What came out quickly in my mind in that day is that I could never walk normally again,” Hassan Jumanne, a 25-years old youth from Pangani district in Tanga region narrated as he was shedding tears.
He revealed this to the Tanga Rotary Club (TRC) members and invited guests including the Tanga district Commissioner, Abdula Lutavi at 58th Annual Installation ceremony of the new president of the club, Pawan Asher.
He recalled that, his leg was amputated was at the hospital in the year 2014 when he was planning to join vocational training college, and he thought that his ‘dream’ of employing himself as a professional carpenter was no longer there.
“But now I thank God for granting Rotary Club of Tanga who supported me since my leg was chopped off at Bombo referral hospital by providing me with Jaipur foot that helps to walk normally as you have all seen.
“ The Rotary Club of Tanga sponsored my training at a vocational training in Tanga; as well as working tools after I completed my training, and I’m now a professional carpentry working in Pangani area…” he further explained in a joy of tears.
Speaking during his Installation event held at Mkonge hotel in Tanga, the newly installed president, Pawan Asher explained that, Rotary Club of Tanga supports various community development projects in Tanga region.
“I am honored to be here and I look forward to serve the rotary club of Tanga as the president for the year 2016-2017. It is a privilege to be a member of this prestigious club. We are two million Rotarian 35,000 clubs in over 200 countries. Every Rotarian has his or her own way to love rotary,” he said.
He added, “I want to give everyone a reason to love rotary. I want everyone to know we enjoy working together. I want everyone to know that we are doing good to the community and I urge people to be a part of the rotary family. I also want to thank all the members of my club for having the faith and confidence in me that I could take over as the president for rotary club of Tanga.”
For his part, the newly installed District Governor of the Rotary International District 9211 which covers Rotary clubs in Tanzania and Uganda for the year 2016/17, Jayesh Asher who is also the member of the Rotary Club of Tanga explained that; they have various projects in Tanga including ‘Rain Water Harvesting Project’ in different eleven primary schools in Tanga region worth 64,000 USD (approximately shillings 140.8 mil/-).
“The Rain Water Harvesting project implemented in the period of three years (2014/16) and now the project has already handed over to the members of the community,” he explained.
He further explained that, the project aims at eradicating water-borne diseases to the pupils due to lack of water in their areas.
The donation for all eleven primary schools includes installation of four water harvesting tanks in each school with the capacity of storing 5,000 each, as well as sanitation system for the pupils in those schools; among others.
He named other projects that Rotary Club of Tanga supported as renovation of labor ward at Bombo referral hospital worth 12,000 USD as well as providing wheel chairs and Jaipur foots to the needy people every year in the region.
Speaking in exclusive interviews with this paper, the Service Projects Director of the Rotary Club of Tanga Ray Mhando explained that, they decided to design such a project in primary schools that are located in the areas that they do not have access to piped water system to curb the problem of water-borne diseases to the primary pupils and the, members of community in general who mostly depends on domestic water from water wells formed by the rainfall.
“We designed this water harvesting project in the areas where there is no water pipe system to curb the problem of water-borne diseases to our primary school pupils as most of the community members in these areas depend on domestic water from water wells that have been formed by heavy rainfall which is not so much safe for human consumption, Mhando explains.
He further explains that, the installation of four water tanks of 5,000 litres each in ten primary schools located in the areas that have no access to piped water with all the necessary fitting and gutters have enabled efficient collection of rain water.
Mr. Mhando named the eleven primary schools in Tanga region that benefited with the project as Mwarongo, Kirare, Mapojoni, Kwamkembe, Kilimangwido, Doda Mtonga, Mleni, Rubawa, Gombero, and Mabambani, located in sub -Tanga of City council.
Speaking on behalf of heads of the benefited primary schools during the 58th Annual Installation of the president of the Rotary Club of Tanga, Ester Mushi from Kirare Primary School recommended the role played by the Rotary Club of Tanga in helping their school to access clean water for domestic and sanitation use.
"The installation of water tanks in our school that has been so graciously donated to us is vital to curb the problem of water-borne diseases to our pupils as well as other surrounding members of the community in our areas as before we was using water from wells that are not safe for domestic uses,” she explained cheerfully.
For his part, the Tanga District Commissioner, Lutavi who attended the 58th Annual Installation Ceremony of the new president of the Tanga Rotary club on behalf of the Tanga Regional Commissioner Martine Shigella, the DC recommends the role played by the club in supporting various development projects in the region.
“The government in Tanga region recommends the role played by the Rotary Club of Tanga in supporting different community projects; our office will continue giving you any administrative support you will need,” the DC said.
Commenting on his appointment as the new District Governor of the Rotary International District 9211 which covers Rotary clubs in Tanzania and Uganda for the year 2016/17, Jayesh Asher who took over from the Ugandan Robert Waggwa Nsibirwa explained that, at a recently concluded 91st District Conference and Assembly held in Entebe, Uganda, current District Governor Robert Waggwa Nsibirwa handed over the chain of office for the span of time of 2016/2017 to the District Governor to him.
This was done in a colorful ceremony witnessed by many political leaders and guests as well as Senior Rotary International leaders.
His term of office will last until June 30, 2017; and he is the first person from the Rotary Club of Tanga to occupy the position in 49 years and just the second person in the life of Rotary in Africa.
“The 2016/17 year is a special year for Rotary as they will be celebrating the Centennial of the Rotary Foundation which is the arm of the Rotary International that funds community service projects all over the World,” Rotary Governor Asher explained.
Asher further explained that, Rotary International is a service organization with the motto ‘Service Above Self’ which consists of more than 35,000 independent clubs worldwide whose members are known as Rotarians and they volunteer their money to serve their local communities.
“In our part of the World, Rotary consists of District 9211 which covers clubs in Tanzania and Uganda. Currently there are 123 clubs in the two countries and more than 3200 Rotarians.
Rotary’s flagship programme for more than two decades has been PolioPlus. Partnering with the World Health Organization, UNICEF, U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and others, PolioPlus is close to helping eradicate this disease from the planet. Rotarians will have donated more than $1 billion toward this humanitarian and public health initiative.
Rotarians support humanitarian projects through The Rotary Foundation, the charitable branch of Rotary International. Individual clubs can leverage their own funds with matching grants to support projects at home or abroad.
Projects focus on six areas: clean water and sanitation, maternal and child health, disease prevention and treatment, community and economic development, basic education and literacy, peace and conflict prevention/resolution.
Rotary provides an extraordinary network of talent, financial resources, and collaboration to accomplish humanitarian goals—including Rotary for Northern Tanzania.
James Lanka is a Science and Environmental Journalist based in Moshi, Kilimanjaro Tanzania.
E-mail: Jlanka6@gmail.com
Mob: +255 752 691 129.
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