived and were shown to our tents. Now, when we were told that we would be staying in tents in the middle of the Gujarat desert, we didn’t have very high expectations. Instead, we were greeted with tents bearing western toilets, showers, wi-fi, electricity, lights, fans, heaters, and beds more comfortable than the ones we were used to back home. As soon as we got in there, we dropped our bags and started clicking pictures – we could hardly believe it.

Exchange students from other districts – namely Pune and Gujarat – also attended the festival, and we spent the festival enjoying one another’s company. Naturally, the following things had to happen:

My favorite flag.

The girl to the right of me is a REAL LIVE ALASKAN. Awesome.

Later that day we attended a cultural parade right in Kutch. It was absolutely fantastic, but I’m afraid we spent more time getting to know the other exchange students than we did watching the parade.

Me with Yuna and Rupa.

The next day we explored Kalo Dunger and Mela together, a temple right near the border between India and Pakistan. They leave offerings on this platform every day for wild foxes.

We also witnessed this weird Gujarati form of wrestling, which honestly just looked like creative hugging.

Also, can you say “camels”?

At night we all got dressed up in Indian clothes and went on this epic desert adventure on the White Rann (the white desert, so-called because it consists only of an endless salt deposit). We travelled towards a cultural dance program by camel and later met the Chief Minister of Gujarat, who is sort of an asshole, but hey, it was an interesting time.

When we got back to the tents we found ourselves sitting in the middle of the Gujarat desert, talking about god. Life is cool like that.

The next day I went to the craft fair and bought this really beautiful Gujarati shawl that I should have pictures of, but I don’t. We then disembarked for a tour of a palace and a few hours spent by the beach. I rode a shoopuf.

We uncovered some elephant bones in our explorations.

Scenes from the beach:

After we spent our last night in the desert, we went back to Bhuj to chill with the orphans again, and then we boarded our train for Bombay and some well-deserved rest.

Well, not for me, at least. I had a wedding to attend. But more about that later.

Thank you Taj Mahal for hosting RCEN Happy Hour Fridays! The evening was such a great success with Rotarians and Rotaractors joining in fellowship! Also, a big Thank you to Andre Hylton, from Jamaica, for visiting RCEN! What a great weekend!

Estimados Presidentes (as):

Reciban de antemano el más cordial y sincero saludo de parte de todo el Equipo Distrital que día a día trabaja por fortalecer y mejorar a nuestro Distrito 4370 de Rotary International.

En esta ocasión, tengo el gusto de dirigirme a ustedes con el propósito de anunciarles la llegada de la Navidad a Rotaract. Éste año, como iniciativa de elevar la alegría y la espiritualidad decembrina, he decido darle nombre propio a la Navidad, es decir, enaltecer ese sentimiento de unión y amistad entre los clubes con tal de enriquecer los sueños de voluntariado social y de compañerismo.

“Una Navidad con Rotaract” es sinónimo de compartir, reír, disfrutar, alegrar y motivar a cada uno de los socios de Rotaract Cacique Baruta, San Antonio de Los Altos, Ingeniero Boris Walter Maracay, La Lagunita – Hatillo, Juanico – Maturín, Roraima, Orinoco – Bolívar, El Tigre, Chamariapa – Cantaura, Aruba y Curazao, así como a nuestros clubes en formación Ávila, Las Delicias, Barcelona, Guanipa y próximamente Guatire y Cumaná. Todos con un mismo sentimiento de amor y de regalar sonrisas a quienes más lo necesitan en estas festividades.

Es por ello, que a partir de hoy, la Representación Distrital de Rotaract 2009-2010, inaugura oficialmente la Navidad, y como muestra de ello, queremos compartir con ustedes una serie de postales navideñas que de manera interdiaria estaremos enviando a cada club para que las usen como protectores de pantalla de sus pc’s y/o laptops, como tarjetas de regalo, o simplemente como un aporte de alegría que puedan tener durante esta época especial.

Todos unidos hagamos de estas pascuas, la mejor celebración de compañerismo y motivación para seguir forjando el futuro de nuestra organización.

¡¡¡FELIZ NAVIDAD!!!

Lic. Rodrigo Sanclemente
Representante Distrital de Rotaract, Distrito 4370 R.I. 2009-2010
representaciondttal4370@hotmail.com
+58414 180.88.75 / +58412 950.31.08

Happy Hour Fridays

Hosted by the Taj Mahal/Green Shutters.

Friday Nov 27th at 5:30pm – Until

Complimentary hor d’oeuvres

Welcome to ALL Rotarians, Rotaractors and friends!

Guest of Honor Andre Hylton from Jamaica. For those of you who get hungry, Andre and fellow Rotarians are staying afterwards for an Indian Dinner.

All are welcome to join!

See you tomorrow!

Sempre que eu tento explicar o que é o Rotaract vejo quanto é difícil definí-lo. O Rotaract não é estático e previsível, é algo em constante mudança e evolução. Para tentar explicar o que é, começo falando sobre o Rotary. Nada o define melhor do que a expressão: “Dar de si, antes de pensar em si” que é um dos lemas do Rotaract Club.

Mas não fico satisfeito.. . Acredito que o Rotaract é muito mais do que isso. É um momento no qual jovens que possuem os mesmos ideais e ideias parecidas, podem debater formas de fazer um mundo melhor. E, muito além de falar sobre uma sociedade mais justa, praticamos isso com projetos sobre saúde, educação, meio ambiente e outros assuntos presentes na atualidade.

Nos clubes, encontramos jovens insatisfeitos com o ritmo do mundo e que não querem mais esperar os governantes tomarem providências para melhorar ou no mínimo amenizar, a situação ruim por qual a sociedade em que vivem passa.

São jovens que querem fazer a diferença e não aguentam mais ver situações de fome, desigualdade, miséria, doenças, carência, abandono .Ao invés de só reclamarem , nós rotaractianos arregaçamos as mangas e botamos, literalmente, a “mão na massa”.

Nos rotaractianos a insatisfação é um fator motivador para a transformação. Vemos um problema como oportunidade de fazer a diferença e ter um mundo melhor. No final das contas, o problema vira solução. Eles são líderes, pessoas a frente da sua época!

E quando penso que estou explicando bem sobre o que é o Rotaract, vejo que ainda tem muito mais!!! Lembro dos meus amigos, das risadas, das palestras, treinamentos, viagens, conversas, festas e de tudo e todos que conheci. Lembro dos países, culturas e crenças diferentes que descobri, apenas conversando com os intercambistas.

No final, me dou conta de que por mais diferente que cada um possa ser, somos todos iguais. E é exatamente essa crença que move os rotaractianos em busca de um mundo mais humano e igualitário.

Para mais informações acessem:

Mais informações acesse:
Site do Rotary Internacional para você saber exatamente o que é Rotary:
http://www.rotary.org/pt/Pages/ridefault.aspx
 
Informações sobre o Rotaract, dentro da página do Rotary:
http://www.rotary.org/pt/studentsandyouth/youthprograms/rotaract/Pages/ridefault.aspx
 
Blog do Rotaract Clube de Vitória Ilha do Mel:
http://vitoriailhadomel.wordpress.com/

Un grande grazie a tutti i soci che domenica hanno partecipato alla vendita di beneficenza di torte e grazie a tutte le socie e mamme che hanno fornito questi buoni dolci!

La vendita è andata bene e abbiamo venduto tutto ciò che abbiamo portato raccogliendo un’ottima cifra per il nostro service. Ora alcune foto.

The clean water challenge - An integrative approach can solve a three-pronged problem that affects billions

Around the world, hundreds of millions of us share a similar morning routine that’s dominated by water. We wake up in our homes and walk to a nearby room containing a toilet, sink, and shower or bath. We use the toilet, wash our bodies, brush our teeth. We make our way to the kitchen, where we fill a kettle or pot with cool water to brew our wake-up cup of tea or coffee. In much of the world, however, this is not the routine. Daily life is marked by a lack of access to clean water, sanitation facilities, and hygiene resources. This three pronged problem constitutes the core challenge in the lives of billions worldwide. Instead of turning on a tap in their homes, 884 million people must fetch their water for drinking, cooking, and washing from crude, unprotected wells or straight from rivers, dams, lakes, canals, and ponds. The sanitation statistics are even grimmer: 2.5 billion people lack access to improved sanitation facilities, such as flush or composting toilets. Instead they use buckets, bags, or open pit latrines, or they simply practice open defecation in bushes, fields, and other unprotected public areas, both rural and urban.

The consequences are devastating for the health and welfare of millions (see sidebar on disease). Of the 1.8 million deaths each year from diarrhea, including more severe diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and dysentery, 88 percent are due to unsafe water or inadequate sanitation or hygiene, and 1.4 million are children ages five and younger, according to the World Health Organization. Malnutrition related deaths of children five and under caused by unsafe water, inadequate sanitation, and insufficient hygiene total 860,000 a year.

Contact with feces-contaminated soil or food causes hookworm, ascariasis, and other intestinal infections that affect one-third of the world’s population. Water, sanitation, and hygiene issues influence socioeconomic conditions as well. Women and girls who spend hours fetching water can’t attend school or earn money. A lack of private sanitation facilities discourages girls from attending school, especially as they reach puberty. Teachers can’t teach and farmers can’t work when they’re infected with waterborne diseases that incapacitate adults. Untreated human waste affects fish, aquatic mammals, and vegetation. What can be done But there is hope. Though the issue seems overwhelming in scope – like polio was decades ago – much can be done, according to experts such as John Oldfield, executive vice president of the U.S.- based nonprofit Water Advocates. Along with many public and private organizations worldwide, Water Advocates is dedicated to solving the global drinking water and sanitation crisis. “Eighty-three percent of the planet has access to safe water, and more than 60 percent has access to toilets,” Oldfield points out. “We’ve solved it in the United States, in Western Europe, in Japan and Australia. Many places have universal coverage of water and toilets. We know what the cure is. We need the political and popular will, and once that’s there, then the money flows.” Advocates of the cause are particularly focused on the UN Millennium Development Goals. Goal 7, to ensure environmental sustainability, calls for reducing by half the proportion of people without access to safe drinking water and improved sanitation by 2015. The world is on track to meet the water goal, but not sanitation. Though the practice of open defecation is declining, at the current rate of progress,the number of people without access to improved sanitation will only decrease by about 100 million, to 2.4 billion, by the target date.

Hardest hit on the clean water side is 42 percent of sub-Saharan Africa’s population, which gets water from unimproved sources. The problem is also prevalent in Asia, as well as in parts of Latin America. Lack of adequate sanitation facilities is most problematic in southern Asia, where 48 percent of the population practices open defecation. The response from Rotary International has been huge (see “By the Numbers”). Two groups in particular, RI’s Water Resource Group and the Water and Sanitation Rotarian Action Group, offer guidance, support, and leadership to clubs interested in implementing water, sanitation, and hygiene-related projects. Past District Governor Ron Denham, the action group’s founding chair, regularly networks with advocates from UNICEF, CARE, and other organizations to determine how best to approach the water, sanitation, and hygiene crisis. In turn, he says, “we help Rotarians identify appropriate solutions, help arrange funding, match them with partner clubs, and match them with local NGOs [nongovernmental organizations]. We’re brokers of information and relationships and technology.” Education a major factor The approach toward solving the crisis has become holistic, says Ed Cain, vice president of grant programs for the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, which concentrates its safe-water efforts in sub-Saharan Africa. “It’s not just about having a clean cup of water, as beneficial as that is,” he says. “It doesn’t improve the health of the community unless we teach them how to manage and handle the water in a way to avoid illness and disease.” If you have open defecation in a community, he says, “you won’t achieve the result of healthy communities, where kids stay in school and lead healthy and productive lives.” Where water is a luxury, populations need education on the importance of hand-washing and the consequences of fecal contamination by humans and animals on the community’s health and welfare. “In many cases, we’ll bring safe water to a household, but the users will put their [unwashed] hands in a clean receptacle because we haven’t gotten them to change their behaviors,” Denham says.

In addition, the solutions must be sustainable. Communities must take responsibility for and maintain water systems into the future, using affordable parts that are easy to obtain. “We need to lay down roles and responsibilities for stakeholders,” says Peter Lochery, director of CARE USA’s water team. “Good policy needs to be developed and implemented.” “We have to make sure the systems are seen as part of the community infrastructure, not just something from well-meaning donors,” says Clarissa Brocklehurst, chief of water, sanitation, and hygiene for UNICEF.

Rotary’s response: Rotarians worldwide are tackling the issue. In Ghana, according to Past District Governor K.O. “Willie” Keteku, less than 60 percent of people have access to clean water, and just 30 percent have access to good sanitation and hygiene resources. The situation is worse in rural areas, which is where 70 percent of the population lives, and where the nation’s 21 Rotary clubs concentrate their efforts. “Last year my club drilled boreholes with hand pumps and storage tanks to provide water for eight communities in rural areas, and this year we’re adding another eight,” he says. “These days, we don’t do water projects without sanitation. Many clubs work on the provision of water and sanitary facilities to schools and clinics, providing latrines and facilities to wash hands, with boys and girls getting separate facilities in a long block. We call those institutional latrines. It’s a particular design approved by the Ministry of Health.” Keteku is particularly excited nabout the new RI-USAID collaboration, which intends to provide funds to build an esti-mated 200 new sanitation and water facilities throughout Ghana. The money will also fund hygiene education and community organization. Residents – mainly women – will be taught to collect a small fee from users to support facilities far into the future. The levies are so low that nearly every household can pay; whenever they can’t, exemptions are given. This business involvement from the community members will instill a sense of ownership, fostering greater long-term integration of the project.

In Kenya, says Rotarian Edward Kairu, a member of the Water and Sanitation Rotarian Action Group and a professor of climatology, clubs are focusing on providing sanitation blocks to residents of Nairobi’s crowded slums, where toilets and running water are rarities. The blocks have separate water kiosks, showers, and toilets for men and women. In Kibera, an urban slum that’s home to an estimated 800,000 people, 10 sanitation blocks have been installed, serving 2,000 people a day. Community development organizations maintain them and collect levies from users. “We have cholera outbreaks, a lot of illnesses, worms. Children play outside and come across waste, especially when it rains and there’s flooding. One of the interventions we do is improving drainage to remove waste from slums, because it becomes completely unimaginable with the runoff,” Kairu says.

Natural disasters can also cut access to clean water. When an earthquake destroyed a small town’s pumping facility outside Istanbul, residents weren’t able to pay for a replacement. “So mainly women and children would walk for miles to a nearby village to get water,” explains David Keller, past president of the Rotary Club of Campbell, California, USA, which partnered with the Rotary Club of Istanbul- Topkapi to provide water access.

Since July 2007, clean water from 13 mountain springs has flowed through a pipeline to a 500-ton facility that serves 1,285 villagers. The village has set water fees and will use them to maintain the new system, says Keller. “We worked with the village elders, via the local Rotary club, to do this,” he says. “The outpouring of thanks was astonishing. People had tears in their eyes.” Though the challenge to ensure clean water, better sanitation, and proper hygiene is daunting, the answers are there and the goals achievable. “To throw up our hands and say ‘This is an undoable goal’ is not correct,” says the Hilton Foundation’s Ed Cain. “We have to look at the Millennium Development Goals, particularly to reduce by half the proportion of those without access to sustainable, safe drinking water. To reduce by half would be a huge jump, given population growth. The world is on track to achieving that goal.”

– Anne E. Stein

Another successful meeting took place today at the Westminster Rotaract Fellowship. Taking place  in our usual venue, the Southbank Community Centre in Central London, we’ve managed once again to keep up the number of attendance with 12 full-time members and 8 guests.

Lauren Williamson, the Ambassadorial scholar from Texas introduced herself to the club, and offered some fantastic insight into the Ambasadorial Scholarship Programme, which many of our members have found to be very useful. She spoke highly about the programme, the Rotarian support in her country and here in the UK, and shared her personal experiences within this life changing experience!

The meeting then continued with a very quick motivational speech from Yoanna Tsevatanova, who managed to aquire a large list of participants to the upcoming fundraising action for the Great Ormond Street Children Hospital Charity. This activity will take place near Bond Street, on 19 November 2009, between 18:00 – 20:00 and we hope to see as many of you there!

Anna Pinkernelle, the club Webmaster, updated everyone on the status of our new website which the Club hopes to have up and running before the end of the year, ready to launch into the new year.

And last but not least, Dinu Morar, the Treasurer and Membership Director, presented the club with a new possible project idea. He proposed raising money for Fresh Start, a Philipino based charity, run by a wealthy family in the Philippines, who would like to make a difference to the lives of the children affected by the typhoons. The Rotaract action would consist in organising a concert to raise money and for every £0.50 raised, one child in the Philipines would be able to return to school.

More information on this project, and its progress will be feature in numbers to come, so watch this space!

/Manuela Tise

The British Navy and US Coast Guards lend The Rotary Club of East Nassau a Strong hand in construction for the Elizabeth Estates Home for Children.

On Saturday, November 7th, approximately 30 members of the Interact Club of Queens College, the Interact Club of St. Anne’s, and the Rotary Club of East Nassau worked together to cleanup the Winton Battery.

Il 22 agosto, una fresca ser estiva si è trasformata in “A Night for Children”: il nostro Club insieme agli altri 9 Club della Zona Herea ha organizzato una serata di svago e divertimento da coniugare alla possibilità di fare del bene. L’obiettivo infatti, oltre  a quello di incontrare o rivedere amici rotaractiani e non, era quello di raccogliere fondi per uno dei progetti distrettuali, che vede il Rotaract in collaborazione con l’ABIO, Fondazione per il Bambino In Ospedale.

La prima attività dell’Anno Sociale organizzata dalla Zona Herea ha così raggiunto pienamente lo scopo che ci si era prefissati…insieme al ricordo di una bella serata insieme!

Passato, presente e futuro del Rotaract Visconteo

Mercoledì 4 novembre abbiamo avuto come ospiti del nostro cenacolo alcuni giovani del Rotaract “Visconteo” e precisamente la Presidente Jessica Fantetti,  la segretaria Rosa Guarna, il prefetto Andreina Serra Romano e la Past President Georgia Pizzi oltre ad alcuni soci. Erano presenti anche l’AG Ugo Gatta, il responsabile distrettuale per i rapporti con il Rotaract (Delegato Rotary per il Rotaract) Enrico Costa e alcuni amici del Club Rho Fiera Centenario, tra i quali il Presidente Fracois Roveyaz.

Jessica Fantetti

Il nostro Presidente Francesco Rapisardi, nel rivolgere un saluto a tutti gli intervenuti, ha sottolineato l’importanza dei rapporti tra Rotary e Rotaract e il desiderio di una migliore conoscenza reciproca, anche attraverso uno scambio sui rispettivi programmi. Ha poi ricordato i principali appuntamenti rotariani, tra i quali il seminario della Rotary Foundation il 21 novembre a Rezzato e l’assemblea del nostro Club mercoledì 11 novembre per l’elezione del Presidente per l’anno rotariano 2011-2012 e del Consiglio per l’anno rotariano 2010-2011

Dopo aver evidenziato la presenza degli amici del Club Rho Fiera Centenario, ha quindi passato la parola dapprima  a Edoardo Costa e successivamente a Jessica Fantetti.

Edoardo Costa ha ricordato di aver ricevuto l’incarico di occuparsi dei giovani da Ugo Lanza, incarico che ha sempre assolto con grande piacere e ha messo in luce come il PDG Alessandro Clerici abbia indicato proprio nell’attenzione ai giovani uno dei due grandi programmi del Rotary, accanto a quello per debellare la polio. Il nostro ospite ha poi ringraziato Francesco Rapisardi, il nostro Club e il Club Rho Fiera Centenario (ossia  due Club padrini del Rotaract Visconteo).

Successivamente,  Jessica  Fantetti, dopo aver ringraziato il nostro Club per l’attenzione rivolta al Rotaract Visconteo e dopo una breve presentazione personale, ha ripercorso brevemente la storia del Rotaract in generale e del Club Visconteo in particolare, per passare poi a descrivere con grande entusiasmo le attività di quest’ultimo. La nostra relatrice ha sottolineato che lo statuto prevede quattro tipologie di azione, cioè l’azione sociale, quella interna, quella professionale e quella internazionale ed ha illustrato concretamente, anche attraverso belle fotografie, gli interventi e le azioni svolte dal Visconteo, che sono consistite in raccolte di fondi, in azioni a contatto con le persone (ad esempio presso la casa di riposo “Sandro Pertini” di Garbagnate), in riunioni post-conviviali, in contatti all’esterno del Club (nello specifico, scambi con il Club di Grenoble), in corsi di varia natura (francese, materie giuridiche, visite presso aziende). Jessica ha inoltre ricordato l’attività della Commissione cultura e tempo libero, che, ad esempio, ha promosso la visita al Cencolo Vinciano e all’Arena di Verona; quindi ha passato in rassegna le attività svolte dal mese di settembre ad oggi. Infine la nostra ospite ha illustrato i programmi futuri del Visconteo, tra i quali un particolare rilievo assume il service in ambito sociale (impegno presso la casa di riposo “Sandro Pertini” e contatti con il Centro Diurno/Comunità residenziale “Enrico Beltrami” con sede a Vanzago)

Al termine della relazione, si è avviato un confronto a più voci (Jessica Fantetti, Marzia Puccetti, Gianni Franceschini, Georgia Pizzi  sulle modalità di presentazione del Rotaract all’esterno e soprattutto tra i giovani, sulla percezione della natura dello stesso al di fuori dei suoi confini,   sul senso del coinvolgimento nell’associazione e sulle modalità di mantenimento e rafforzamento dell’effettivo. Edoardo Costa ha chiarito come da tempo sia stata avviata una precisa analisi sul fenomeno dei rotaractiani che lasciano l’associazione. Adriano Anderloni ha espresso compiacimento per l’attività di questi giovani, ai quali occorre non tanto un sostegno economico, ma una guida esemplare e convincente da parte degli adulti, che non guardino ai giovani come “aiutanti”, ma come autentici protagonisti.

Jessica Fantetti, Francesco Rapisardi, Marzia Puccetti

In conclusione, Francesco Rapisardi ha affermato che il messaggio dei giovani del Visconteo, in una serata che ci ha portato a “fare Rotary”, può servire da sprone per tutti, ha richiamato l’importanza della collaborazione in futuri progetti tra Rotary e Rotaract ed ha consegnato a Jessica Fantetti  un contributo (raccolto attraverso la vendita di ciclamini) a sostegno delle azioni del Visconteo.

Anna Scisci

Fundação do Rotaract SuPer PUC

Olá,

Acabei de abrir um e-mail da Fê com as fotos da nossa fundação, vim correndo postar no blog, assim quem esteve lá pode lembrar como foi, e quem perdeu vai se motivar a não perder a próxima , veja aqui: Fotos

Aproveitanto o post vou apresentar quem são os mesmbros do conselho diretor, na foto acima, da direita para a esquerda:

• Zé Paulo – Vice-Presidente,
• Roberta Battistella – Secretária,
• Fernanda Ades – Tesoureira e Protocolo,
• Daniel Barbosa – Diretor de Comunidades,
• Christiane Rocha – Diretora de Internacionais e
• Vitório Tomaz – Presidente

Se quiserem conhecer melhor venham em nossa reunião, serão todos muito bem vindos.

Durante el compañerismo con motivo de la clausura de la I reunión de Presidentes y Secretarios del distrito 4370, fueron entregados los reconocimientos y premiso a los clubes Rotaract por sus actividades sobresalientes del año 2008-2009.

Según informó el Representante Distrital 2008-2009, Carlos F. Lusverti, uno de los cambios de este año fue la forma de selección de los clubes ganadores, pues los premios fueron entregado sobre la base de los informes presentados por los clubes y tomando en cuenta el cumplimiento de sus obligaciones con el distrito. La evaluación de los informes fue realizada por un comité de tres Rotarios, pertenecientes a clubes que no patrocinan clubes rotaract.

Los galardonados:

Servicios al Club del año: Rotaract Roraima, patrocinado por Rotary Club Cachamay Nuevas Generaciones.
Servicio Internacional del año: Rotaract San Antonio de los Altos patrocinado, por Rotary Club San Antonio de los Altos.
Servicio a la Comunidad del Año: Rotaract Aruba, patrocinado por Rotary Club de Aruba.
Proyecto de Servicio Integración Rotaria: Rotaract La Lagunita, patrocinado por Rotary Club La Lagunita-El Hatillo.
Club del Año: Rotaract El Tigre, patrocinado por el Rotary Club El Tigre.

El pasado 17 y 18 de Octubre se realizó con la presencia de los Clubes Rotaract Ing. Boris Walter-Maracay, Juanico-Maturín, Cacique Baruta, El Tigre, La Lagunita, Orinoco, Roraima, San Antonio de los Altos y Avila en formación, la I Reunión de presidentes y secretarios del distrito 4370 del año 2009-2010; en la Universidad Metropolitana en Caracas. Así mismo contamos con la presencia del Presidente del Comité de Rotary para Rotaract, el compañero René Briceño, socio del Rotary Caracas.

Durante la reunión fue aprobado el presupuesto distrital de Rotaract para el presente año así como la cuota distrital de los clubes y la secretaría distrital informó sobre el estado de la entrega de informes de los clubes. La reunión fue igualmente propicia para que los distintos comités distritales presentaran sus respectivos proyectos de servicio para el año 2009-2010, así como cada uno de los clubes realizó una breve presentación de sus proyectos del año. Igualmente se instaló oficialmente el comité de propuestas para Representante Distrital de Rotaract 2010-2011.

En sus palabras el Representante Distrital 2009-2010 Rodrigo San Clemente, indicó la necesidad de trabajar juntos para mejorar y llevar adelante el distrito. Del mismo modo el Presidente del Comité Distrital de Rotary para Rotaract, René Briceño saludó la masiva presencia de los clubes del distrito en esta reunión y los motivó a todos a trabajar para ser la imagen joven de Rotary.

La reunión concluyó con un compañerismo organizado por el Rotaract La Lagunita con un concurso de sombreros y prendas de vestir a base de materiales reciclados, parte del protyecto “Roticlaje” del Rotaract La Lagunita. Así mismo fueron entregados los premios los clubes por sus actividades del año 2008-09.

Benito Sainz

Destaquem que s’ha produït la visita del governador del districte 2202, Sr. Benito Sainz, la seva esposa Araceli i el seu assitent Sr. Carles Campistron, acompanyat per la seva esposa, al nostre club i que en el seu discurs ha destacat:

Una primera salutació dirigida als representants del Rotaract del Vallès, presents en l’acte, felicitant-los per la seva recent constitució i animant-los a treballar al costat dels clubs que els són padrins.

També ha enumerat els objectius bàsics per aquest any rotari que ell presideix i que es basen, per un cantó amb el lema d’aquest any i que diu “el futur del Rotary està en les teves mans” i que incideix directament en els membres rotaris, invitant-los a plantejar-se que volen que sigui Rotary en un futur, i per l’altre cantó en 2 reptes, un que desitja que els clubs creixin, es consolidin, siguin forts, mantinguin els seus membres actius, que treballin per aportar noves idees i projectes, que ajudin a fer més participatius als seus socis, i un altra que incideix en la necessitat de contribuir entre tots a la Fundació Rotaria, ja que aquesta és el pilar de l’organització.

Segons les paraules del propi governador “hem de cercar la participació dels socis en aquells projectes que els aportin satisfacció personal i els facin sentir orgullosos del que facin en bé de la societat”.

I per ajudar als clubs ha indicat que podem comptar amb l’equip humà distrital com a recolzament, així com les noves eines que podem trobar tant al web de Rotary Espanya com del districte. Ens demana que utilitzem més la revista Rotaria y que hi enviem articles explicant els nostres projectes.

Finalitza el seu discurs felicitant al club per la seva presentació i animant-nos a créixer en la línia que ja tenim marcada, agraeix l’acollida rebuda i intercanvia uns obsequis amb el president Sr. Josep Puy, del que destacarem una reproducció d’una banya amb gravats de cervols, descoberta en la cova prehistòrica del Pendo a la vall de Camargo de Santander, d’on el governador n’és membre precisament del anomenat Rotary Club del real Valle del Camargo.

Today I was able to attend our local Steamboat Springs Rotary Meeting as a guest of a fellow staff member who is an active Rotarian. Having just led a team of four other Rotarians to Chile, on a five week leadership exchange, she was sharing about her trip with the rest of the club. It was really neat to see how many rotary clubs exist in the country of Chile alone. It was also rewarding to hear about the impact rotary clubs across the globe has had on supporting the eradication of polio worldwide.

Rotary International is an excellent way for people of all ages to take on a unique role in their own communities and make an impact on communities world wide. In addition to Rotary Club International, they all have two addition sister programs, Rotoract and Interact. Rotoract is for adults 18-30 and Interact is for youth ages 15-18.  Rotary Club International is just one of the many ways to get involved her in Steamboat Springs.