Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Rotary Peace and Conflict Studies Program

 
Call for Applications
The Rotary Peace and Conflict Studies (RPCS) Program announces a call for applications for the July 2008 program session.  The deadline for completed applications to be submitted to The Rotary Foundation for this session is
1 December 2007.
Program Synopsis
The Rotary Peace and Conflict Studies Program is a professional development program held in Bangkok, Thailand through which up to 30 participants embark on three months of intensive study instructed by some of the leading specialists in the peace and conflict resolution fields.  The customized curriculum has been crafted by specialists in the field to capitalize on the experience of both participants and lecturers while balancing theoretical and practical learning.
Ideal for busy professionals, the Rotary Peace and Conflict Studies Program's customized curriculum helps promising leaders expand their global outlook, strengthen their negotiation skills, and ultimately make a positive impact on future peace and conflict resolution efforts worldwide.
Promotional Materials
Please feel free to use this announcement and our latest press release to advertise the Rotary Peace and Conflict Studies Program and recruit applicants. The press release reports the outcome of our latest selection committee meeting and presents a call for applications for the July 2008 program session.
Download press release here. We appreciate your help and support as we train leaders to build peace.
For More Information
Please contact
Jenn Weidman, Rotary Peace and Conflict Studies Program Specialist, at +1-847-866-3374 with any questions or for more information.  Program materials and participant profiles can be downloaded at www.rotary.org.
Sent by:
Laura Tell

Program Assistant

Rotary Centers for International Studies
laura.tell@rotary.org
+1.847.866.3307

+1.847.556.2141 (fax)

1560 Sherman Ave.

Evanston, IL 60201

USA

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

83rd DCA – All You Need 2 Know!

When & Where?
15th - 18th May 2008
Rotarians - at Kunduchi Beach Resort - Dar es Salaam
Rotaractors - at Bahari Beach Hotel - Dar es Salaam

What is the cost?

Category            Before 31st Dec. 07         1st Jan 2008 onwards
Rotarian                $145                                 $175
Spouse / Guest     $145                                 $175
Rotaractor             $75                                   $75
Interactor               $30                                   $30

What does the registration fee entitle me?
Conference materials and all meals i.e. break teas, lunches, dinners for the entire four days plus all the fun and entertainment.

Will transport be organized from the airport/ bus stations and back?
Transport will be arranged please contact the transport desk at the airport and bus station.

Is it a child friendly place?
Kunduchi beach Hotel and Resort has a water park which is one of its kind (please see hotel website for details) and the beaches and the sand is an ideal place for a family to spend a holiday and relax.

What is required of me?
REGISTER NOW. Avoid higher costs of registration.

To register on line or to down load a registration form use this link.
http://www.rotary9200dca.org/registration.html

Wednesday October 24, 2007 is World Polio Day.

Fellow rotarians,

Here are some informations about the World Polio Day.
Nicola


POLIOPLUS MESSAGE POINTS

September 2007 

Polio still threatens children in parts of Africa, Asia and the Middle East.  Rotary's top philanthropic goal is to eradicate this crippling and potentially fatal disease worldwide. 

  • Since establishing its PolioPlus program in 1985, Rotary has contributed nearly 620 million US dollars and countless volunteer hours to immunize more than 2 billion children in 122 countries against polio.  
 
  • Rotary reaches out to governments worldwide to obtain vital financial and technical support. Since 1995, donor governments have contributed more than 3 billion dollars to polio eradication, due in part to Rotary's advocacy efforts.
 
  • Rotary will continue the fight until the world is certified polio-free and every child is safe from this devastating disease.
 

Overall, tremendous progress has been made.   

  • In the 1980's, 1,000 children were infected by this crippling disease every day in 125 countries.  In the two decades since, polio cases have been slashed by 99 percent. Less than two thousand cases were reported in 2006.
 
  • Two billion children have been immunized, five million spared disability and over 250,000 deaths have been averted from polio. 
 

In 2006, the world moved several critical milestones closer toward eradication polio.

  • Last year, Rotary contributed 22.6 million dollars and countless volunteer hours to help immunize more than 375 million children in 36 countries against polio.
 
  • Egypt and Niger were declared polio-free, leaving only four polio-endemic countries in 2006 (Nigeria, India, Pakistan and Afghanistan).  
 
  • More efficient and targeted oral polio vaccines were introduced.
 
  • Children in the hardest endemic areas were reached and the epidemic in west and central Africa (outside Nigeria) was ended. 
 

Health experts agree that challenges to stopping the spread of polio can be met.  The primary challenges are:  

  • Halting the spread of the poliovirus in the remaining four endemic countries from where it can continue to be exported into polio-free areas.

 

  • Rapidly filling the funding gap of 415 million US dollars for polio eradication activities in 2007 and 2008.

Polio Questions and Answers

August 2007 

Q) Why did Rotary choose polio eradication as its main philanthropic goal?   

In the 1980s, global health organizations were looking for ways to improve childhood immunizations worldwide.  At the same time, many Rotary members saw the devastating consequences of polio in their own countries, and wanted to protect children from this preventable disease. These two forces came together and sparked Rotary's PolioPlus program.  

Q) How did the PolioPlus program get started? 

In 1985, Rotary International pledged to protect all children from polio, making that its primary focus after a successful pilot vaccination program in the Philippines. Rotary's initial financial support and global volunteer network provided the catalyst for the World Health Assembly's resolution in 1988 to eradicate polio.  Soon after, Rotary's foresight sparked the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, which is today spearheaded by the World Health Organization, Rotary International, UNICEF and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  

Q) As the 2005 target date for eradicating polio has passed, and polio cases are still occurring, is global eradication really possible?  

Since Rotary vowed to end polio worldwide in 1985, cases have been slashed by 99 percent, 5 million cases of paralysis have been prevented, and 250,000 pediatric deaths from polio have been averted.  This achievement alone is worth celebrating.    

However, polio eradication can be done, and more importantly, it must be done. The strategies and tools are known, and health experts agree that the challenges to stopping the spread of polio can be met.   

Failure to eradicate polio will result in an estimated 10 million paralyzed children in the next 40 years and will jeopardize the world's US$5 billion global investment in the initiative. 

Q) Which countries are still affected by polio? 

Four countries including Nigeria, India, Pakistan and Afghanistan, are still considered polio-endemic.  However, an additional fourteen previously polio-free countries have reported polio cases in 2006 and 2007 due to the virus spreading from the endemic countries.  These are Somalia, Chad, Angola, Kenya, Myanmar, Cameroon, Yemen, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Niger, Nepal, DRC and Namibia.  

Q) Is it really possible to immunize every child in high population or conflict afflicted countries? 

Yes. Two hundred and ten countries, territories and areas are now polio-free (including China), and 134 of these, which contain half the world's population, have been certified polio-free by independent commissions.  This proves that it is possible to immunize enough children through polio campaigns to stop transmission of the poliovirus anywhere. 

Q) What are the major obstacles to eradicating polio? 

The primary challenge is to halt the spread of the poliovirus in the remaining four endemic countries from where it can continue to be exported into polio-free areas.  

Of particular concern are two areas – one in Northern Nigeria, which represents the greatest risk to polio eradication accounting for half of all cases worldwide in 2007.  The other area is in western Uttar Pradesh, India which is threatening the polio-free status of other parts of India, as well as neighboring countries.

    

Q)  What is being done about the situation in Nigeria and India? 

In Nigeria, a radical change to improve polio eradication activities was recently implemented with the goal of reaching more children during vaccination campaigns.  In addition to the oral polio vaccine, Immunization Plus Days offer additional health benefits including measles and DPT vaccination, de-worming tablets and Vitamin A.  An early review of this new approach indicated that it was successful and popular with communities. 

In India, specific actions are being taken to urgently address the outbreak in western Uttar Pradesh. The first of these is the deployment of surveillance medical officers from non-endemic areas of India to key districts of western Uttar Pradesh.  Secondly, social mobilization and community outreach is being strengthened in those key districts, with the deployment of several hundred community-based workers.   

Thirdly, the polio partners are implementing a robust strategy to engage religious leaders at the district, state and national level. Rotary has convened numerous gatherings of religious leaders aimed to engage underserved communities more comprehensively in polio eradication activities in India.   

And finally, more efficient and targeted oral polio vaccines that are three times as effective as the previous vaccine were introduced, and diagnostic tools that detect and track the poliovirus twice as fast have been implemented in both India and Nigeria.   

Q) How much funding is needed to eradicate polio? 

According to our partners at the World Health Organization, a funding gap of US$415 million for 2007 and 2008 must be filled to implement activities.  Failure to rapidly mobilize these funds will result in immunization activities being scaled back in key polio-affected and high-risk areas. 

 

Q) When will polio be eradicated? 

Health officials estimate another 18 to 24 months, however it is impossible to predict exactly when the last case will occur.  Various conditions in each of the polio-endemic countries such as, the quality of immunization activities, security, dense populations, poor sanitation and any other unforeseen event can impact the timing of polio eradication. 

Regardless how long it takes, Rotary will continue the fight until the world is certified polio-free, which will be three years after the last case is reported.  
 

Q) Will Rotary members continue the fight against polio if it continues to spread?  

Yes. Rotary members are as committed as ever to protecting children against polio. This year hundreds of Rotary members from the US, Canada, Australia and Europe will travel at their own expense to join fellow Rotarians in polio-affected countries to immunize children against polio during national campaigns. 

PolioPlus is Rotary's priority program and both the Board of Directors and the Foundation Trustees reaffirmed Rotary's commitment to the program until every child is safe, and the world is certified polio-free. 

Q) Rotary is on the verge of eliminating polio.  What will be Rotary's next project?   

Though great progress has been made toward ending polio, the last steps remain the most challenging.  Rotary will remain focused on eliminating polio worldwide until the certification of eradication is achieved. 
 

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Meeting of 17th october

Thank you to rtn Fester and rtn Ria for having hosted the meeting at the beautifui venue of Villa casablanca.

Nicola Biscardi
Club President

Thursday, October 11, 2007

INVITATION- Sanitary Towels Project Launch 12th October, 2007; Serena Hotel -Nairobi

Dear fellow rotarians,
I have received and forward to the web bullettin the following letter, please have a look

Nicola Biscardi
club president

10th October, 2007

 

To All Club Presidents,

District 9200

Kenya

 

Dear All,

 

RE: SPONSORSHIP OF GIRLS THROUGH DONATION OF SANITARY TOWELS

 

Rotary District 9200 and Lions Multiple District 411-A (Kenya) have partnered to provide sanitary towels to over 160,000 needy school going girls in the country. To achieve this, Rotary and Lions have enjoined Girl Child Network as the Technical partner and they are charged with the duty of providing the database of girls in need of sanitary towels and to offer guidance on policy matters influencing access to education by the girl child.

 

According to a survey and report done by Girl Child Network, a girl absent from school due to menses for 4 to 5 days in every 28 days (a month) loses three weeks of learning every school term. A girl in grades 6, 7 and 8 (3 years) loses about 20 learning weeks out of 108 weeks. Within 4 years of high school, the same girl loses about 160 learning days, equivalent to almost 26 weeks out of the 144 weeks of high school learning.

 

The aim of the project is to reduce by 90% absenteeism from school by providing sanitary towels to needy girls. Without the success of this project, Kenya as a Country is unlikely to achieve Education for All (EFA) Goals, Gender Parity by the year 2015 and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

 

To date, this project, through GCN committee, has been able to provide Sanitary Towels to about 200,000 girls in various schools in the Country.

 

The key role of Rotary and Lions is to mobilize resources necessary for the project and its objectives. To keep a girl in school for one year, it will cost Kshs. 1,000/=. This includes 12 packets of Sanitary Towels, 3 pairs of underwear (these needy girls have no underwear - which makes them very vulnerable and easy cases of rape). This money also includes transport of the towels to various schools and training the girls on how to use them.

 

We hereby invite you, your Club Members and Your well-wishers to the Sanitary Towels Project Launch on 12th October, 2007 from 7.30pm at the Serena Hotel. Tickets are available at kshs 5,000. Your kind donation is also welcome and cheques can be written to: LIONS-ROTARY PROJECT a/c No.: 801975004

 

Looking forward to your positive response with best regards,

 

Yours in Rotary

 

AG JOE OTIN

CHAIR, LIONS-ROTARY PROJECT

 

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Information about the 83rd District Conference and Assembly: HOW TO REGISTER

Fellow rotarians

Registration for the 83rd District Conference and Assembly is now OPEN!
Conference and Assembly forms are available at
http://www.rotary9200dca.org/registration.html .


MOI DAY!

Fellow rotarians today is Moi Day and we will postpone our weekly meeting.
I remind you all that the day 20th October 2007 there will be the FELLOWSHIP/MANGROVE PLANTING PROJECT organized by ROTARACT MALINDI.

Nicola Biscardi
Club President

Here follows the official invitation by ROTARACT CLUB of MALINDI:

17th September 2007

RE: INVITATION TO A FELLOWSHIP/MANGROVE PLANTING PROJECT.

Rotaract club of Malindi is inviting fellow Rotaractors, friends of Rotaract and well wishers to their fellowship and mangrove planting Project to be held at Robinson island sanctuary on 20th October to 21st October. Robinson island sanctuary is situated on the northern coast of Malindi and deals mainly in environment conservation and community Based project that helps uplift the livelihood of the community living around the island .Rotaract club of Malindi has chosen Robinson island project to

coincide with this years Rotary theme "our environment our feature".

The group has also organized a fellowship at the island. and the main activities will include beach football, beach volleyball, swimming, tug of war and different organized games. The main event will be a beach party on 20th October night.

A fee of Ksh. 2000/= per person will be charged. This will cater for four meals, transport to and fro

(Malindi to Robinson Island) and one night accommodation. All drinks will be sold at the venue.

The group intend to plant 20000 mangrove seedlings.

For enquiries and reservation please contact:

rotaractmalindi@yahoo.com

pyakz@yahoo.com,

Sammy Kiratu 0721704802

Sammy Njogu 0721403707

Ben Nyamwaya 0723801773

Faith Abigail 0720708031

Billy Aluoch 0725339196

Ken Nyamolo 0722315336

Reservations and payments to be made by 13th October 2007.

You are all welcome.

Yours sincerely,

FAITH ABIGAEL

COMMUNITY SERVICE DIRECTOR.

Cell:0720-708031

Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Welcome!

This is the new Rotary Club of Malindi Web Site.
Here you will find the Rotary Club of Malindi bullettins, with all the news about events and projects.
Come soon to check for new updates and news.

Nicola Biscardi
Club President

--
Rotary Club of Malindi