Rotary Club of Oak Bay Meeting of 10 February 2015 - Malawi Girls' School

Reporter: Janna Malo Gisler

Janna, Ryan and their new precious bundle

Photos: Courtesy of Steve Sharlow and David Sills

The meeting was held in the Sports View Lounge of the Oak Bay Rec Center. From our elevated venue, the new climbing wall donated by our Rotary Club, could be seen at the end of the swimming pool where on the previous day, rumour has it that President Jim had taken the inaugural climb. 

Looks like President Jim is demonstrating how he managed to scale the climbing wall. 

Guests: Notable guests introduced by none other than Ronnie C  included: David S, Joey V, Eileen L, Esther M, Christie J and F J, Jean L, Hannah B, Ruby T, Theodora the exporah, Vida Z, Dilnar M, Thrista L, Cloe Parasido, Helena Tyson, Nikki Q and Janet W (dubs). 

Former President Peter urged all in attendance to offer random acts of kindness before Friday at the strole of midnight (as this is R.A.K. week) or warned that they would languish in terror all weekend.

Announcements:

• Heather discussed the "Merrython", which had netted $4,400  and thanked the assistance of Rotaract, Interact, Oak Bay Recreation. She presented $100 to the Interact Club and $500 to the Rotaract club to buy new Dr Scholls odour eaters for participants' running shoes.  
• The club hopes to  offer a flight as one of the prizes at the Mardi Gras' silent auction on 9 May, 2015, and is looking for donations to achieve a total of  50,000 "Aeroplan" miles. (Editor's note: Those with Air Canada frequent flyer  Aeroplan membership or who have an Aeroplan credit card with the CIBC or TD bank can donate air miles. Contact Janette N. to find out how). 
• In Janna's words: "Bwana John who is volunteering in Rwanda, sent a poetic message to the club that hit upon widows, sheltered in a half dozen new homes rehabbed by ROB, abundant veggies from toilet compost, reproductive education and sanitary pad pilot success over the last 8 months and speaking of Bees, the buzz is around John’s travelling companion, an expert beekeeper whose knowledge is providing education and insight for about 20 village locals interested in the topic!
• Mary brought news of the service for local Rotarian, Cam Sprat's wife, Denise, who is 95. Ruby T encouraged all to attend Monday's Interact lunch meetings and Lori presented Membership chair pins to both Neil and Joan." 

  

  Joan is wondering if she has one of these already in her vast collection.

50/50: Happy dollars were given for upcoming trips to Cuba, the Caribbean and for a 90th birthday in Nova Scotia, although it is assumed that the happiness was more for the birthday and less for the east coast travel.  Mary was happy because she was in her own home again rather than staying with friends. Wendy T won the 50/50.

Guest speakers:

In Janna's words: "The Big talk was of the Malawi girls school where Christie Johnson and Esther Mwale presented the story of how a vision lead to donated land and the construction of a school in rural Malawi to better prepare women for leadership roles in communities highly unaccustomed to doing so.

In a program where each girl represents a village and is taught how to be assertive for themselves and understand their role in a new Africa, Esther was able to tell her story, that of two paths, one guided by mentorship, empowerment and opportunity and a second dictated by Tradition, poverty and strife. The story of APU is that of a project sponsored by 56 clubs in 3 districts from a half a world away with one common objective.

Peace"

A graduating class at Malawi Girls' School

Christy in Malawi

Esther

(Editor's note: It was so heart warming to listen to Christie and Esther. Christie Johnson  is the Executive Director of the APU Malawi Education Foundation APU-MEF. The Atsikana Pa Ulendo (Girls on the Move) Malawi Education Foundation was started in 2009 as a society in BC whose purpose as defined in its Constitution is as follows:

1. To advance education in Malawi through the construction and operation of schools, including the provision of uniforms, dormitories, food, clean water and electricity.

2. To advance education in Malawi through the provision of scholarships.

The Malawi Girls' School was founded by Christie Johnson, and Malawian teacher Memory Mdyetseni. It is an all girls secondary school that provides high quality education to 320 students, most of whom are on full scholarship.  Esther had achieved the highest grades of any girl at the school to date when she was awarded a scholarship to attend Pearson College on Vancouver Island. Her moving story of the contrast between her future, because she had been chosen from her village to attend the Malawi Girls' School, and that of a sister, affirmed, at a very personal level, the value of what Rotary achieves in countries where education is beyond the finances of even parents like Esther's, whose Father is a teacher. Her talk was filled with words of appreciation and gratitude, that made being a Rotarian very worthwhile. What incredible achievements!)