The handmade blanket

Words and photo: Patricia Cooper, Rotary Club of Mount Victoria, in Wellington, NZ

 

On a warm Wellington Monday morning in New Zealand, I opened a box marked “House 16”.  I was unprepared for what I saw; the item that caught my eye was a hand crochet woollen blanket tied up by a lace ribbon with the word “Welcome” attached to the bow.

It is moments like this that pull at the heart strings and what a wonderful gift for a refugee family settling in Wellington.

I was part of a group of people opening and checking boxes of household items for a refugee family settling in Wellington.  In the boxes being opened and checked were all the items needed to set up a household.

The call went out from the Catholic and Anglican Diocese of Wellington to parishes to please supply enough household items for 25 households.  Also requested were pantry items and housing warming gifts. Among the house warming gifts were TV, microwaves, vacuum cleaners and telephones

The response has been overwhelming, with many more items received than needed. All of these extra items will be stored for the next intake of refugee in a couple of months.

Of course planning for all this started many months ago and it’s not just about the setting up the households; there are work experience, confidence with driving and English lessons to be worked through.

Last year, I invited the Archdeacon of Wellington Father Stephen King to visit our Rotary Club of Mount Victoria to talk to us about how Rotary could help with this enormous project. Father Stephen suggested providing work experience for the refugees would be a great way for Rotarians could help.  Our club has already offered work experience for some refugees. 

If you can help with any of the opportunities mentioned, please contact Archdeacon Stephen King on + 64 272 100 780 or email stephenk@top.net.nz

Kapiti’s debate leads change for greater diversity

(L-R): John McBeth, Rotary Club of Wellington President Kerry Prendergast, Rotary Club of Kapiti President Roger Sowry, District 9940 Governor Simon Manning, Louise Nelson, Anna Guenther and Liz Koh who is Kapiti Coast Chamber of Commerce Chair and Rotary Club of Kapiti Immediate Past President (at the podium)

 

Words and photos: Hannah Delaney, PR Communications Manager, Kapiti Coast Chamber of Commerce

 

International Women’s Day on March 8 was widely celebrated in New Zealand, but in case you missed it, pencil Kapiti’s event in your diary for next year.

 

The “Is it in the Genes?” debate, jointly hosted by The Kapiti Rotary Club and The Kapiti Coast Chamber of Commerce is likely to be an annual celebration with over 200 attendees at the celebrity event - not only successfully raising awareness of the issue - but also $1000 for Kapiti Youth Support!

 

Guest speakers included: former Wellington mayor and Rotary Club of Wellington President Kerry Prendergast; CEO & founder of PledgeMe Anna Guenther; Royal NZ Air Force Helicopter Crewman & former Miss Manawatu Louise Nelson; former MP and politician and Rotary Club of Kapiti President Roger Sowry; Rotary District 9940 Governor Simon Manning; and sports commentator John McBeth.

 

Event MC Wallace Chapman of Radio New Zealand National, set the debate tone that ranged from Simon’s discussion on New Zealand Rotary and the need for greater diversity in an organisation that has been known for the phrase “male, pale and stale”, to the difference between male and female thinking with Louise’s demonstration of her initiative to use a trolley to transport 52kgs of Army equipment - as opposed to carrying it over her shoulder like her male counterparts!

 

Voicing her corporate experience, Anna ended the debate with impact, in her brilliant point about climbing the corporate ladder, which was met by a round of applause from the audience.  “We also need to be supporting women through the ranks and supporting them as they go up the ladder… and actually, let dudes climb down that ladder if they want to as well. Heck! Let's change the ladder!”

 

Stories and tales that all concluded one thing: we have come far in society, but there is still a way to go.

 

For those who missed it, make sure you save the date for next year, because if this year’s event was anything to go by, you won’t want to miss it!

Check the photos of the event on The Kapiti Coast Chamber of Commerce’s Facebook page.  

Girls’ Sheds Tour

”Sheddie” Marilyn Bulford with her amazing “Girl’s Shed” collection admired by Takaro Rotarian Gillian Craven

As the 2015-2016 Rotary year began, the Rotary Club of Takaro, NZ was looking for a new project to reignite the club, and after some brainstorming, the “Girls’ Sheds” project was born. Fortunately the club had some experience with this type of event, having held “Garden Tour” and “Man Cave” projects several years before. 

 

The Rotary club first developed a talent pool of member’s skills to help identify gaps and then found people with the needed skills to enhance the project team.  Tasks were allocated and time frames set for completion. It quickly became clear that the club was onto something great, so the excitement grew and a launch date of Valentine’s Day was chosen. 

Club members were able to cover most functions using their wide pool of skills, including extensive promotion on social media using a regularly updated Facebook event page and Eventfinder, plus posters throughout the community, all supported by an advertising campaign on radio and in newspapers.

21 Girls’ Sheds on 15 sites around Palmerston North participated in the project and each also donated items for the raffle. 

 

On Saturday February 14 the weather was perfect. Each of the 260 ticket holders met at the community hall and picked up a map and a guide for the day and viewed a PowerPoint presentation with photos of the sites, so guests could choose which ones they were most keen to explore and maybe buy some of the products on sale there.  Raffles tickets were purchased, picnic lunches collected and the tour began to see what the “girls of Palmy” and surrounding areas are doing in their special spaces.

 

The $860 ticket sales for the donated raffle covered the day’s costs, including lunches. 

Two Rotarians were assigned to each site to act as guides and security for the “Sheddies”. The guests found out about what local women do in their sheds and were amazed at the variety creativity and talent on display, including doll making, garden art, glass, cheese making, soap making, jewellery, quilting plus other interesting ventures. 

The overall outcome was a sensational and fun day for everyone involved, as illustrated by the feedback received:

·       “Sheddie” exhibitor Julie Nolan said, “What a great day ... hanging out with Carla, Suzi and Kea telling people about sculpting and how therapeutic and fulfilling it is. Thanks Rotary for an awesome event.”

 

·       Guest Julie Smart said, “A fantastic day thank you.  We had so much fun and a lot of laughs. Loved the hospitality, the friendly Rotary welcome and the privilege of seeing some of the talents in the various sheds and some gorgeous gardens. Thank you.”

 

·       President Elect Heather Browning commented, “There are so many positive things that happened. Friends getting together for a day of fun to head out on a mystery tour to see what girls do in their sheds, Takaro Rotarians working so well together to ensure the day was a success, and our wonderful "Sheddies" volunteering their time and their sheds to make this day the awesome experience it was for everyone. But the best thing about the Girls’ Sheds Tour was that we achieved what we set out to do. Together we have raised more than $7000 for youth projects in Takaro! Thank you everyone for your support and participation.”

 

To conclude this project, Rotary invited all of the “Sheddies” to a club night and presented each of them with a framed thank you certificate from Takaro Rotary. 

 

Being Gifts to the World

Porirua Mayor Nick Leggett with Holy Family School students Melerita McGaughey and Susan Tuipe’a

In a first for Porirua City two pint-sized future leaders from all 32 primary schools in the city were given a boost with awards for leadership. The two Rotary Clubs of Plimmerton and Porirua, NZ, together with Porirua City Council, recognised 64 Porirua primary school children who have shown leadership, served others and acted as role models.

The awards were presented at a special function on September 21, 2015 at Pataka Museum. Besides the award recipients, a large number of parents, principals, teachers and family were present, along with many of the prefects from Porirua City’s colleges, plus most Porirua City Councillors and senior Council staff.

Councillor Izzy Ford said it was appropriate that Mayor Nick Leggett present the awards, as he was Porirua’s youngest ever Mayor. The Mayor assured all awardees that the City was immensely proud of their achievements in the 50^th Anniversary year of the formation of Porirua City, the year in which Porirua City Council had made children one of its strategic priorities.

“I am proud and honoured to present these young people with awards for the leadership they’ve shown. Our children are citizens every bit as much as adults and this group demonstrate the contribution they are already making. During our 50^th year, we have been honouring the achievements of our community leaders, but today is very special because today we are honouring our community builders of the future. We acknowledge and thank you for helping your peers, displaying leadership skills and being active in your schools and your communities.”

NZ Government Minister of Education Hekia Parata said the calibre and character of the students was impressive. “As exemplified by the leaders receiving awards this year, the depth of talent and achievement among young people in Porirua is outstanding,” she said. “Porirua is not short of future leaders, thanks to the hard work of teachers, principals, parents and the young people themselves. Congratulations to all the leaders who have been put forward by their schools for this Award.”

Mana Minister of Parliament Kris Faafoi said the awards showed that Porirua had an exciting future ahead of it with so many impressive young people. "It's great to see our future leaders encouraged and recognised as part of the 50^th celebrations,” he said. “When our city turns 100, many of them will have done an enormous amount for the city. When we think of it in those terms it's wonderful that we are building on their natural leadership ability."

After receiving their certificates to enthusiastic applause, each pair of award winners had their photo taken with the Mayor in his full mayoral regalia, and all were clearly thrilled by the occasion. An address was then given by Liam Dalton, Academic Prefect at Aotea College.

Liam explained to award winners that a good way to make progress in life was to learn how to hold a conversation with someone new, to listen, to smile, and ask questions. Liam told his young audience that achieving good grades at school was not the complete answer to being successful. “School is not the only place you learn. Step out of your comfort zone and try new things. Make the most of every opportunity, and be the change you want to see in the world. Each one of you is an extraordinary human being”. 

Words: Wendy Betteridge, Rotary Club of Plimmerton, NZ

Photos: Luke Pilkinton-Ching, Vision Web Design

Chance in a million for Cambodian student

 

Cambodian student Sok Vanda

The Rotary Club of Plimmerton, NZ is providing financial support for a female student to undergo a 4 year undergraduate course at Svey Rieng University in Cambodia. The scholarship is a new scheme started as the brain-child of a New Zealander, Bill Shields, who is a resident teacher/adviser at the university and the first foreigner employed there. Like many community schemes, it has grown from his personal contact with Rotarians.

Svay Rieng is a poor rural part of Cambodia in the south-east of the country near the border with Vietnam at Bavet. It is not a tourist area, so there are very few foreigners there. The university was built in 2005 and opened in 2006 thanks to donations from wealthy families who have connections with the province. The aim of the university is to provide affordable education for the young people of the province.

The Khmer Rouge took control of Cambodia in 1975 and remained in control until 1979. During that time, over 2 million were killed, including academics and people who looked like academics. The education system was destroyed with schools converted into pig sties and prisons. From 1980 until the mid-1990s, there was a period of civil war while various factions fought for control. This ended with Hun Sen taking control and he remains in power now. With some stability, the slow rebuild of the education system has begun.

While change is starting to take place in the large cities, in the poor rural areas the value of a young woman is her virginity, so she can be sold into marriage. This is done to get money to feed the rest of the family, or in some cases, to send a son to university. Young women who lose their virginity, either through rape or pre-marital sex, are often discarded or put out into the streets. Some are then rescued by the Cambodian Centre for the Protection of Children’s Rights (CCPCR) and are provided with shelter, food and basic education. Some of these girls end up with CCPCR as young as four after being raped by someone within their own family. Most end up in poor paying factory work, so they do not get the opportunity of a university education.

The purpose of this scheme is to bring these young women and Svay Rieng University together, through the provision of scholarships, which will enable them to get a university education and then be role models for others. The selection process is focussed on disadvantaged young women who have the ability to be successful in their study. Study priority areas are English, Business Studies and Information Technology. These young women have a strong positive outlook and this scheme will provide an incentive for them to study hard to try and obtain a scholarship.

The first student to be selected is a young woman called Sok Vanda, who comes from a poor family. Her parents are manual workers. She has one brother and three sisters and they live at Ta Pov village. In Cambodia, the family name goes first, so her first name is Vanda and Sok is her family name.

It is hoped that this will be just the start and others will also see the value of the scholarship scheme and offer their support too. If any clubs wish to know more, please contact Rotary Club of Plimmerton http://plimmertonrotary.org.nz President Adrienne Murray via amconsultingnz@gmail.com or +64 27 439 6418.   It only needs a few hundred dollars a year to give a whole generation a bright new future.

 Words and photos: Wendy Betteridge, Rotary Club of Plimmerton, NZ