On January 11, 2009, Rotarian Derek Key, from the Rotary Club of Summerside, Prince Edward Island, Canada (District 7820) invited me to be part of a team of Rotarians invited to return to Nigeria (Rotary District 9110) to view projects funded by Rotary Clubs in District 7820 (mostly Atlantic Canada).
He cautions that Nigeria is not a nice place - it is one of the poorest countries in the world with no clean water. The Canadian government has had a Travel Advisory in place for 10 years suggest you not travel there. It is described quite accurately as "The Ten Worst Places in the World". Recently, there have been armed attacks on the main road leading from the International Airport.
Derek says this is not a place which we will be anxious to return. Our eyes will be open to what it means to be poor. Not the poor described in our communities but so desperately poor that their children literally die in their arms because there is no health care, no food, no clean water and no supports of any kind.
Yet we will meet some of the kindest, most generous folks imaginable, who work in these conditions every day of their lives. It is a place where we have been able to make a significant difference because of the commitment and generosity of Rotary Clubs in Atlantic Canada.
Four years ago, Derek was the Rotary Team Leader for a group of four, up and coming people in their fields, to travel on a Rotary Group Study Exchange (GSE) to Nigeria. The Rotary Foundation sponsors GSE as an opportunity for people between 25 and 40 to travel to another country from 4 to 6 weeks to live with Rotarians, experience the culture and environment as well as gain an understanding of similar work in that country.
While in Nigeria, Derek and his team encountered places where clean water, medical supplies and good educational materials were sadly lacking. They committed to raise funds to have wells drilled.
Since Derek's GSE team returned to Canada, Rotarians in District 7820 raised sufficient funds to build several wells to serve as few as 500 residents and as many as 20,000. Rotary has provided the needed resources to put books in schools, sickle cell clinics in local neighbourhoods, and a hot of other projects identified by local Rotary Clubs in Nigeria. In all, literally thousands have enjoyed the benefits.
In addition, District 7820 has delivered three containers of medical equipment and supplies to Nigeria.to provide water to funds were raised, wells drilled, medical and educational supplies were sent to Nigeria. Derek wants to return to Nigeria to see what difference these projects have made and to determine if there are other worthwhile projects we can attempt to secure cooperation and funds to begin.
In 2008, I participated in a Rotary project in a small village in India. A marvellous experience that showed me how many hands can make a significant difference. Read more about that project at
http://Rotary-district7820.blogspot.com
