Two world wars and the Spanish Flu did not stop Rotary from its mission of service to humanity. Today, however, it faces a new host of challenges, foremost of which are another global pandemic and an endangered earth. COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc not just on life but on livelihood...
Steve Widders: The Visionary
Declared medically blind by Fred Hollows in 1990, second-time president of the Rotary Club of Armidale AM, Aboriginal Elder Steve Widders, is championing Rotary’s diversity, equity and inclusion policy. By Amy Fallon Steve Widders first became familiar with Rotary when he was selected for a Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA)...
From Taliban to Tampa to Terra Firma
Afghan refugee Abbas Nazari was all geared up for his gig as keynote speaker at this year’s World Literacy Festival in Christchurch, NZ. When COVID restrictions forced the postponement of the event, the Rotary Club of Havelock North seized the opportunity and invited Abbas to be a guest speaker at...
Teach a man to fish
Anne Matthews writes of the importance of empowering communities to alleviate extreme poverty. By Anne MatthewsD9560 Passport Club Today, nearly 800 million people live on less than $1.90 a day. However, this statistic – although alarming – is not as bad as it seems, especially when you consider the progress...
Raising hope out of horror
A tragic coincidence transformed the lives of four young girls in Zambia, and while the cause of the chance meeting is nothing short of heartbreaking, kindness and compassion nurtured hope out of horror. Matthew Raymond, co-founder of The Limapela Foundation, tells the story. As we headed to the Zambian mining...
World Polio Month ready to roll
PDG Bob Aitken AMRI End Polio Now Coordinator, Zone 8 There is an air of expectation around World Polio Month in October this year. The challenge of COVID-19, Zoom meetings and virtual events underline a newfound spirit in Rotarians, who are no longer prepared to ‘buckle under’ and sit on...