There was lots of fruitful input from various members. The points raised were :
• The membership being open to spouses of Rotarians, Rotaractors, Lady Rotarians, Female relatives of Rotarians or Inner Wheel Ladies and even members of the community showing keen interest in social work.
• There is only one general meeting per month and additional committee meeting if one is on the committee.
• Inner Wheel offers a tailor made outlet to all those ladies who would rather do small projects than get too deeply involved in community service.
• Inner Wheel friendship and communication between Clubs.
• Kenya and Uganda joining hands to create an Inner Wheel District.
The open session was followed with a talk on Breast Cancer by Antonetta Acharya. She outlined the work undertaken by Breast Cancer Support Group in early detection and prevention of Breast Cancer.
The forum then continued with service reports of the various clubs. It was indeed quite a revelation how much Inner Wheel helps the community in the District 9200.
Various projects were mentioned like supporting old people’s homes, donating bed sheets and blankets, helping the cancer patients, donation of maternity equipment, donation of wheelchairs etc.
• IW Club of Kampala works with SCAW “The Sleeping Children Around the World” project to donate bed kit, (a mattress, pillow, pair of bed sheets, mosquito net, blanket, school bag, towel, basin, a pair of pyjamas, and a pair of slippers) to school going children.
• Other Clubs from Uganda mainly donate food items and assist in medical help wherever necessary.
• IW Club of Nairobi mostly supports Cancer patients.
• The Inner Wheel Club of Mombasa has three main projects; Microfinance, Breast Cancer treatment and support and Secondary or Vocational Education of girls.
They also hold eye camps and provide for the surgery of any cataracts detected during the camp. They hold their annual Christmas party for a Children’s Home, donate wheelchairs and give support to the HEART foundation by donating sanitary napkins to girls.
They raise funds through a Charity walk and depend on the well wishers and friends in the community.
District Governor RTN Geeta Manek in her address appreciated the service to mankind done by the IW ladies.
She reiterated the point put across by IW Club of Mombasa President Poonam Thapa that be it Inner Wheel or Rotary, whichever banner the ladies worked under it was eventually service to the community.
She was emphatic about IW supporting the Rotary in Eradication of Polio. She also stated that more enthusiasm was required to increase the membership of all the clubs.
She planted the seeds of the idea that IW works for a cancer hospital in Mombasa and offered full support after the IW initiative.
DG Geeta Manek was accompanied by Rotary International President’s Personal Representative RTN Steve Brown and his wife Susan.
He shared his experiences of his visit to Afghanistan and the circumstances of girls and women there. He was highly appreciative of the role women play in moulding the society.
The official business of the forum was closed by IW President Poonam Thapa with a few words and quotations.
“Great opportunities to help others seldom come, but small ones surround us every day”. So give a smile to someone and a helping hand to the needy. Be a friend to someone...
“Be an opener of doors for such as come after thee, and do not try to make the universe a blind alley” for “Real joy comes not from ease or riches or from the praise of men, but from doing something worthwhile”.
Do not think you cannot move forward as you may be alone. “I am only one, but I am one.
“I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.”
Our aim in life should be “I expect to pass through life but once. If therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again.”
As long as we are ready to share happiness “The flower of kindness will grow. Maybe not now, but it will some day.
“And in kind that kindness will flow, for kindness grows in this way.”
After lunch Shamim demonstrated fruit carving and salad decoration in the afternoon session of the forum.
The IW ladies were impressed by her expertise and felt contented on having learnt some skills.
The forum was indeed a great success.
Special thanks go to IW Club of Mombasa Secretary Nafisa Khanbhai and Vice President Gursharanjeet Kaur Sur, committee member Antonetta Acharya and all the members who attended the forum.
