Centenary of Service

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Fellow Rotarians and Rotaractors,

I am honored to welcome you to the new Rotary year. My own Rotary journey began in 2012 when my friend, Duncan, invited me to join this incredible organization. Since then, it has been an exhilarating journey filled with impactful projects, inspiring leaders, and a resilient community. Today, as we celebrate a once-in-a-lifetime milestone – 100 years of Rotary service in Africa – I am filled with immense pride and excitement.

This year, our district theme is “100 Years of Service in Africa,” inspired by a century of dedication and service to our communities. This theme aligns perfectly with the Rotary International theme for the year, “Magic of Rotary,” introduced by our RI President. As Rotarians, we hold the power to create magic in our communities through every project completed, every dollar donated, and every new member inducted.

To commemorate this significant milestone, I call upon all members to join in the district activities planned for this year. The first of these activities is launching today: a centenary project to revamp Pumwani Hospital, the largest maternal hospital in Kenya. This project is a monumental undertaking, and its timing is perfect as July is Rotary’s Maternal and Child Health Month. Through this project, we will make a lasting impact on maternal and child health in our community.

Additionally, we will have an exciting centenary conference in May 2025 to crown the year, marking 100 years since the first District conference was held in 1925. This event will be a celebration of our achievements, a reflection on our journey, and a vision for our future.

Our goals and objectives for the year are ambitious yet achievable:

Ending Polio: We remain committed to eradicating polio worldwide, supporting all efforts to achieve this monumental task.
Utilizing the Rotary Action Plan: We will champion change and innovation in our clubs, prioritizing the strengthening of our practices and embracing new ideas.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: We aim to ensure every member feels a sense of belonging, recognizing and accepting all members.
Public Image and Storytelling: Enhancing our storytelling initiatives for key projects and partnering with media to increase visibility.
Peace-Building Programs: Supporting peace-building initiatives and leveraging our 18,000 peace fellows.
Membership Growth: Innovating to attract diverse members, increasing participation, and expanding our regional presence.
Fundraising for the Foundation: Striving for all clubs to be giving clubs, with increased contributions to the foundation.
Impacting Communities: Coordinating efforts through a multi-focused committee to drive impactful projects within our seven areas of focus.

Let us intertwine our Rotary initiatives with the realization that every project, donation, and new member is a seed planted for a future where Rotary’s impact will be felt for generations to come. As we celebrate this important milestone in our District’s history, remember that the responsibility of Rotary is ours. Take pride in the decisions you make and the actions you take, for they will determine the course of Rotary for us all.