News from the Foundation/International Committee.

At the end of the Rotary year, we had a small sum left in our budget spending allocation. The committee decided to add to our investments in the Lend With Care scheme, managed on our behalf by Richard Walton. This provides small sums on a revolving

loan basis for people in Third World Countries to set up and run their own minor businesses.

Currently we have 112 loans in action, with no bad debts. This has enabled us to help 313 individual or groups of entrepeneurs, leading to the support of 1077 family members and the creation of 188 jobs.

A typical recipient amongst several in the latest set of loans is 57 year old Blanca Oliva Chamba, shown in the photogra

ph who lives in Loja, Southern Ecuador. She was taught farming by her father and now grows lettuce, cabbage, coriander, onions, lemons and parsnip, earning her living by selling the produce locally. She has already repaid one loan in full and wishes to expand her business.

Richard Green

For more information, please see

www.wolverhamptonyoungcitizen.org.uk.

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Nursing staff at The Gem Centre, Wolverhampton modelling the new visors provided by The Rotary Club of Wolverhampton. Happy to help the pride of Britain 🇬🇧

Rotary Supporting Front Line Heroes in the fight against Covid 19.

Photo taken with Hayey Powell at The Haven office, not one the refuges.

Thanks to a project co-ordinated by David Marklew of the Cannock Rotary club, Rotarians across District 1210 have, to date, purchased, donated, and delivered 12,000 visors for use by NHS and Care Home staff, and volunteers in refuges throughout Staffordshire, Shropshire and The West Midlands.

The visors are being made for us, at cost, by Kazoo Print Solutions.

in Cannock,and all 5 clubs have supported the project, with visors going to New Cross and Penn Hospitals, numerous Care Homes, the Good Shepherd Ministry for the Homeless and The Haven Refuge for the vicitms of domestic violence, as they cope with a huge upsirge in new cases.

More visors are on the way.

PDg Richard Green

L-R.Dr Sudhir Handa, Julie Hickman, President Richard Horrell, David Hill M.B.E. and District Governor Brian Reilly

Jerry Hobbs was master of ceremonies for a historic induction of three new members to the Club. Julie Hickman was recruited by Mel Eves, was among other roles a former Head of Homeless Services for Sandwell and is now Project Manager for the conversion of the former Carillion building on the ring road. Sylvia Morgan introduced David Hill MBE who was in Steel  and also fully engaged in the T.A. with the rank of Colonel. He was awarded his MBE in connection with his work for the Armed Forces Charity SSAFA. Kewal’s old friend and fellow GP Sudhir Handa came from Kenya when he was 16, studied medicine at Edinburgh and has  special interests in ENT and medical politics. DG Brian Reilly said a few words of greetings including the encouragement to ‘have fun and do good’. Jerry in his emerging role of ‘general factotum and jack of all trades’ promised more members and change to come. Watch this space!

PP. Stuart Williams

Young citizens get to meet Wolves heroes

Three teenagers had some help from Wolverhampton Wanderers players in preparation for the kick-off of this year’s search for the Young Citizen of the Year.

Samuel Iyawe, 15, who won the 2019 award, was joined by last year’s finalists Melvin Riley, 18 and Jude Aston, 15, at Wolves’ training base at Compton Park. Chris Thompson from Tettenhall Rotary Club was also present, representing the city’s Rotarians who organise the prestigious awards.

Samuel, who has grown up in the care system, was named Young Citizen of the Year in 2019 in recognition of being a voice for young people in the city and trying to improve the lives of others while working with the Children in Care Council and the City of Wolverhampton Youth Council. He is extremely passionate about combatting knife crime.

During the meet-and-greet, the youngsters got the chance

Wolves winger Adama Traore meets Wolverhampton Young Citizen of the Year 2019 Samuel Iyawe (back right), along with Melvin Riley and Jude Aston, who were both highly commended last year.

to tell Wolves players Adama Traore, Max Kilman, Diogo Jota, Bruno Jordao and Benny Ashley-Seal of their community efforts which saw them nominated for the award. It was also their chance to ask the players about their successes this year, with Wolves flying high in the Premier League and heading towards the latter stages of this year’s Europa League.

Max Kilman said: “I think it’s good that children are able to express themselves in their community and I’m very proud to have young people like this in Wolverhampton.”

Benny Ashley-Seal added: “It’s great to be involved and see what these young people have achieved. It is important for us as footballers to see all the good things that happen in our local community.”

Councillor John Reynolds, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “Young people in Wolverhampton do some incredible things and it is key that they are recognised for going above and beyond. Doing so can only help in ensuring that the city’s future is a bright one.”

The search for this year’s Young Citizen of the Year kicks off on March 1st.

Organised by the city’s five Rotary clubs, in partnership with the City of Wolverhampton Council, Express & Star, Wolverhampton Wanderers Foundation, The Way Youth Zone, The James Beattie Charitable Trust and Waitrose, it recognises young people aged 13-19 who have made a significant contribution to the city, people around them and their local communities.

Anyone can nominate a young person who lives, goes to school or works within the City of Wolverhampton. For more details about the award, plus entry forms, please visit www.wolverhamptonyoungcitizen.org.uk.

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