01/12/2007
RYLA - 2009 dates
This scheme is designed to develop leadership skills for young people in the age range 18 to 25. It takes place in the Snowdonia National Park in North Wales. The course is for a week with an induction day approximately two weeks beforehand.

2009 dates: Induction day 27.June 2009
Course: 19-25 July 2009


For details contact Rtn. Geoff Smith by email at ryla@uwclub.net or phone 0118 9890130

01/12/2007
Life Education Programme
The Rotary Club of Reading is supporting pupils at four schools in Reading, The Oxford Road and Wilson Primary schools, Whitley Park Infants and Nursery School and in January 2008 Katesgrove Primary School signed up. The Thames Valley Life Education Centre (LEC) mobile classroom visits schools across the county in their specially adapted mobile classroom, helping 4 to 11 year olds understand healthy lifestyles and is designed to deliver a series of programs each school year to compliment the current schools curriculum in educating young people. Using the character of a giraffe, Harold, the Educator uses models, videos, language and role play to help the young people to understand how their bodies work and how things that they eat and drink can affect them. It also enables them to understand issues such as bullying, peer pressure, exercise, healthy eating and the dangers of alcohol, tobacco and drugs. The charity, praised by Ofsted and Surestart, plans each session to the appropriate age range, concentrating on diet and exercise with the younger pupils, leading up to the harmful effects of alcohol, tobacco and drugs for the older pupils. The overall aim is to increase their understanding so they can make informed choices about their own habits. The visits cost about £ 4.00 per pupil and Reading Rotary Club is looking to working with other inner Reading Primary Schools to help finance this worthwhile project.

12/11/2007
Shelter Box and Aqua box
The Club Council aproved the purchase of two ShelterBoxes and two AquaBoxes, at a modest cost of £1,500.

Shelter Box is a club project, owned and run by RC Helston Lizard.

Cyclone Sidr hit Bangladesh on 15th November 2007. Within 24 hours, on 16th November, 230 ShelterBoxes were delivered 230 from stocks held in Dubai.

Each ShelterBox contains a 10-person tent, thermal blankets, insulated groundsheets, waterproof clothing, a multi-fuel stove, cooking and eating utensils, water containers and purification equipment, basic tools (spades, axes, rope, etc.), and drawing books with crayons and pens for children. Everything is designed to last for at least 6 months of heavy use by 10 destitute human beings, and may last for much longer.

On 5th November, 200 ShelterBoxes were delivered to Tabasco in Mexico.

At the end of October, 200 arrived in Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) … to an area only 25 miles away from the de-militarised zone. An absolute miracle to be allowed to enter such a political powder-keg, a sign for all of Rotary’s non-threatening international reputation.

Other consignments over the last couple of months include: Peru, 400; Somaliland, 330; Uganda, 100; Jamaica, 25, Ghana, 100.
Since beginning work in 2001, emergency aid from ShelterBox has helped around 500,000 disaster victims worldwide.

Preserving life under some of the most inhospitable conditions imaginable. The cost? Around 25p per person, per day.

AQUA BOX
For further information on Aqua boxes go to www.aquabox.org

07/05/2007
Nyumbani 2007
Rotary and Nyumbani Making a Difference - Together

Some years ago I came across a leaflet about Nyumbani which was distributed around Rotary District 1090 by John Clemence of the Rotary Club of Uxbridge. This started a process which has now become a personal mission, not just for myself but also for a number of other people from around the UK. I am a Rotarian from the Rotary Club of Reading and, wanting to reconnect with the organisation’s motto, ‘Service Above Self’, I had been searching for a project where it would be possible to use my professional and life-skills to provide personal service alongside the now common fund-raising activities of Rotary. After approaching Nyumbani and a number of my friends, a team of Rotarians arrived in Karen in February 2005 to form a working party for the first of what has now become an annual event. To date there have been three such working parties, each of a fortnight’s duration in February, involving a total of 16 individuals, including 4 non-Rotarians, from 7 UK Rotary Clubs and one from New Zealand, and from one Inner Wheel Club.

On each occasion we have been warmly welcomed and put to work by Nyumbani, using a mixture of our ‘DIY’ skills and of the diverse professional skills to be found within the groups. Thus we have worked alongside the local labour force to construct partitioning for the formation of consultation rooms, dispensaries and storage areas at the Lea Toto clinics; helping with painting and decorating and other maintenance tasks in Karen; and work in February 2007 at Kitui Village, making ready the health centre and, prior to its official opening, the police station. Amongst the professions represented by party members have been nurses, pharmacists, a special-needs teacher, a nursery nurse, an accountant and a builder, all of whom have used their skills to the benefit of Nyumbani, along with retired executives and a police officer. No matter what the skills, both specialists and generalists have thoroughly enjoyed the work and have found it highly rewarding.

We have taken out funds with us on each occasion and, under careful direction from Nyumbani, we have been able to spend most of the money during our stays to provide a wide variety of items from the ‘wish list’ we were given. Amongst the items purchased have been water storage tanks, medical and laboratory equipment, school books, play equipment, tools and materials for construction, and items for equipping a number of houses at Kitui.

We have formed links with two of Nairobi’s Rotary Clubs with a view to purchasing items of greater capital cost through a ‘matching grant’ system which is available from Rotary’s international charity, the Rotary Foundation. Plans at the moment include the purchase of a 4x4 vehicle, solar energy equipment, solar powered lighting for Kitui, and in the provision of fresh water from bore-holes.

Over these last three years we have witnessed enormous changes within Nyumbani, with a massive increase in the Lea Toto workload, the opening of Kitui Village, and the construction of houses for adolescents at Karen. What hasn’t changed is the obvious dedication and professionalism of the people who work so hard all-year round at Nyumbani and the love that they shower on the delicate lives under their care.

I cannot wait to get back to Kenya.

20/01/2004
Mercy Ships
Reading Rotarians helped the Mercy Ship MS ANASTASIS.

Following an impressive and moving presentation about the Mercy Ships at a Rotary District Conference last May 3 members of the Rotary Club of Reading travelled to Freetown, Sierra Leone in January spending 10 days helping Mercy Ships bringing practical support to many disadvantaged people on the African continent. During the trip these Rotarians assisted with a broad range of general duties in support of the trained medical teams, all of whom are also volunteers, and helped in the refurbishment of a Leonard Cheshire home for children with polio.
The concert by the Berks Bucks and Oxon Big Band helped to raise funding.