OUR MEMBERS OVERSEAS

Trip to Delhi as part of the Rotary Polio Immunisation (Programme) Day in February 2016

We spent 3 days in Delhi in February 2016 as part of the Rotary Polio Immunisation (Programme) Day (NID).

Day 1: we walked through the local towns and villages with local schools and Rotary clubs advertising the NID and encouraging families to bring their children (aged 0–5 years) to the booths the next day.

Day 2: (NID) children were brought to the local booths (which are set up at numerous points across India) and given two polio drops each. Their small fingertip is painted with a purple dye (to make sure they do not receive the drops again).

Day 3: (known as ‘mop-up day’) we had the privilege of going into the villages and slums with the local health workers to meet the wonderful Indian people and to ensure all young children had received the drops.

This trip was an incredible experience and the Indian people are the most welcoming, friendly and hospitable I have had the privilege to meet. I aim to go again next year and would encourage others to do the same!

Elaine Hind, RCCH Member

Being a Volunteer for the Tea Leaf Trust in Sri Lanka in March 2018

The Trust runs the Tea Leaf Vision Centre for Professional Development where they provide a high-quality education for 18–24-year-olds in the tea leaf estates in Lanka. They were looking for enthusiastic volunteers who are passionate about making a positive impact on the lives of others. I had visited Sri Lanka some 3 years ago and saw first-hand the success of the school.

When I heard that a second school had opened a year ago I volunteered for 3 weeks to help speak English to the pupils but also if any maintenance work was needed I would do what I could.

After a long flight from the UK I arrived in the capital city, Colombo, where I was given a very warm welcome and hosted for an overnight stay by a supporter of the Trust. The next day comprised a 6-hour journey into the hill country to the east of Colombo. It was much cooler than I expected but we were at 6000 feet above sea level!

My Volunteer Role

This was not what I expected – there were only two toilets for 136 pupils and staff. Could I build two more toilets, male and female, in a disused building at the rear of the school!!! This project was in addition to minor improvements like shelves in the teachers’ common room and a new door and a partition between two classrooms. Finances were tight so after doing a first costing I had to cut back the planned work by around 50%. Priority was given to the toilets and shelving.

B&Q do not exist in Sri Lanka – everything is small scale so actually getting supplies proved be very time consuming plus suppliers did not deliver! Luckily, after school hours, a number of very enthusiastic young men volunteered to carry pipes, toilets, washbasins, urinals and timber, etc. back to the school from the suppliers in town.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXPxARIVxDQ

Bernard Stoneham, RCCH Member