Helping the Congo Children’s Trust and their project Kimbilio in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo means much to our club and we’re delighted to be able to continue the support by adding to the container of goods which the CCT are arranging to be shipped to DRC in March.

Sadly this is not the best photo but within the boxes and bubble-wrap are 9 computers, with keyboards, mice and cables, all ready to be delivererd to the Congo Children’s Trust office in Manchester.

Plus, following an amazing donation by the current club President John Hollingswort’s accountancy company, Hollingsworth and Co, are   9–good as new monitors.

This will mean a huge amount to many.

All of the equipment is heading to a small village outside Lubumbashi called Luowoshi. It is a much deprived rural area where CCT opened and run a primary school.

Currently in construction next door is a vocational centre which when completed will offer training to youngsters of the area and graduates of the school to help with employment.

It’s an exceptional project.

For more infomation on the Congo Children’s Trust, click HERE

Our Grant Giving Committee is pleased to be have been able to support an application from the Kanyama Self-help Clinic in Lusaka, Zambia, (about 250m from the school where we also are very active) for protective and safety equipment for the team of volunteers who help in this compound clinic.  The rain season makes life even more difficult than it is ordinarily. Vulnerable people cannot get to the clinic and volunteers cannot get around easily. Trudging through water up to a foot deep is commonplace.  

So…. A note of thanks from the deputy manager at the clinic;

Ladies and gentlemen.

On behalf of the management, staff and volunteers of the Kanyama Self-help Clinic, I’d like to take this opportunity to express our sincere and heartfelt gratitude for the kind gesture that you have made which comes at a critical time.

By providing safety equipment and protective clothing, this allows the volunteers to continue their work in the community under very challenging conditions.

The equipment you have supplied as with not only protects the volunteers from harsh weather conditions but also greatly enhances their safety and comfort.

We truly appreciate your organisation and its commitment for supporting our volunteers in this way.

Your generosity demonstrates a strong spirit of partnership and our volunteers are truly grateful.

For the donors who provided the support we thank you for standing with us and for investing in the people that make this work possible.

We are deeply grateful to you for your support and we hope that our partnership will continue to grow from strength to strength.

We thank you so much.  

Christine Jere, Deputy Centre Manager, Kanyama Self Help Clinic, Kanyama, Lusaka, Zambia.

L-R District Governor Cressida Dickens, Rotaract President David Nduaku, RC Wolverhampton advisor and liaison Rotarian, Matilda Chongwa.

It was a superb occasion with a packed attendance when the 29 founder members of the newly formed Rotaract Club of The University of Wolverhampton received their charter from District Governor Cressida Dickens and their induction by the President of the sponsoring Rotary club, The City of Wolverhampton John Hollingsworth, assisted by the advisor and liaison Rotarian, Matilda Chongwa. The charter had been signed by the President of Rotary International, Francesco Arezzo. 

The event began when emcee Past District Governor Richard Green introduced former Young Musician Competition winner Ella Morgan, her accompanist Brenda Arnold and Rotarian Robyn Davies MBE who entertained everybody with superb songs and a keyboard performance. 

Rotaract Club of The University of Wolverhampton with the PDG Richard Green RC Wolverhampton President John Hollingsworth and the Mayor of Wolverhampton, Councillor Craig Collingswood

Not to be outdone, 5 of the Rotaractors followed by singing ‘Sweet Lovers Love the Spring’ as if to highlight the beginning of a new era for Rotary in the area, and between the verses they each cleverly spoke in differing ways about their commitment to Service above Self and co-operation with local Rotary clubs. This commitment has already been demonstrated by the Rotaractors helping those local clubs with their Santa Sleighs over the recent Christmas period. They plan to serve as stewards at forthcoming Rotary youth competitions. 

Mayor Councillor Craig Collingswood in welcoming them to the city said “In joining he worldwide fellowship of Rotary you are becoming members of a great community service organisation and I am sure that you will be playing your part in supporting individuals and groups less fortunate than ourselves.”

The Club Officers. L-R Mahnaz khalafehnilsaz. Treasurer Prince-Will Adaise. Secretary Adeyemi Adebayo Membership Chair David U Ndukaku President of the Rotaract Club of the University of Wolverhampton. John Hollingsworth. President of the Rotary Club of the City of Wolverhampton. Rose Osarobey. Event Cordinator Amarachi Idika Welfare Coordinator

As he accepted the charter, incoming Rotaract President David Nduaku said “we hope to honour your investment by making a lasting, positive impact in the area, working in close partnership with our patron, the Rotary Club of The City of Wolverhampton.”

Once again, Rotarians and friends showed their support for communities in difficult areas, where a gift from far away means a great deal.

The donations that were made enabled two Christmas fun-days to take place- firstly in Zambia, and secondly in the DRC, and then the providing of Shoeboxes which will be sent to Romania, Moldova and hopefully Ukraine also.

Firstly- Kanyama Free Baptist Community School, Lusaka Zambia, and a thank you note from the Headteacher;

Hello,

As Free Baptist Community School, we want to shout out a huge thank you to our incredible donors! Thanks to your generosity, our community school hosted an unforgettable fun day!  Our children shone bright, performing poems, dances, and songs in front of friends and family. And to top it off, they enjoyed yummy treats like drinks, bananas, sweets, and snacks. The smiles on their faces said it all.  Your support brings joy and opportunities to these young stars. We’re so grateful for your kindness. You’ve made a real difference in our school community.

Thank you again for helping make it happen!”

Beston Chilemalema, Headteacher, Kanyama Free Baptist Community School

And secondly;

Kimbilio Primary School, Luowashi, Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo

From the Kimbilio Director at the school- Carine Bahati Nono;

Hello Dear friends.

The Kimbilio’s children, the students and the teachers really appreciated your generosity again for help at this special time.

It has been a culture for us to received gifts for Christmas because of your kindness.  May God bless you for everything you are doing for us. For most of the children, it has been their first time to received presents since they have been learning at Kimbilio’s school.

We managed to organised the presence of a Father Christmas, one of the Kimbilio’s children did that. And after games with singing and dancing, distributed to each child a package of sweets, biscuits and juice.

Thank you from our hearts.

Carine Bahati Nono,

Kimbilio Director, Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo.

Shoeboxes.

Donations made it possible for us to spend just over £850 at Poundland and Aldi, which made approximately 123 boxes. With notable contributions of boxes from the Morgan packaging plant at Wedges Mills, and also their Compton division (Sylvia and Derek’s daughter Penny and granddaughter Ella) which between them produced 70 boxes

Our friends at Bethel Christian Fellowship Church in West Bromwich this year filled 45 boxes and made cash donations of £255 enabling a further 40 boxes to be completed- a grand total of 85 boxes!

Rotarian Julie Hickman and family once again filled an incredible 30 boxes also which brings our total this year to 308 boxes.

Wonderful.

Thank you so much to everyone who contributed.

48,000 children require emergency care every year in the UK.

Under the skilful leadership of Rotarian John Wilson of the Rugeley club, we are keen supporters of The Buddy Bag scheme. A Buddy Bag is a backpack that contains essential items such as toiletries, pyjamas, socks and underwear and, most important of all a delightful teddy bear. The Buddy Bag comes into use when children have to enter emergency care, often as a result of domestic violence and it provides something the children can call their own, no matter where they go.

We arranged for 30 children at The Way Youth Zone to take part in a bag pack with the contents sponsored by the Wolverhampton club. The youngsters set about the task of packing with great enthusiasm and interest, especially when John asked them to ‘give the teddy bear a hug of love that will be felt by the child who opens the bag!’

Tyrone Johnson, philanthropy manager at The Way says “Watching our young people pack Buddy Bags was truly inspiring. They understood that these bags might be the only belongings a child has during such a frightening time. Knowing they could make that transition a little easier for someone their own age filled them with pride and compassion. It was a powerful reminder that kindness can change lives.”

Further information about Buddy Bags can be found at www.buddybagfoundation.co.uk

The Rotary Club of the City of Wolverhampton has been organising the Tree of Remembrance since Christmas 2004; over £130,000 has been raised for good cause while, at the same time, providing people the opportunity to remember lost loved ones in their Christmas celebrations.

The official opening took place at 1.00pm on Saturday 15th November. At the opening ceremony, the Wulfrun Ladies Choir performed, delighting the shoppers with many wonderful songs. Announcing the opening of the Tree of Remembrance, the Mayor of Wolverhampton Cllr Craig Collingswood praised the work of Rotarians in the community, noting the benefits they bring to so many people.

For a minimum £5.00 donation the name of your loved ones and a short message (10 words max) will appear in display cabinets in the memorial area in the Wulfrun Shopping Centre. Wolverhampton Express & Star will regularly publish the latest names and messages in the newspaper during the weeks leading up to Christmas.

The 4 good causes benefitting this year are Compton Care which supports people living with incurable medical conditions, Wolverhampton MS Therapy Centre, which offers therapies for people with long term medical conditions, Sponsored Breaks CIC which provides free respite campervan breaks for families from military and emergency services backgrounds and the Rotary Club of Wolverhampton Charitable Trust which funds local and international good causes.

Rotarian, Lorraine McCarthy explained “we have just started and thanks to generous donations from James Beattie Charitable Trust, Muras Baker Jones Chartered Accountants and local people we have already raised £3,161 for these good causes. This is such a rewarding thing to get involved with and has become part of many peoples Christmas tradition”. 

Photo shows the Mayor with Tree of Remembrance Chair Lorraine McCarthy, Rotarian Richard Horrell and 2 members of the newly formed University of Wolverhampton Rotaract Club Rose Osarobe and Mercy Ann Ndukaku.

October 24th is World Polio Day and for the 10th year running the Rotary Club of The City of Wolverhampton planted 4000 purple crocus bulbs in Bantock Park. The Mayor Councillor Craig Collingswood, MP Warinder Juss, and children from Pine Green Academy, Merridale Primary and Low Hill Infants schools and other community volunteer groups gave us great support. By purchasing the bulbs we have contributed to Rotary International’s campaign to eliminate polio, and the planting helps to raise public awareness by coverage on social media and in the press. The purple crocus is the campaign emblem.

The children had great fun stamping down the turf after the Rotarians and volunteers had lifted the turf!

40 years ago Rotary International embarked on a campaign to eliminate the scourge of polio from the world. We formed a partnership with the Gates Foundation and the World Health Organisation. The Gates Foundation donates $2US for every $1 we raise to purchase the vaccines and to fund the infrastructure as we continue to vaccinate children in the third world.

When the campaign started, there were 1000 new cases of polio every day in every country in the world. As a result of the campaign, India and Africa have now been declared polio free and this year to date there have only been 30 new cases in Pakistan; we are aware that there are a low number of new cases in Aghanistan, but Rotary and its partners are determined to carry on until the disease is eliminated completely. Details of the campaign can be found at the Rotary EndPolio websites.

Photographs by Carol Bailey Photography. Consent to publish the children’s photos obtained.

PDG Richard Green