Let’s End Polio Now

Dear Rotary Family,

With heavy hearts, we begin this month’s message mourning the loss of a beloved member of our Rotary family, Rotarian Sidy. Her life was a testament to the very essence of Rotary – service, dedication, and selflessness. Sidy served Rotary both as Kenya country office administrator and as a past president of the Rotary Club of Syokimau, embodying the spirit of “Service Above Self” in every sense. We were all honored to know her and to witness her unwavering commitment to our shared cause. May her soul find eternal peace. Amen.

*Rest In Peace* *Rotarian PP Sidy Nduta*

As we remember Sidy and reflect on the profound impact one person can make, we embark on a new month dedicated to the critical issues of Economic and Community Empowerment.

Economic and Community Empowerment: The challenges faced by our continent are significant. According to the Economic Commission for Africa, many African countries are grappling with slower economic growth and high inflation. These economic hardships have made it exceedingly difficult for these nations to achieve their development goals. Shockingly, as we speak, 546 million people in Africa are living in poverty. This harsh reality underscores the urgency of our mission.

Rotary believes in empowering individuals and communities to break free from the shackles of poverty. Our collective goal is to create measurable and enduring economic improvements. We aim to do this by supporting communities, fostering productive work opportunities, and ultimately reducing poverty in underserved areas through bigger more impactful projects.

World Polio Day – Taking Action: While our focus this month is on economic empowerment, we must also honor our steadfast commitment to ending polio. As we commemorate World Polio Day, this month on October 24 we are called upon to renew our efforts to put and end to polio once and for all. We are this close! Take time with you club members and clusters to End Polio Now by:

Donate Your Time: Join hands with the Ministry of Health in the vital work of polio vaccination during the Supplementary Immunization Activities (SIA) or regular partnerships with hospitals.
Donate to the Polio Fund: Financial contributions, whether large or small, make a significant impact. Remember, all donations are matched 2:1 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, tripling your impact.
Donate Your Voice: Spread the message about the End Polio Now fight. Advocate for the eradication of this crippling disease.

DG-PHF Matching Offer: My DG-PHF Matching offer continues until the end of this month, October 31, 2023. Those who are prepared to become Paul Harris Fellows by contributing USD 500 will have their commitment matched by me. This initiative is instrumental in raising funds for the Rotary Foundation. Our goal is to raise $500,000 for TRF. Please continue giving through our Jenga Foundation portal *835*90# .

Register for Magical Watamu District Conference: Don’t forget to register for the upcoming Magical Watamu District conference that will be held in Watamu, Kenya from the 25-28th April 2024. Register here: https://dca2024.rotary9212.org/ .