KINI Mara Academy has opened 2021 with 31 students in our Kindergarten class (at present there is only one class - a second class will start in July). Because the children live quite a distance from the school Barbara picks children every morning from the local centre and return them when school finishes.
Sadly the vehicle we use has a lot of work and the engine has become tired and needs a lot of work done to it to get it running again.
Repairs will be $2,000.
However because of the number of children now needing to be picked, it would be better to purchase a small van. This would cost $5,000 and would allow us to more comfortably transport the children as well as cater for the increased enrolment that is expected in July. The other vehicle could be sold and the money used to revamp any new vehicle purchased.
If you are able to help, even with a small donation, please reply to this email and you will be sent information as to the easiest way for you to send money to KINI's account. In Australia you can go into our website www.kinikenya.com and click on Donate Via RAWCS and receive a tax deductible receipt immediately.
Thank you for all you have done in the past to help KINI get to where we are today and for helping make a huge difference in these childrens' lives.
Honestly, this was unlike anything I had heard or thought about before!!
This excerpt from feedback we recently received from one of our students gives us a great insight, not only into how students feel about the RYDA sessions but, importantly, how they feel about the topic of road safety before attending RYDA. Here’s what Thea, a student from Sydney Girls High School, had to say about RYDA’s Mind Matters session.
Being a high school student with the possibility of driving, I began my 16-year-old life researching the rules of the road and how to operate a car. It seemed like tricky stuff. From the mechanics to the hundreds of different functions, I was bamboozled with horror stories telling me what I could and couldn’t do. So when I heard we were attending the RYDA workshop, I will admit I was skeptical; what more could they tell me that I didn’t already know? That was until the Mind Matters workshop. Now I was impressed. That workshop showed me a new perspective. I was so used to the general wear your seatbelt, keep your eyes on the road… basic (and important) boring stuff that when I began to listen and understand, I truly was excited.
This workshop looked deeper into how one’s mood at any given moment can impact their driving abilities. Honestly, this was unlike anything I had heard or thought about before. Of course, listening to the examples of how stress and anger could have a significant impairment on one’s driving capabilities made sense, it had just never occurred to me before. I felt like that workshop opened up another aspect of driving I would need to deal with in the future, and I was glad to be learning about it then instead of in the future. Further, learning helpful tips on how to calm yourself down if you were having a bad day before you started driving, not only told me about a future problem I would most likely be facing but also showed me constructive ways regarding how to not endanger myself and others around me. I would say that in that workshop I learned how to be a better driver. Even if I’m not driving yet!
How glad I was to attend the Peace Seminar on Saturday Night. There were awe inspiring speakers and many new projects to explore. There were about 85 online
Professor Erinma Bell, MBE, DL. - First Woman, in 150 years, to have a statue of herself unveiled in Manchester Town Hall; Deputy Lieutenant for County of Greater Manchester; Recognised as one of the 100 Inspiring Women in Manchester; Listed as one of the 250 Most Influential People in Greater Manchester; Recognised as one of the Top 100 Nigerians in UK; Ambassador for Moss Side, Manchester; Rotary Peace Fellow to Chulalonghorn University, Bangkok in 2010, sponsored by, and now an honorary member of, the RC of Manchester Breakfast (My DG Classmate, Margaret Blowey, who often attends our meetings, is a member of RC of Manchester Breakfast which sponsored Professor Bell when Margaret was District Governor in 2010-11.) Erinma spoke so well however what will always stay in my mind is the following. Her sculpture is the first, of a woman, in Manchester Town Hall
More than 50 of the guns, handed in during a police amnesty, were melted down to make a sculpture of a Manchester peace activist, Dr Erinma Bell, who has campaigned to rid the streets of Moss Side of guns. More than 800 firearms were handed in during a two-week surrender in the North West in April following a spate of shootings in Salford. The sculpture was produced by Guns to Goods, an arts-based initiative converting firearms into works of art.
Sara Bellway, Project Manager, addressed the Seminar on Peace Jam UK’s new project, “Reclaiming Generation Covid” as generation change. Peace Jam is a series of events held for a number of years when young people 14-18 years To date they have run 14 interactive youth conferences, with around 300 young people who can converse with and be mentored by Nobel Peace prize winners, university mentors and volunteers.
Jean Best, who established the Rotary Peace Project, and has addressed the United Nations on this topic. You can find more details on www.peoplewhoinspire.co.uk
Alison Sutherland, who is Chair of the Rotary Action Group for Peace which works globally providing support and advice to clubs. Details on www.ragfp.org
All participants were sent to a Chat Room where we discussed what had excited each of us most from what we had heard.
Finally, Jannine Birtwistle, presently End Polio Now coordinator who is also passionate about our peace message presented her vision for coordinating our efforts to spread the word in future
East Gosford Rotary Club is hosting an Easter Family Race Night at the Gosford Greyhounds on Tuesday 23rd March. There will be fun for all the family with a giant Easter Raffle, Lucky Door Prizes and fun sweeps. All proceeds will support local Rotary projects.
2021 District Assembly for all New Board Directors..
District Assembly
This is the training program for all incoming Boards of you Clubs. It is essential that incoming Board members, or a representative participate in these broadcasts. This will be held on-line as it was in 2020. Conditions are still somewhat uncertain and having groups as large a District Assembly (ie. 600-700 attendees) makes it inconceivable to find a venue that would be safe. More details will be published soon but here are the dates for your diaries. The District Assembly will occur over 5 non-consecutive Saturdays commencing 18.4.21, then 2.5.21, 16.5.21, 23.5.21 and 30.5.21.
David Dean, in his capacity of Rotary Foundation Stewardship Chair, District 9685 (2020-2021)
and
Geena Dunne fromThe Cova Project.
Geena Dunne is the CEO and Founder of The Cova Project. She began her pursuit to combat period poverty in 2018, after living in Namibia and witnessing, firsthand, the unaffordability of basic sanitary products for many women around the world. Geena has created a network of women (and some incredible men) across the globe, who share a passion for menstrual health and strive for equality. She believes in sustainable solutions that are community-run and hopes that with a little bit of education and collaboration, period poverty can be an issue of the past.
The Cova Project is an Australian registered charity that provides safe sanitary care to girls in developing communities across Africa, by donating reusable menstrual cups and providing menstrual health education. The Cova Project exists to bridge the school attendance gap between girls and boys, due to menstruation, as well as to empower women of all ages. To date, The Cova Project has distributed 6,500 menstrual cups, to girls from low-income communities. Currently operating in four countries, with a focus on sustainable solutions, The Cova Project is in the business of providing access, education and dignity.
Please send all Bulletin submissions to mrdgm41@gmail.com
