Conflict And Human Rights - Impact Of Rotary Scholars

Sunday February 27,  Channels Estate, Chelmsford.At a time when Russia was invading Ukraine it was topical and fitting, that our District’s Foundation Lunch invited two Rotary Scholars studying Human Rights to help celebrate the anniversary of The Rotary Foundation. Speaking in turn, Rotary Scholars Akane Matsumoto (Tokyo, Japan) and Arne Vermeerbergen (Leuven, Belgium) at the University of Essex, said how much they were enjoying their time here, and the hospitality shown by their “host” Rotary Clubs.  Their studies concentrated on the underlying causes of war - poverty. famine, etc.  So appropriate!

Nuclear Accident

Rotary in Japan started in 1920, but Akane was a member of a newer club.  She movingly described how the Fukushima nuclear accident displaced people of the region from homes their families had owned for decades, even centuries, prompted her to study human rights.

Arne was a member of a Rotary Club in Leuven, Belgium which had links to a Rotary Club in Canterbury.  He had done a student exchange in Pretoria, South Africa, which had cemented his desire to study Human Rights law so he could help people.

Our Club was represented by President Les and Val, VP Michael and Sue, Secretary Brian and Julia, Peter and Wendy Greene, and Michael Dunne.  Tables were of eight only, so our nine were split across two tables, with Les, Val, Peter, Wendy sat with Yvonne Kyndt and Alistair Mould of Billericay Mayflower, and Vivien Tugwood and her daughter Olivia.  Michael and Sue Ginn, Michael Dunne, and Brian and Julia were on the next table.

Welcome to all was by District Foundation Team Leader Martin Sulley and followed by an excellent three-course meal.

Raising Money

We were easily persuaded to part with our money for a good cause (as it always is with Rotarians), initially with a raffle, then a “Heads and Tails” challenge (definitely more luck than judgement) raised over £50 for a potential £10 prize.  The winner donated the prize back to Foundation which, rightly, received it all.

Also too an auction conducted by DGN David Willis to which Alison Farugia, President of Halstead Rotary Club had donated the items for sale including a blanket, a bottle of champagne, etc.

John Dehnel, PDG District 1070 and Regional Foundation Coordinator spoke at length about Foundation, praising the hugely positive impact of sponsoring Rotary scholars, and gave us chapter and verse about the work of the Rotary Foundation, Rotary’s only charity.   

Top Five On The List

In the first half of Rotary Year 2021-22 The Rotary Foundation had supported 493 projects of which 70 involved Global Grants, all to the total value of $4.5 mils.  298 of these projects were local to Great Britain and Ireland.

As we all know, Foundation has amongst the lowest operating costs of any charity and is always in the top five for governance.  It exists to support Rotarians.

The lunch ended with Foundation chair Martin Sulley announcing that the event had raised £650 for Foundation!