During Rotary District 9212’s Nairobi Sunshine Rally held n 4th March 2023, 7000 children with disabilities were treated to a day of fun and entertainment at Jamhuri showground. One of the attendees was Peninnah Mutuku, Deputy Head teacher of the biggest Learning Support Centre in East Africa- Thika School of the Blind who has dedicated her life’s work to helping children with special needs. We celebrate her efforts during this years International Women’s Day.
“I have two loves, My Emmanuel and Special Needs”
Peninnah Mutuku burst into tears, shattered that her best pupil had suddenly lost his sight. She was more devastated than the pupil's parents, feeling helpless that her shining star had gone dark.
The School feeding Program and Donation of Exam accessories aims at supporting Candidates from Rural and Slum areas within Kericho Town to prepare well for National examinations by providing Lunch and Examination Accessories during the Exam period. This in turn lifts the burden from parents and guardians and ensures the candidates sit for exams stress-free. The Program reached 700 pupils in five different schools where Examination Accessories remain part of the school for the upcoming candidates.
The project was done in conjunction with RC Karengata and RC Kirinyaga and together the aim was to bring Christmas Joy to St. Mary's women's home for the aged in Sagana through fellowship and donations. During the project, we donated blankets and foodstuff for the elderly women and their minders. In addition, we donated a shaving machine as well did an on-the-spot fundraising to buy kitchen tables for their food preparation. Overall the project impact was bringing joy and happiness to the elderly women in the home.
Donations at St. Mary's Women's Home for the Aged in Sagana
Phase one of the project was able to offer training to 25+ members of the Gathanga community attracting the area chief and local leaders requesting a sit down with the Rotary club to encourage more young adults and members of the community take up the project.
The Kongowea Primary Tree Planting & Wash Project aim is to bring awareness on the importance of trees in the environment and the need for sanitation in the community at large. The club has so far planted over 200 trees with the students involved given responsibilities for taking care of the seedlings. We also distributed 32 cartons of Geisha bar soaps 5 cartons of lifebuoy sanitizers and 2 cartons of geisha liquid soap. Tree seedlings were donated by the Kenya Forest department while soaps were donated by the Unilever group. For more information please visit https://www.facebook.com/rcbaharimsa
The global hand washing celebration was aimed at enhancing water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) activities in learning institutions. Hence the activities conducted include; Health education on matters of WASH(water sanitation and hygiene)
• Distribution of soaps, and sanitizers to students and teachers
• Distribution of IEC(information, education and communication) materials on handwashing
Nyeri Street children's fun day aims at bringing together all street children and families in Nyeri town, to educate and talk to them with an aim of rehabilitating some and bringing them out of the streets. It also aimed at talent identification and mentorship.
The project aimed at bringing together Rotarians and Friends of Rotary to share Christmas gifts with the inmates at Embu Women’s Prison, Embu County. Rotarians spend their time with the inmates, to give them hope and share fun moments; dancing, and team-building activities. Within the prison, there are women with their young children and as such, they need psychological well-being, toiletries, learning materials for the kids, etc.
The Digital Literacy Project (DLP) unveiled during Basic Education and Literacy month seeks to promote Digital Literacy and enhance equal participation of learners in community development. Pupils of Garden Estate Primary School in Roysambu Constituency will be empowered with relevant and practical computer skills from a young age. It involved setting up a computer lab and equipping it with computers, installing internet connectivity as well as relevant furniture and fittings to ensure a fully functional computer lab hence providing a technologically supported learning environment.
The Kambirwa hunger relief project for needy elderly aims at identifying the neediest cases among the elderly people living around the Kambirwa area of Kiharu Constituency and providing them with nutritious food rations as a way of promoting their health. The project covered around 100 beneficiaries from Kambirwa who received assorted foodstuff including maize flour, beans, corned beef, and porridge flour.
Ngoliba Community Learning and Resource Centre in the department of Adult and Continuing Education Ministry of Education is assisting members of the community who drop out of school to sit for KCPE and KCSE. The Centre also offers part-time vocational training empowering the community with basic literacy in computer skills, hair and beauty, baking and pastry, mats, and bag making.
Rotary Club of Nairobi Utumishi celebrated the International Joint Service Week with Book Donations to 7 schools in Kangemi and Planted 200 Trees in Tigoni in partnership with RC. Madaraka, Lions Phoenix & Lions Greater Nairobi.
Situated in a leafy suburb on the northeastern fringes of Nairobi City, Mji wa Huruma (City of Compassion) is an old people’s home that specifically caters to the underprivileged elderly and is run by the County Government of Nairobi. Over the years, some of its needs have been overlooked as the city continues to expand and the government stretches resources to meet the needs of its citizens.
On Saturday 27th August, members of the Rotary Club of Karen and Rotaract Club of Karen braved the morning chill; and showers. Members showed up Cladded in their Rotary attire, accompanied by spouses, children, and friends. They all arrived FIRED UP and READY TO GO!!!!
In contribution to the Month of September theme Basic Education and Literacy, Education for future is a Rotary Club of Nkubu initiative based on the need assessment in its neighboring Counties. It is aimed at providing mentorship, life skills, career coaching, and education materials to vulnerable pupils. Girls will be supported with hygiene kits to increase retention, improve performance, and transition because one million girls miss school each month because they cannot afford sanitary pads.
The project aims to create community health, and economic empowerment clubs (CHECs) in Western Kenya beginning in Kisii. The project consists of training selected villagers on public health issues and further training on empowerment and creating economic opportunities.
The project aims to engage the local community and other stakeholders in environmental conservation, laying emphasis on river ecosystem protection, restoration, and regeneration of Osinoni Springs which drains into the Isiolo River by planting 5000 tree seedlings.
Rotary Club of Addis Abeba Central Mella held an Ethiopian Literary Award. The aim of the award is to put the spotlight on the creativity and diverse wealth of Ethiopia’s contemporary literature in the field of fiction, and non-fiction to promote the circulation of literature within the country and encourage greater interest in literary works.
Rotary Club of Nairobi Upperhill sets out to ensure that the girls at Kibera Girls Soccer Academy girls, stay in school, perform well and continue to secondary and higher institutions of learning. Attending school has been shown to have a positive effect on girls' lives, as well as their future. This project is geared towards promoting retention of the girl child in school through attending to their menstrual hygiene management.
Franklin Roosevelt is and was one of the greatest leaders of all time. It is therefore no wonder that the term“100 days in office” originates from him.
He accomplished so much in his first 100 days in office; despite numerous challenges; that many years later every American President, CEO or leader, is measured by what they do in their first 100 days.
Club Runner has a dedicated section to organize and manage your committee lists and information. All members, chairs and secretaries can be identified and listed and even have their own directory listing.
Most public schools in Kenya, especially in rural areas have been faced with water challenges ranging from inadequate water to unclean/unsafe water for drinking. This leads to poor sanitation and hygiene practices, school absenteeism due to water-borne diseases, contributing to poor academic performance.
The Karen Shopping Centre has been experiencing an influx of various small traders who sell their merchandise, and food to members of the community. The area also serves as the primary stage for the vehicular movement around Karen. Over time, huge volumes of garbage have piled up around the area, clogging the sewerage system and making the area a health hazard prone to various types of diseases, due to environmental degradation. As such the aim of the project was to clean up the environment, since its members live, work and co-exist in the Karen community.
The assistive mobility devices project aims to enhance the lives of people who are abled differently by preventing further complications and making them mobile. Most of these people live in rural areas and are not able to afford the cost of the devices, this intern affects their lifestyle by not being able to do their activities of daily living.
Francis Karanja Kamau, 73 years from Gathanji in Gatundu North suffered a spinal cord injury necessitating surgery. Post-surgery complications left him with weakened limbs making walking a challenge. Mr. Karanja struggled to navigate using walking sticks which was a tall order for him, considering he comes from a hilly area in Gatundu.
The Low-Cost Borewells Project aims at providing readily available clean water to 10 primary schools within Embu West Sub-County. The project will ensure that learner's in these schools will no longer have to travel long distances to fetch water for drinking while in school. The water provided will ensure a clean learning environment. With adequate water, the schools will plant fruit trees and vegetables to supplement the feeding program and ensure the learners have a balanced diet. The project has established hand wash stations outside the classrooms thus enhancing the "Hand Washing" campaign.
The project aim was to build a better working team in the club and introduce the club members to graduates of our Gathanga Youth Empowerment project where we have trained over 50 young men and women in business, life skills, and opportunity assessment.
Posted by District Innovation Officer on Aug 24, 2022
During the Rotary Year 2021/22, District 9212 was embarking on digital transformation journey that would see the District digitize operations, digitize learning content, revamp public relations campaigns and create an e-commerce platform. The Club Runner platform is an enabling tool that allows the District to digitize engagement with Rotarians and Rotaractors both on Web and a Mobile application.
The ClubRunner Mobile App is available to all Rotarians and Rotaractors in District 9212. It will allow search and view your Member/District directory and Executives/Directors. Members can view the latest feed of stories from your District's Timeline list and read about upcoming Events and Speakers while keeping track of your Attendance statistics. The mobile application will keep you connected with your Club and District, even on the go.
Project profile: Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Disease Prevention and Treatment, International Fellowship/Exchange
The main aim of this project was to provide accessible health care, improve health, clean water, and food security, reduce neonatal and maternal mortality and improve vaccination of children in the community of Ntalabany, ( a Maasai community).
Project profile: Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene, Basic Literacy and Education, Fellowship/Club Affairs
The Rotary Club of Nairobi Thika Road has been famously known for Vasha Installations “Vasha” is a short form of the resort town of Naivasha some 89 Kilometres away from Nairobi. . This year they celebrated their 5th Installation Ceremony and the 3rd in the town. RC Nairobi Thika Road is also known for its pioneering Digital Literacy Project at Garden Estate Primary school, with a student population of 700 pupils serving the residents of the Marurui, Thome, and Ruaraka lower segment neighbourhoods.
Project profile: Peace Building and Conflict Prevention, Disease Prevention and Treatment
Meet Christine Karambu, a 48-year-old woman who has been living in the streets of Nkubu town, Meru County for over seven years. She has been cooking, sleeping, and earning her livelihood from the streets, basically from seeking arms. Karambu was rescued by the Rotary Club (RC) of Nkubu, through the club’s Immediate past president Fr. Francis Gaciata supported by the current President Rtn. Jennifer Kathure in partnership with other Rotarians. A day after her rescue from the streets, she was placed in Shalom's home for a few days where she freshened up, slept well, and enjoyed a good meal.
District 9212 committees promote and administer ongoing Rotary programs and/or specific district activities, projects, providing support and guidance to clubs. The District has a specific committee for each of the programs and activities offered. The Club Runner offers a platform to manage the committees from a communication and document repository.
Good afternoon my fellow Rotarians, families and guests. I begin with my gratitude to the Almighty for letting us come together physically after a two-year stall due to the covid pandemic. My dear DG Alex, I congratulate you for a successful Rotary Year. You really showered us with love and joy. Blessings.
We invite you to the warm hospitality, as Addis Ababa hosts the 98th District Conference and Assembly from 11th-14th May 2023. Join the immense Ethiopian beauty, culture and tradition coupled with the amenities Addis hosts waiting for you with open arms.
(L-R)Past District Governor and Rotary Ethiopia Chair Teshome Kebede, Ethiopian Minister of Health Dr Lia Tadesse and CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Mesfin Tasew Bekele sign the agreement as a representative from child heart fund Ethiopia looks on.
Happy New Month Rotarians and Happy Madaraka Day to all Kenyans! June is designated as Rotary Fellowship Month where Rotarians are encouraged to participate in organized groups with those who share a common recreational interest or vocation. This month is also when the Rotary Internation Convention in Houston Texas USA is taking place, hot on the heels of our successful One Love District Conference in Diani last month.
I was able to hand over leadership to our District's 2022/23 Governor, Azeb Asrat in the presence of Rotarians from our District and I am confident in her leadership to take our District to greater heights. This month will see similar transitions at our club level as members continue to conduct ceremonies to install their new presidents and board of directors. The 2021/22 Rotary year is now coming to a close and I take this opportunity to acknowledge what we have accomplished this year.
Posted by District Newsletter Officer on Jan 31, 2022
Friends and family of Rotary,
Happy New Month and welcome to the month of Love!
One love being the District theme this year has never proved to be more relevant than now. These past two years courtesy of the advent of Covid-19, we have been taken through a whirlwind of nearly impossible to fathom experiences but through our resilience and zeal for life we have kept going.
Members of RC Gachie with DG Alex Nyaga during the painting project.
Written By Julliet Wairimu. Edited by Terry Obath
Gachie. The mention of this name is enough to conjure up feelings of fear and dread, as it is widely known to be the supposed den of dens, harboring Nairobi City’s worst armed robbers and notorious gangsters.
This claim to infamy is because at one time, a famous armed robber did indeed reside and raise his family here. His daring exploits were admired by some of the town’s youth and his loot was shared amongst them in nights of drunken pleasure, causing a few to choose the same route as a means to get rich quick.
The Rotary Club of Kirinyaga has renovated the special unit classrooms at the Gakoigo primary School, a public day school in Kirinyaga Central sub-county. The projects which falls under the basic education and literacy area of focus sought to improve the learning environment of the learners with disability.
I am taking you to the city of Addis Ababa founded in 1886 as Ethiopia’s capital. Its location was chosen by Empress Taytu Betul for the hot springs, abundant water resources and lush woodlands to serve as firewood. Now, more than a century later, a bustling capital city of nearlyfive millioninhabitants, Addis Ababa suffers from water and electricity shortages. Addis draws its drinking water from the Gefersa and Legedadi reservoirs fed by rivers entering the city, as well as the Akaki well fields, supplied from the city’s groundwater. Hydropower plants dependent on rivers and other water bodies in the country generate 90% of the Ethiopia’s electricity. All of Addis’ rivers feed into Aba Samuel Lake and fuel hydropower generation. The outflow from there enters the much larger Awash River. One would be correct to assume rivers are vital for the city and every appropriate measure should be in place to protect and preserve water resources. In reality, Addis Ababa’s rivers are in dire straits.
From left, President Veronica Ndumbi, Projects Director Albashir Ahmed presenting donations to the Dispensary; a baby cot, a room heater and a mackintosh roll for the maternity ward to Mr. Meshack Wanjohi (Kikopey Dispensary In-charge) and Ms. Deborah Sirega (Gilgil Sub-County Lead-Health), President Elect Hilda Gikera.
By Rtn Thomas Njenga & Jane Mwaura
Rotary Club of Hurlingham Nairobi Kenya in Partnership with Rotary Club of Alkmaar (Netherlands), Rotary Club of Bath (UK) and the County Government Nakuru constructed and commissioned the Kikopey Dispensary on the 14th April, 2017 to cater for the medical needs of the people in Kikopey area and its environs. Subsequently, on September 11th 2021, the club visited the dispensary for performance & needs assessment & identified a strong need for community outreach and sensitization. Thus, the idea of holding a medical camp was born, a day for the community and the surrounding area to receive medical services free of charge.
RC Nairobi UpperHill recently donated ksh 500,000 worth of books to the Kibera Girls Soccer Academy (KGSA). During a visit this past December, we were glad to solidify our association with KGSA, where our club has conducted several service projects so far.
We were able to supply the KGSA girls with school-based textbooks for their library that included the new curriculum textbooks, teachers’ manuals, storybooks, dictionaries, bibles, and atlas in partnership with Adhiambo & Okech Advocates LLP.
Posted by District Innovation Officer on Jan 02, 2022
During the Rotary Year 2021/22, District 9212 was embarking on digital transformation journey that would see the District digitize operations, digitize learning content, revamp public relations campaigns and create an e-commerce platform. The Club Runner platform is an enabling tool that allows the District to digitize engagement with Rotarians and Rotaractors both on Web and a Mobile application.
The ClubRunner Mobile App is available to all Rotarians and Rotaractors in District 9212. It will allow search and view your Member/District directory and Executives/Directors. Members can view the latest feed of stories from your District's Timeline list and read about upcoming Events and Speakers while keeping track of your Attendance statistics. The mobile application will keep you connected with your Club and District, even on the go.
The Rotary Club of Nairobi Utumishi in collaboration with Rotary Clubs in D5110 and D5160 in Oregon USA have an ongoing LN-4 prosthetic hand project that is changing the lives of the beneficiaries.
Posted by District Innovation Officer on Nov 29, 2021
District 9212 has officially launched the Club Runner as part of its digital transformation journey. The site was launched during a live stream event held by the District Innovation team on 12th November 2021. The Club Runner platform is an enabling tool that allows the District to digitize engagement with Rotarians and Rotaractors. Here is a snippet of the event.
In Rotary, the month of October reminded us to embrace women’s economic empowerment with the goal of transforming households, communities and nations. In the spirit of service above self, The Rotary Club of Nairobi Kilimani Alfajiri (RCNKA) believes in providing service to others, promoting integrity and advancing goodwill. As such, the club partnered with Mirror of Hope CBO in Kibra to empower 150 women during a session graced by Madam Kanze Dena Mararo, the Statehouse Spokesperson & Communication Secretary.
Posted by District Communication Officer on Oct 01, 2021
Rotary supports investments in people to create measurable and enduring economic improvement in their lives and communities. This October is Rotary’s Economic Community Development Month and we look into one of the initiatives in this focus area: Adopt a Village.
The Rotary and WWF-Kenya partnership in District 9212 has kicked off with a series of recent meetings between representatives of both parties. The Chairman of the Rotary/WWF-Kenya partnership, Past Assistant Governor James Mwaura, of the Rotary Club of Nairobi-South, and PDG Joe Otin led talks with senior leaders of WWF-Kenya Joyce Isiaho and Nancy Githaiga, the Head of Fundraising and the Conservation Director respectively.
All Rotaractors are young adults, but all young adults aren’t Rotaractors. Why not?
In recent days, concerns of members shying away from responsibilities or watching a few members tirelessly engage in all the activities of a club, leading to burning out is no more news. This isn’t a sustainable practice of engaging our members for the long run besides we become responsible for ruining the chance of bringing a Rotarian out of those dedicated Rotaractors.
An estimated 500 million people worldwide became infected. Many cities closed theaters and cinemas, and placed restrictions on public gatherings. Rotary clubs adjusted their activities while also helping the sick.
This is how Rotary responded to the influenza pandemic that began in 1918 and came in three waves, lasting more than a year.
The Rotary Club of Berkeley, California, USA, meets in John Hinkel Park during the 1918 flu pandemic.
Photo by Edwin J. McCullagh, 1931-32 club president. Courtesy of the Rotary Club of Berkeley.
In early 1919, Rotarian Roger Pinneo of Seattle, Washington, USA, traveled to the Philippines to try to organize a Rotary club in Manila. Leon J. Lambert, a Manila business leader helped Pinneo establish the club. Several months later, on 1 June 1919, the Rotary Club of Manila was chartered and became the first Rotary club in Asia.
The club would be the only one in the country for more than 12 years. Eventually, Manila club members organized Rotary clubs in the Philippine cities of Cebu (1932) and Iloilo (1933). Iloilo club members then started a club in Bacolod (1937), and Rotary continued to expand across the country.
Rotary and the United Nations have a shared history of working toward peace and addressing humanitarian issues around the world.
During World War II, Rotary informed and educated members about the formation of the United Nations and the importance of planning for peace. Materials such as the booklet “From Here On!” and articles in The Rotarian helped members understand the UN before it was formally established and follow its work after its charter.
Many countries were fighting the war when the term “United Nations” was first used officially in the 1942 “Declaration by United Nations.” The 26 nations that signed it pledged to uphold the ideals expressed by the United States and the United Kingdom the previous year of the common principles “on which they based their hopes for a better future for the world.”
Every hero has an origin story. “I was 10 years old when the entire journey started,” explains Binish Desai. It began with a cartoon called Captain Planet, an animated TV series from the 1990s about an environmentalist with superpowers. Desai can still recite the show’s refrain: Captain Planet, he’s our hero / Gonna take pollution down to zero! “That tagline stuck in my mind,” he says. “I wanted to do something to help Captain Planet.”
Members of RC Gachie with DG Alex Nyaga during the painting project.
The Rotary Club of Nairobi Utumishi in collaboration with Rotary Clubs in D5110 and D5160 in Oregon USA have an ongoing LN-4 prosthetic hand project that is changing the lives of the beneficiaries.
An estimated 500 million people worldwide became infected. Many cities closed theaters and cinemas, and placed restrictions on public gatherings. Rotary clubs adjusted their activities while also helping the sick.
In early 1919, Rotarian Roger Pinneo of Seattle, Washington, USA, traveled to the Philippines to try to organize a Rotary club in Manila. Leon J. Lambert, a Manila business leader helped Pinneo establish the club. Several months later, on 1 June 1919, the Rotary Club of Manila was chartered and became the first Rotary club in Asia.
Rotary and the United Nations have a shared history of working toward peace and addressing humanitarian issues around the world.
Every hero has an origin story. “I was 10 years old when the entire journey started,” explains Binish Desai. It began with a cartoon called Captain Planet, an animated TV series from the 1990s about an environmentalist with superpowers. Desai can still recite the show’s refrain: Captain Planet, he’s our hero / Gonna take pollution down to zero! “That tagline stuck in my mind,” he says. “I wanted to do something to help Captain Planet.”