ROTAREACH OUT TO AFRICA NEWSLETTER

ISSUE 18, DECEMBER 2015

THIS MONTH: Chairman's Message Africa To Have It's Own Zone?

RC Milimani Beneficiary AbigailHadasah Speaks

Scholarship Project

EXTRA Why Attitude Is More Important

Than IQ

Join us in Denver on March 19, 2016 to explore and implement Rotary District 5450/5440/9212s new Water and Sanitation Hygiene (WASH) strategy as developed by the 2014 Vocational Training Team (VTT) from those Districts. Building on Rotary International’s new global call for better WASH in Schools, the strategy emphasizes youth involvement and entrepreneurship as vehicles for real, lasting change. Symposium participants will help tailor guidelines, tools, and techniques to better equip Rotarians to expand successful programs worldwide.

WATER, SANITATION AND HYGIENE

WASH

March 19, 2016Metropolitan State University Auraria Campus near downtown Denver

Holistic WAsH: trAnsforming A generAtion

Rotary District 5450/5440Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

Symposium

New WASH Strategy:Introducing important new concepts

regarding WASH:• Cleandrinkingwatersufficientforstudentsand

faculty, an adequate number of toilets, a place for menstrual hygiene, hand washing facilities and hygiene education. Schools practicing “ho-listic” WASH will use water and waste to grow crops.

• “Model” schools serve as examples of best practices to the wider community and to other schools

• Training of primary and secondary school leav-ers as WASH professionals and in entrepreneur-ial skills to increase employment opportunities and serve communities.

The strategy focuses on children and youth as agents for generational change in knowledge, attitudes and practices through schools, technical training institutions and universities. It brings the latest and best practices for future Rotary initiatives in the WASH sector. It provides an operational framework and a blueprint for action by Rotary Clubs, Districts and partners.

Afternoon Working GroupsWorking Group 1: WASH in Primary and Secondary SchoolsWorking Group 2: WASH Technical Training for Youth EmploymentWorking Group 3: Support Monitoring and Evalua-tion

Symposium StructureThe Symposium is a day-long event, 8AM to 5PM. Morning sessions address the logic and practice of the new strategy with WASH experts and members of the VTT leading discussions. The afternoon session consists of working groups on partnering for school WASH, developing WASH technical training programs and monitoring our Rotary progress.

Morning SessionsSession 1: Understanding Two Challenges: high youth unemployment and unhygienic schoolsSession 2: A WASH Strategy for generational change: adequate facilities, training and mobilizing Rotary supportSession 3: “Holistic WASH” components for schools: water resources, water supply options, sanitation, recycling, hygiene education

Participants Take-Aways TheintentisthatattendeesfinishthedaybetterequippedtocreatemoreeffectiveandsustainableWASHprojects and identify potential partnerships with other institutions. A take-away kit provides materials to reinforce the strategy and practices discussed.

FOR REGISTRATION AND INFORMATION CONTACTwww.2016WASHsymposium.com• $25 Student• $40 Early Bird (Nov 16 – Dec 31)• $50 (Jan 1 – Mar 18)

Seating is limited, so regiser early

Who Should Attend?Rotarians in Districts 5450 and 5440 interested in WASH projects should not miss this event. NGOs and colleges with WASH programs as well as university level students with interest in the subject are also invited. Advanced registration is required.

Clem Sunter confirmed as Keynote Speaker Newsletter 2 : December 2015

www.rotarycapetown2016.com

We are delighted to announce that renowned speaker and

scenario planner, Clem Sunter, will be our Keynote Speaker

at the Economic Development Conference in February.

Clem is best known for his ’high road/ low road’ scenario

planning and is a sought after guest speaker. He is also the

bestselling author of 17 books.

In his latest book, Flagwatching, Clem identifies the develop-

ment and support of entrepreneurship as a key factor for

meaningful national economic development.

Asked to comment on the importance of entrepreneurship,

Clem said “The world of work has changed. Mass employ-

ment has all but disappeared. Technology is destroying jobs and large companies are

subcontracting work to smaller companies instead of doing the work themselves. Young

people nowadays have therefore to create jobs for themselves rather than get jobs. In

other words, they have to become entrepreneurs.”

We hope you’ll join us to hear this entertaining and thought-provoking speaker, to share

your ideas and to help develop the network that will support our young entrepreneurs.

EXTRAORDINARY. EFFECTIVE. JOIN ROTARY IN ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT.

© Greg Lumley

WORKING DISCUSSION

GROUPS

3 Sessions 12 Topics

including presenters

Vukani Magubane Public Affairs and

Communications Director, Coca Cola Southern Africa

and

Tracey Chambers CEO, The Clothing Bank

on

Maximising the Role of Women

in

Enterprise Development

Rotary is truly International

In the short period since registrations opened, we have confirmed attendance from

Rotarians from Benin, Congo, Ethiopia, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia,

Zimbabwe, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. Together they repre-

sent 16 Rotary Districts and are truly emblematic of the internationality of Rotary.

Travel and Visa Arrangements

Page 2

Our thanks to all of you who timeously settled your Early Bird Registration fee. If you have not yet

registered, please do so soon to avoid disappointment.

We are looking forward to welcoming the Rotary family from all around the world

and will make sure that you remember Cape Town as a really special place.

We have called on Rotarians of District 9350 to open their hearts to our visitors and to make sure that

they experience Rotary hospitality at its best. We know you will not be disappointed.

June Webber Chair, Host Organising Committee

February is peak season in Cape Town so book your flights now.

Please also remember that most South African embassies and con-

sulates will be closed over the festive season. Be sure to check their

dates soon.

Please also ensure, if applicable, that you arrange for your visa as

soon as possible. If you require a visa application letter, Lauren

Gleeson, from our event coordination team, is able to help.

Click here for more information and tips in preparation for your trip.

www.rotarycapetown2016.com

Registration and Fees

Early Bird Closes 24 Feb 2016

Rotarian Closed R 2150 (est US$ 165)

Partner of Rotarian Closed R 2150 (est US$ 165)

Non-Rotarian Closed R 2275 (est US$ 175)

Moyo Dinner (Friday 26th February) Closed R 350 (est US$ 30)

Last Words

Accommodation As those who have visited the accommodation page on our website will know, the Host Organising Committee (HOC) has

booked and negotiated special, discounted rates at a number of hotels. However, because February is a very busy time in

Cape Town, we will soon need to start releasing some of this accommodation. This will make it increasingly difficult to find a

hotel. It is important that you confirm your booking as soon as possible.

For those who prefer to be close to our venue, there are hotels near the Kelvin Grove Club. There are also hotels near the

popular V&A Waterfront, about 12 kms from the conference venue. We will have a shuttle service for those opting to stay at

the Waterfront. Please also keep in mind that the number of rooms secured at each hotel varies so, the earlier you book, the

more likely you are to secure the preferred room rate at your hotel of choice.

Our website lists the accommodation release dates in the booking column for each hotel. Click here for easy access.

The Commodore Hotel, V&A Waterfront The Portswood Hotel, V&A Waterfront The Southern Sun Hotel, Newlands The Radisson Hotel, Newlands

DISEASE

PREVENTION &

TREATMENT

MONTH

By Geeta Manek

RI Coordinator Zone 20A, ROTA

Chair, Region 5 & ROTA

Newsletter Editor 2015/16

WELCOME TO OUR XMAS END OF YEAR ISSUE

T’is the season to be jolly. T’is also the time to reflect

on the past as we plan for the Yew year. No doubt

2015 has been a great year for Rotary, hasn’t it?

This month, I’ll keep it short and sweet. From the

bottom of my heart the editorial team and I would

like to wish all oru esteemed readers from across

Africa and the world a Merry Christmas and a Happy

New Year!!!

I sincerely hope that you thoroughly enjoy our 18th

edition of the ROTA. We have worked hard to litter it

it with some festive fever.

As always, we promise to continue to do our best to

keep you abreast with Rotary updates and stories

from Africa and around the world in the new year.

If you’d like to contribute for our January 2016

issue, please email me at: Geeta@maneknet.com.

Happy reading folks!

Viva Rotary!

EDITOR’S NOTE

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AFRICA TO HAVE ITS OWN ZONE?

In my last month’s Statement I talked about

how one of our African Dreams was about to

be realised, as we begin the count down to

kicking Polio completely out of Africa. I was,

of course, referring to the latest report

coming out of Nigeria concerning Polio

eradication.

This month, I have more exciting news: At

our Mombasa meeting earlier this year, the

ROTA Executive Committee passed a

number of important decisions which were

anchored an advancing our AFRICAN

DREAMS. We decided that the time had

come for ROTA to formally submit a

recommendation to the R1 Board concerning

our dream to have a separate Zone

dedicated to serving the African Continent.

The good news is that, I have just received a

letter from Evanston to advise me that the R1

Board will be receiving the ROTA Committee

report at their January 2016 meeting.

At this meeting the Board will amongst other

issues, be considering our recommendation

“to create a Zone consisting of the African

Continent together with the Indian Ocean

Islands, in which the new Zone will be

accorded the privilege of appointing a

director for every applicable board term

commencing from the 2018 – 2020 term”.

CHAIRMAN’S

MESSAGE

Quite clearly, should the board vote in

favour of this recommendation, it will

open the way to the biggest DREAM

COME TRUE for African Rotarians. It is

obviously far too early to start any form of

celebrations over this possible

development.

What I would advise my fellow African

Rotarians to do however, is to lobby

every R1 Board member whom you know

and pray that this proposal goes through

the Board. It will be a giant step forward

in the right direction. Naturally, if the

recommendation is carried by the Board,

it will then have to be presented to the

next Council on Legislation for final

decision, and enactment. We are well on

our way, to realising this very profound

African Dream.

Happy Holidays to you all!

PDG Patrick D. Chisanga

ROTA Chair 2014/15/16

DISEASE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT –

Prevention is Better than Cure

Disease prevention is a general term for any

maneuver intended to minimise the incidence or

effects of disease. Disease prevention covers

measures not only to prevent the occurrence of

disease such as risk factor reduction, but also to

arrest its progress and reduce its consequences

once established.

There are basically 3 disease prevention types.

1. Primary prevention aims to prevent disease

or injury before it ever occurs. This is done by:

preventing exposure to causes of disease or

injury. It prevents onset of disease e.g. smoking

cessation to prevent lung cancer.

2. Secondary prevention aims to reduce the

impact of a disease or injury that has already

occurred. It involves early detection of disease

and reaction aiming to halt progression e.g.

detection of coronary heart disease after a first

heart attack.

3. Tertiary prevention aims to soften the impact

of an ongoing illness or injury that has lasting

effects. It minimises disability from incurable

diseases.

Rotary Clubs and Districts should embark on health

promotions in the Schools, religious gatherings and

public places. Health promotion and disease

prevention programs often address social

determinants of health which influences modifiable

PDG Lawrence Okwor

ROTA Secretary 2015/16

lawrenceokwor@yahoo.com

risk behaviors. Social determinants of health

are economic, social, cultural and political

conditions in which people are born, grow

and live that affects health status. Modifiable

risk behaviors include for example

1. Tobacco use

2. Poor eating habits (dieting), and

3. Lack of physical activity (exercising);

which contributes to the development of

chronic diseases. The concluding message

to the audience should be that 'prevention is

better than cure'.

FROM THE

SECRETARY’S DESK

UPCOMING EVENTS:

IF YOU DIDN’T KNOW, NOW YOU KNOW

Mark Your Calendars!

Upcoming Rotary Events

RI Seoul Convention - 15 December — Early registration discount ends for Rotary International Convention

Rotary Economic Development Conference – Cape Town, 27 February 2016

Rotary District 5450/5440 - Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Symposium – 19 March 2016

D9212 91st District Conference & Assembly - Addis Ababa - 14 – 16th April, 2016

Upcoming Rotaract Events

Brazilian National Rotaract Convention (CONARC)

Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil 20-24 January 2016

Philippines

Rotaract Convention (PROCON) - Bacolod City, Negros

Occidental, Philippines 19-21 February 2016

Asia Pacific Regional Rotaract Conference Kyoto, Japan

18-21 March 2016

Rotary District 5450/5440 - Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Symposium – 19 March 2016

Do you know of an event we should add to this list?

Email us at geeta@maneknet.com

ww.rotarycapetown2016.com

Rotary Districts of Southern Africa invite you to join the dialogue on economic development on

Saturday, 27 February in Cape Town, South Africa, where the 2016 Rotary International

Presidential Conference on Economic Development will be hosted.

A primary goal of the 2016 Rotary Economic Development Conference is to provide solution driven

guidelines that can be piloted and implemented after the conference, initially in Southern Africa, then

internationally. The conference will be a catalyst to maximise the resources in Rotary’s local and

international networks, linking partners, which operate in effective job-related economic and

entrepreneurial enabling activities, with those entering the workplace, especially in small business

enterprises. Rotarians, leaders of government, business, civil society and communities who are keen

to identify partners and find long-term solutions for improving economic development are invited to

attend this important conference so they can partner and work with us to find solutions to the

challenges, with the focus on economic enablement of our youth.

Want to learn more about our exciting programme? Visit our conference website at

www.rotarycapetown2016.com and register soon. We look forward to welcoming you to the

friendly, magnificent “Mother City” in February 2016 where the highlight of your visit will

undoubtedly be, outstanding fellowship!

See you in Cape Town.

Warm regards,

June Webber, Past District Governor

Chair: Host Organising Committee

Rotary Economic Development Conference 2016

.

CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FEES

Rotary Member R 2150 / US$ 165

Rotary Member Partner R 2150 / US$ 165

Non-Member No Preferential Rate R 2275

Moyo Function (Friday 26 February 2015) R 350

If you are working locally or abroad

to improve communities through

economic development or would

like to learn how to do so, you will

not want to miss this unique

opportunity to join fellow leaders to

exchange ideas and take action

RI President Ravi Ravindran

Arising from an invitation to address the

2014 Zones 30 and 31 Institute in Kansas

City about doing projects in Africa, Past

District Governor of District 9370, Nick

Phillips, decided to compile a booklet

showcasing all the Rotary districts on our

beautiful continent.

Every month the ROTA editorial team, will

serialize this booklet and highlight one

Rotary district in Africa. Rotarians in Africa

are spread across 15 districts in 9 regions,

out of 55 countries.

This Month we focus on District 9370.

ROTARY IN AFRICA

– HOW WELL DO

YOU KNOW YOUR

DISTRICT?

District 9370:

Lesotho

KwaZulu Natal (South

Africa

Western Cape (South

Africa

Free State (South Africa)

ROTARY IN

AFRICA Our District

District 9370 is a large district with 94 clubs and

1,897 members. The district incorporates the

South African provinces of KwaZulu Natal,

Eastern Cape and Free State as well as the

Kingdom of Lesotho. With a large rural

population and disparities in living standards,

education and skills Rotary clubs are involved in

many projects in their communities in all the

Rotary areas of focus.

Contacts

If you would like to learn more about partnering

with us please contact 2014-2015 District

Governor Andrew Jaeger at

racjaeger@gmail.com, who will direct your

enquiry to the correct club or district committee.

PROJECTS

Zulufadder Children’s Trust

The Rotary Club of Eshowe in partnership with

The Zulufadder Children’s Trust, assisted with

development of a fully equipped day care centre

for children who have been marginalised by HIV

and AIDS in Zululand.

KNOW YOUR DISTRICT - SERIES 12:

Soul of Africa

Since 2006 District 9370 in partnership with

The Soul of Africa Trust, the social

responsibility arm of Clarke’s Shoes

International, provided clubs with the

opportunity to erect classrooms and day

care centres in conjunction with Matching

grant funding for resources.

Buffalo City Early Childhood Development

Project Gately Rotary Club, based in East

London, District 9370 are implementing

Phase 1 of a US$ 40,500 project (GG

1410735) to train 25 Prospective Early

Childhood Development (ECD) Practitioners.

The club now requires funds for Phase 2 that

will stretch over 18 months and cost a total of

US$80,000. All graduates are deployed to

the Childhood Centres identified in the

greater East London area. The ultimate

beneficiaries would be the 1000 children,

between the ages of 1-6 years, spread

around villages in the Eastern Cape.

Contact Pieter Bosch at:

piet@ikhwezisolar.co.za.

Bundle of Joy Creche Project

Durban North Rotary Club wishes to provide

a turnkey solution for the Bundle of Joy

Crèche situated in a township adjacent to

Durban.

Presently there are 70 children being cared

for in substandard facilities by a dedicated

group of caregivers.

The project aims to provide a multipurpose

facility able to be used as a community

centre at a cost of around US$35,000.

Contact Gussie Augustus at

aug@iafrica.com.

ROTARY IN AFRICA NEWS & UPDATES

DISTRICT 9400

By ARRFC Sherry Coleman – Speech

During the Rotary Foundation Dinner

WORLD UNDERSTANDING

GOODWILL AND PEACE

ZAMBIA

One hundred and seventy years ago, Henry

David Thoreau wrote that, “For every thousand

hacking at the leaves of evil, there is one

striking at the root.” If future generations are to

prosper in a climate free from fear, we have to

strike at the root. That task is by no means

simple. But it is, in fact, within our reach as

Rotary.

No child that any of us have ever met anywhere

at any point in time age two or three hates

anybody. Hate is taught. And before we can rid

others’ hearts of hate, we must have the

conviction to do so in our own hearts and in our

own imaginations. In too many places the wall

of ignorance is high and surrounded by

insecurity and denial. In too many places our

world is still torn by strife rooted in ignorance or

in prejudice or in hate passed down through

generation after generation. In too many places

ignorance is abetted by corruption and by the

failure of leadership and good governance, and

a difference of religion or race or creed or

culture, of homeland are somehow seen as

threats by too many people. In truth, these very

differences ought to be celebrated for enriching

our societies through their diversity.

So why do we Rotarians care so much

about the rights of others being

respected? Because, in an

interconnected world, injustice anywhere

is a threat to justice everywhere.

Because we have learned the hard way

through history that not to speak out is to

condemn others to death and, in the end,

to lose our own values and our own

conscience. And we have learned that

our citizens will, in fact, do better and feel

safer in a world where the values that we

cherish are widely shared.

But there is also, an even a deeper

reason. Because when human rights

tragedies are supplanted by human

rights victories, the very idea of progress

becomes less rhetorical and more

tangible, more real. Because there is no

more meaningful agenda for the future

than the shrinking of bigotry, the

curtailment of conflict, the defeat of

terrorism, the prevention of genocide,

and a fuller commitment to the rights and dignity

of every man, woman, and child.

Why do we care? Because respect for human

rights provides the truest mirror of ourselves,

the most objective test of how far we have

come over the last century, and how far we still

have to go. Because human rights is an idea

bequeathed to us by the past with distinct

responsibilities. “If we destroy the words that

were given to us by the past, we will not have

words to replace them.”

Change is possible. Fear and bigotry can be

defeated. We all bear responsibility because we

all stand before history. The rise of bigotry and

intolerance and violent extremism is a challenge

to nothing less than the nation state and the

global rule of law. That is where we are. And

the forces that contribute to it, and the dangers

that flow from it compel us to prepare and plan,

to unite and insist that our collective future will

not be defined by primitive and paranoid ideas,

but instead, by the universal values of decency,

civility, knowledge, reason, and law.(1)

Every 10 minutes, a baby is born without a state

– without citizenship in any country. The crisis

in Syria and conflicts in South Sudan, the

Central African Republic, and many other

nations are producing new generations of

refugees, internally displaced persons, and

asylum seekers. Increasingly, they are long-

term exiles who are spending years, even

decades, in makeshift refugee cities with their

families, unable to return home.The number of

people forced from their homes by war and

conflict has surpassed 50 million for the first

time since the end of World War II, when the

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner

With bloody conflicts raging in the Middle East,

Eastern Europe, and parts of Central Africa,

for Refugees was created.(2)

With bloody conflicts raging in the Middle East,

Eastern Europe, and parts of Central Africa,

and most recently Paris and Mali, the message

of nonviolence and reconciliation demands

more urgent and collective attention.

In 2001 the United Nations designated the 21st

of September as an annual International Day of

World Peace "to be observed as a day of global

ceasefire and nonviolence" according to a

General Assembly resolution.

The day's devotion to peace connects closely

with what Rotary members have been fostering

since The Rotary Foundation's mission to

advance world understanding, goodwill, and

peace, was proclaimed in 1917.

Rotary's goal of worldwide peace and tolerance

has been an unwavering pursuit: conducting

global forums, hosting international peace

symposiums, advancing peace through its 60-

year collaboration with the UN, as well as

grassroots initiatives such as the Rotarian

Action Group for Peace

But Rotary's most significant effort to wage

peace is the Rotary Centers for Peace program.

Each year, the program trains some of the

world's most dedicated and brightest

professionals, preparing them to promote

national and international cooperation and to

resolve conflict. Today, more than 900 peace

fellows are applying their expertise in various

fields. They're settling border conflicts in West

Africa, developing aid programs at the World

Bank, drafting legislation to protect exploited

children in Brazil, providing security for

diplomats, serving as liaisons in the African

Union and many other career paths devoted to

peace.(2)

Each year, Rotary Peace Centers host up to

100 peace fellows either in a three-month

program at Chulalongkorn University in

Bangkok, or a master's degree fellowship at

universities in Australia, England, Japan,

Sweden, the United States and perhaps one

day on the African continent. Among the

graduates of the Rotary Peace Centers – nearly

900 since the program's inception in 2002 – are

agents of change working to help this growing

population of refugees.(3)

This is Rotary. This is our impact. This is our

legacy. Let us continue to be "change makers

and proponents of peace".

You can support the Rotary Peace Centers

program with your gift. Help The Rotary

Foundation raise $150 million by 2017 to build a

permanent endowment for the program.

(Citations from: (1) U.S. State Dept-excerpts of speech given by Sec. of State Kerry marking 40 yrs. since speech of Chaim Herzog (2)Rotary.org- excerpts from: Rotary Peace Fellows Are Helping Refugees Start Over (By Brad Webber, adapted from an article in the Feb. 2015 issue of "The Rotarian" (3)Rotary.org-exceprts from: "Rotary peace Centers Shape Hundreds of Careers In Peace and Conflict Resolution" By Ryan Hyland and Paul Engleman, Rotary News 19/09/2014.

Sherry Coleman speaking on

the Rotary Peace Centres during The Rotary Foundation Dinner that was held on November 22nd 2015.

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My name is Abigael Hadasa I am a beneficiary of the Rotary

Club of Milimani flagship Scholarship project. My beginnings

are very humble. I come from a single parent and I have two

siblings and elder sister who studies at Egerton University

and younger brother who just cleared his high school studies,

life has not been easy being brought up by a single mother.

Sometimes we missed meals, other times our electricity used

to be cut off due to late bill settlement. We had to accept and

live within the meager income of my very dear mother.

When Rotary Club of Milimani stepped in, they really helped

my family a lot. They took care of my high school fees and

also gave me some allowances for my upkeep they also held

motivational forums during school vocations which helped me

not to lose hope in life. I am grateful to Rotary Club of

Milimani because after high school they agreed to settle my

University fees, now am in 1st year at Laikipia University

undertaking a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Statistics.

After my studies I also hope to join the Rotary Club of

Milimani in order to spread the good work.

My hobbies are travelling and hiking and with what I have

managed to achieve so far because of Rotary Club of

Milimani I am sure I will be able to travel the world and help

other people in need just like me.

ROTARY MILIMANI FLAGSHIP

SCHOLARSHIP PROJECT

DISTRICT 9212

KENYA

Who can explain it better than the one at

the warfront?

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ROTARY THE WORLD OVER

SIX WOMEN RECOGNISED AT UNITED

NATIONS FOR EXEMPLARY LEADERSHIP

By Rtn Rajikumar Rajgaria

The six Rotary Global Women of Action for 2015 were

recognized during Rotary Day at the United Nations (UN) on

7th November in New York City for their dedication and

service, which have improved the lives of thousands around

the world.

“The women we are honoring here today are leaders in Rotary,”

said Rotary President K.R. Ravindran. “They are pushing the

boundaries of Rotary service, pushing us all to do more, be more,

and achieve more.”

Lakshmi Puri, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations

and deputy executive director of UN Women, praised Rotary for its

acknowledgment of the crucial role women play. “I’m very pleased you have picked this team of

gender equality and women empowerment,” she said. The six women, who were selected by Rotary

senior leaders and staff from more than 100 nominees from around the world, are:

Six Rotary Global Women of Action were honored during Rotary Day at the United Nations on 7th November in New York City. They are, from left: Lucy H. Hobgood-Brown, Dr. Hashrat A. Begum, Stella S. Dongo, Kerstin Jeska-Thorwat, Dr. Deborah K.W. Walters, and Razia Jan.

..……

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By Ryan Hyland

Dr. Hashrat A. Begum, of the Rotary Club of Dhaka North West, in Bangladesh, who has

implemented several large scale projects to deliver health care to poor and underserved

communities.

Stella S. Dongo, of the Rotary Club of Highlands, in Zimbabwe, who leads the

Community Empowerment Project in the city of Harare. The project provides basic

business and computer training to more than 6,000 women and youths affected by

HIV/AIDS.

Lucy C. Hobgood - Brown, of the Rotary E-Club of Greater Sydney, in New South Wales,

Australia, who co-founded HandUp Congo, a nonprofit that promotes and facilitates

sustainable community driven business, educational, social, and health initiatives in

underprivileged communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Razia Jan, of the Rotary Club of Duxbury, in Massachusetts, USA, who has spent

decades fighting for girls’ educational rights in Afghanistan. An Afghan native, she is the

founder and director of the Zabuli Education Center, a school that provides free

education to more than 480 girls in Deh’Subz, outside Kabul, Afghanistan. She was also

recognized as a CNN Hero in 2012.

Kerstin Jeska - Thorwart, of the Rotary Club of Nurnberg - Sigena, in Germany, who

launched the Baby hospital Galle project after surviving the 2004 tsunami in Sri Lanka.

With a budget of $1.8 million and the support of 200 Rotary clubs, the project rebuilt and

equipped the Mahamodara Teaching Hospital, in Galle, Sri Lanka. The hospital has

served more than 150,000 children and more than 2.2 million women.

Dr. Deborah K.W. Walters, of the Rotary Club of Unity, in Maine, USA, a neuroscientist

who has served as director of Safe Passage (Camino Seguro), a nonprofit that provides

educational and social services to families, who live in the Guatemala City garbage

dump.

Each of the women addressed attendees and led discussions on topics related to their work.

More than 1,000 Rotary members, UN officials, Rotary youth program participants and guests

gathered at this year’s annual event, which celebrated 70 years of partnership between Rotary

and the UN. A morning youth session was open to high school students, including members of

Rotary’s Interact and Youth Exchange programs.

Guest speakers included Fabia Yazaki, acting chief or evaluation and communications in the

UN’s department of public information; Karin Ryan, senior project adviser for the human rights

program at the Carter Center; Ambassador at-Large Susan Coppedge Amato, director of the

Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons for the U.S. Department of State; Melissa

Russell, vice president of strategic partnerships for the International Justice Mission; Jeffrey

Kluger, Time magazine editor at-large; and Archie Panjabi, Emmy Award-winning actress and

Rotary polio ambassador.

POLIO

CORNER

YOUR ATTITUDE IS YOUR

ALTITUDE

Why Attitude Is More

Important Than IQ

Common sense would suggest that

having ability, like being smart,

inspires confidence. It does, but only

while the going is easy. The deciding

factor in life is how you handle

setbacks and challenges. People with a

growth mindset welcome setbacks with open arms.

According to Dweck, success in life is all about how you deal with

failure. When it comes to success, it’s easy to think that people blessed with brains are

inevitably going to leave the rest of us in the dust. But new research from Stanford

University will change your mind (and your attitude).

Psychologist Carol Dweck has spent her entire career studying attitude and performance, and

her latest study shows that your attitude is a better predictor of your success than your IQ.

Dweck found that people’s core attitudes fall into one of two categories: a fixed mindset or a

growth mindset.

With a fixed mindset, you believe you are who you are and you cannot change. This creates

problems when you’re challenged because anything that appears to be more than you can

handle is bound to make you feel hopeless and overwhelmed.

With a fixed mindset, you believe you are who you are and you cannot change. This creates

problems when you’re challenged. People with a growth mindset believe that they can improve

with effort. They outperform those with a fixed mindset, even when they have a lower IQ,

because they embrace challenges, treating them as opportunities to learn something new.

Common sense would suggest that having ability, like being smart, inspires confidence. It does,

but only while the going is easy. The deciding factor in life is how you handle setbacks and

challenges. People with a growth mindset welcome setbacks with open arms.

According to Dweck, success in life is all about how you deal with failure. She describes the

approach to failure of people with the growth mindset as an inability to deal with failure. Failure

doesn’t have to be a bad thing; in fact, failure is helpful information. It shows us how to do better

next time.

Regardless of which side of the chart you fall on, you can make changes and develop a growth

mindset. What follows are some strategies that will fine-tune your mindset and help you make

certain it’s as growth oriented as possible.

Don’t stay helpless. We all hit moments when we feel helpless. The test is how we react to that

feeling. We can either learn from it and move forward or let it drag us down. There are countless

successful people who would have never made it if they had succumbed to feelings of

helplessness: Walt Disney was reportedly fired from the Kansas City Star because he lacked

imagination, Oprah Winfrey was fired from her job as a TV anchor in Baltimore for being too

emotionally invested in her stories, Henry Ford failed multiple times prior to succeeding with

Ford, and Steven Spielberg was rejected by USC’s Cinematic Arts School two times. We all hit

moments when we feel helpless. The test is how we react to that feeling. Imagine what would

have happened if any of these people had a fixed mindset. They would have succumbed to the

rejection and given up hope. People with a growth mindset don’t feel helpless, because they

know that in order to be successful, you need to be willing to fail hard and then bounce right

back.

Be passionate. Empowered people pursue their passions relentlessly. There’s always going to

be someone who’s more naturally talented than you are, but what you lack in talent, you can

make up for in passion. Empowered people’s passion is what drives their unrelenting pursuit of

excellence. Warren Buffet recommends finding your truest passions using something he calls the

5/25 technique: Write down the 25 things that you care about the most. Then, cross out the

bottom 20. The remaining 5 are your true passions. Everything else is merely a distraction.

Take action. It’s not that people with a growth mindset are able to overcome their fears because

they are braver than the rest of us; it’s just that they know fear and anxiety are paralyzing

emotions and that the best way to overcome this paralysis is to take action. People with a growth

mindset are empowered, and empowered people know that there’s no such thing as a truly

perfect moment to move forward. So why wait for one? Taking action turns all your worry and

concern about failure into positive, focused energy.

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