Shirley Griffin on Woza Moya project

The impact of a massive gift of £1m South African rand from global Rotary, the equivalent of £62,000, was hailed as a truly transforming boost for the destitute HIV-affected community in the vast Ufafa Valley of KwaZulu-Natal, members were told at their open meeting at Faenol Fawr. Guest speaker Shirley Griffin, of Deganwy, a long-standing active supporter in the Woza Moya development project who still spends three months each year working in one of the world’s most desperately stricken regions, said she couldn’t praise Rotary’s magnificent gesture highly enough. Introduced by senior vice-president Keith Roberts, the speaker painted a bleak scenario of infected young children, orphans and native adults battling to survive in a territory devoid of electricity, clean water, sanitation, hygiene, nutritional food, life-skills, training or education, where HIV, tuberculosis and dire poverty levels were among the highest in South Africa. Left to tackle their fight for life without any Government support, it was only through the generosity of Rotary and the selfless teams of helpers and a dedicated trained staff of 35 volunteers, that the flame of hope was being kindled and sustained, she explained. Despite the proliferation of so many debilitating daily deprivations, many transforming initiatives were being introduced, including education, school uniforms, accommodation, sports, games, embroidery, story-telling, food parcels, craft skills and a host of other enhancing activities. “I am pleased to say it is working and our varied efforts to promote child development gives us new hope for a better future,” she added. The vote of thanks of the club were expressed by Past President David Davies who spoke of all members’ strong and humbling recognition of the amazing work going in in this far-away but thankfully not forgotten part of the world. “To give of your time in this special way leaves us in awe and admiration,” stressed Senior vice-president Keith Roberts when he presented a cheque to the speaker on behalf of the club in genuine support of the remarkable efforts being invested in this worthy venture.