BRIGHTER days

I’m writing this article as cows moo in the background and heavy rain threaten to blow off our roofing.

An invisible enemy is stressing our public health system; ruining economy systems and plans and threatening every single bit of our social construct.

Never in the past half-decade have I not attended a single Rotaract event for a whole month. Should all have gone according to plan, the first week of April should have been District 9212’s Conference and Assembly in Nairobi, Kenya while the last week would have been District 9211’s Conference and Assembly in Mbarara, Uganda. The Easter weekend would have found Rotaractors from across East Africa in Nanyuki, Kenya.

Many social events have been cancelled while a few postponed indefinitely. Needless to mention, economic activities and individual livelihoods have been disrupted. Gladly, within our Rotaract District 9212 circles, while we have had a few Rotaractors mandatory quarantined because of potential exposure to the virus; all of us have so far been reported free from COVID-19.

Over the past month and a half, I’ve moved from denial of the occurrences to acceptance of the new norm. We’re in an inevitable circumstance to re-think self; re-think our circles; our social life; our non-economic and economic skills. Beyond self, re-imagine our public health; our economic and even political systems. Though the default emotion is fear; I choose HOPE.

“The Chinese use two brush strokes to write the word “crisis”. One brush stroke for danger, the other for opportunity. In a crisis, be aware of the danger – but recognize the opportunity” ~ President John F. Kennedy.

What opportunity do we have as Rotaract? How shall we grow our impact; expand our reach and increase member’s engagement like never before? How do we increase our agility – ability to adapt? This is the discussion, you & I want to engage in. When conference facilitators ask such question; they are quick to add that there are no right or wrong answers: – all ideas are born equal.

We’ve learnt that we don’t have to grieve through traffic every week to attend our club’s fellowship – we can do so while in the office or at home. Recently, 100 individuals joined the Rotaract Club of Lang’ata as they hosted a discussion with panelists seated half-way across the world. International service has been made a lot easier: on two consecutive April Friday evenings while sited in Nyeri, I attended the fellowships of the Rotary Club of Kampala Metropolitan, Uganda. Infact, I have attended several district committee meetings as I shepherd the cows at home.

We’ve learnt that human interaction is rather essential. While online meetings have eased logistics; they aren’t and shouldn’t be a substitute of in-person interaction. I honestly miss my club’s committee meeting at our local along Moi Avenue; the Rotaract Club of Nairobi East’s swallow ships at a joint off Uhuru Highway and road trips to Rongai for mutura after club fellowships. I really miss to show up at a club board installation while dressed up in anything except the described dress code. Brighter days are coming, and SAA’s sessions shall be friendlier.

We’ve learnt that annual training that cost us a fortune and sleepless nights because of logistics could be replaced by frequent online webinars. This shall translate to training and re-training of more club board directors and members while avoiding logistical costs. The re-invention of conferences, whether physical or virtual, shall be an insightful unfolding.

We’ve been reminded that to scale our impact, well nurtured partnerships are essential. To increase our impact as Rotarians and Rotaractors against COVID-19, our district leadership has partnered with local administrations; corporates including Prime Bank & Elgon Kenya; institutions such as Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) & National Business Compact; community-based initiatives including SHOFCO & Ghetto Classics among others. Our clubs are NOT working in isolation; but rather pulling together to benefit from a wider reach of skills, networks and resources.

Now more than ever we ought to: shed habits that were limiting us; learn new ways and engineer a future that brings out the best and most noble in each of us. I’m optimistic that in the new norm Rotaract and Rotary shall truly thrive uniting millions of people who take action to create lasting change across the globe; in our communities and in ourselves.

Let’s listen to ‘Brighter Days’ by Sauti Sol, shall we? Click HERE.