Television Interview

This morning, I had the pleasure of meeting Ray Richardson and Ted Talbott of the local FOX NEWS affiliate in Portland, Maine, and to share with them and their viewers and listeners some of what we will all be doing once we reach India on February 7th.

If you are interested in viewing the interview, click on this link:

http://www.myfoxmaine.com/myfox/pages/ContentDetail?contentId=5628438

We will be adding more to our BLOG on a regular basis, but suffice it to say that at present, we are all at our respective homes, packing clothes, but mostly goodies to take to the childlren in India to encourage them to get immunized on February 10th at the National Immunization Day and then to help encourage the children of the village of Chahalka to attend school and to remain in school, in order to make a better life for themselves and their families. To say that we are "cranked" about our upcoming journey to the unknown, where we will SHARE ROTARY and MAKE DREAMS REAL, would be an understatement.

On this, the 60th anniversary of the assasination of the father of India, Mahatma Gandhi, it is most appropriate that we pause and remember one of his wise pieces of advice:

BE THE CHANGE YOU WISH TO SEE IN THE WORLD.

Newfoundland Rotarians Donate to the Project

The Fourth Objective of Rotary International is ... "the advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service".

All projects of this nature need funding. Since this project was initiated by Elias Thomas III of the Rotary Club of Sanford-Springvale, Maine USA, he is coordinating project funds. All teams members are asked to do what they can to secure funds to help out. Those of us from Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada decided to let local Rotary Clubs know about our project and if they wished to offer donations, they were encouraged to do so.

While all our clubs have financially supported international projects in the past, to our knowledge, this may be the first time any serving Rotarian from an eastern Newfoundland Rotary Club has physically participated on-site at an International Service Project.

Here are the donations our four Team Members have received - $9,250 in Total:

$500 Rotary Club of AVALON NORTHEAST - in 2005 awarded the Rotary Significant Achievment Award for work on a community park

$300 Rotary Club of WATERFORD VALLEY - known for their work on community hiking trails

$200 Rotary Club of CLARENVILLE - celebrating 30 years in 2008 & known for community hiking trails, work with schools and securing funding for a community marina

$500 Rotary Club of GANDER - this club and its community played a significant role for those stranded after 9/11 - known for work on a community park and trail, home of District Governor Fred Ivany 2002-2003

$500 Rotary Club of ST. JOHN'S - Newfoundland's oldest club establish 23 Nov 1921, home of our District Governor Dennis Knight in 2006-2007 - known for many large community projects and its Christmas Hampers

$1,000 Rotary Club of ST. JOHN'S EAST - 2006 District Award for its work, leader in single fundraiser, established the Rotary Read-Along Program

$5,000 Rotary Club of ST. JOHN'S NORTHWEST - home club of two Dream Team members, awarded Rotary's Significant Achievement Award for community Skateboard Park, known for the Rotary Music Festival, annual Food Drive with a local high school, Janeway Childrens Hostel, Community Housing Inc., The Changing Minds Project and initiated several organizations including United Way, Kidney Foundation and Heart & Stroke Foundation

$500 - Dental and Hearing Crafts Ltd, St. John's

$750 - Personal donation from one of the team members.

Suggested Gifts for the Children

Elias and Sanjiv suggested bringing items to India for village children that arouse curiosity and create enthusiasm to learn more and study more. As well, items to encourage the children to participate in the National Immunization Day on February 10, 2008.

NEW IDEAS
I spoke with my Club President, Gail Gosse who visited India through work a couple of years ago. She said "Talc" is highly valued as it is very expensive in India.

Another item that might be a good gift is wind up flashlights and radios (dynamo). No batteries are required.

I also spoke with Murali Prabhakar who is originally from India and has children aged 9 and 12. He suggested any computer software that has a learning component such as Typing Tutor or similar job based software. He also cautioned us to be sure any gifts do not interfere with cultural beliefs. Murali thinks Solar Calculators are a good choice.

NATIONAL IMMUNIZATION DAY
Enough cheap give-aways for general distribution to about 1000 pre-school children. About 20 items for each team member.

DAY CARE
We are trying to contribute to the betterment of the children's Day Care Centre by encouraging pre-school children (under 5) to spend more time there. We need about 50 take home gifts for individual children as well as common learning toys and games that are not too dependent on prior knowledge of English.

The Rotary Club of Delhi-West has 50 stuffed toys they will take to the Day Care. As well, Karen Teichman and Walt Lutz of District 7370 have over 100 stuffed animals.

OLDER CHILDREN
About 500 children 12 years of age and above attend the school adjacent to the computer centre. Common educational toys and games as well as computer games for the learning centre will be useful. Anything that arouses their curiosity and enthusiasm to learn more; study more.

This age group does study Englaish as a subject , at which they do very poorly because they have no exposure to the language other than at school! They are familiar with written English but may not be able to understand spoken English because of the unfamiliar accents etc.

Most important are gifts to encourage children to attend school regularly and to arose curiosity in studies. In addition, gifts for individuals for the top 5 scorers in each class at the school (about 50 items in total). These prizes can be announced while we are there and awarded to the students after their scores come in following the next exams.

The suggest the following types of items:

• solar calculators (small) - highly recommended
• educational toys
• educational games
• trinkets like bracelets, rings or earrings
• unusual pencils, pens or erasers
• pins of all sorts are cherished

Obviously we have to carry all these items and our luggage weights are limited to 40 pounds. If each one of us take a few things, we will be able to meet the needs.

Cost of Building Materials for Rotary Vocational & Computer Training Center of Chahalka

The purpose of the Learning Centre is to create an environment where young people from the village and surrounding area can come and learn basic computer skills. It will also house training of the women of the village in sewing and weaving so they can earn great income for their families and allow the children to attend school regularly.

The anticipated cost to refurbish the old buildings for both the Learning Centre and Day Care is about $50,000 USD. We have reached our financial goal. The monies will flow through the Rotary Club of Sanford-Springvale to The Rotary Foundation and then to India.

Our Rotarian friends in India will purchase the items needed for the village including:

• New windows, doors, screening and irong grating for the windows
• Concrete mix
• Lumber
• Paint
• classroom furniture including chairs and bafricating kits for desks
• blackboard and associated materials
• computers
• specific items to repair the rooms and buildings for external repair and painting
• waterproofing the terrace

For the electrical needs:

• 6 light points including light fitting
• 2 fan points including fans
• 15 of the 5 ampere sockets
• 2 of the 15 ampere sockets
• 1 telephone point
• wiring for the ten computers

Specific furniture items:

• Teacher's chair
• 5 computer tables
• 20 chairs for students
• 6 foot by 3 foot cupboard
• 8 foot by 4 foot pinup board
• 4 foot by 3 foot blackboard

Specific equipment includes:

• Generator - silent diesel GenSet 20 KVA for power outages
• 10 computers ( AMD 3600 )
• 10 monitors ( 17 inch )
• one printer
• one UPS (uninterruptible power supply)

We are providing the operational costs for the Learning Centre for one year for:

• $7,895 computer teacher salary
• $3,158 computer assistant salary
• $ 789 each for two security guards to provide 24 hour security of the premises
• $ 789 for a cleaner salary
• $7,684 for diesel for the electric generator approx. 8 hours per day
• $1,055 to cover inflation & USD drop vs Indian Rupee.

$22,160 Total for the Learning Centre

Hey, I'm on. Now I just have to start packing!

My Reasons For Coming

Hello, I am the son of a Rotarian, and I am going on the trip to India this February. I have traveled to other countries in the past and that alone is an interest to me. Additionally, being in India for National Immunization Day seems like a good idea. The most important thing I expect out of this trip is the experience that is rewarded. In the future, I will be able to look back on this and remark on how fortunate I am to be part of this great trip.

Comments from ANOTHER Team member

Hi! My name is Logan Roberts. I am 12 years old and I go to Chaska Middle School West. When I hear my parents talk about India it just reminds me of how great of a trip this is going to be. I really want to go to India because it is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

I wish to learn about other people’s lifestyles. Think I can bring the people diversity and hope of a better place. As a young person on this trip I think that the Indian children will be able to connect with me more than the adults. I can bring the team members excitement and laughter. To prepare I have watched Indian movies, tried on Indian clothes and talked with an Indian Rotary Youth Exchange student. Thank you.

Comments from another Team Member - Cari Roberts

My name is Cari Roberts, and I am 11 years old. I am a student at Chaska Middle School West. When I found out that my parents were considering going to India is was incredibly happy. Going to a country in Asia has always been my dream. I know we will have fun in India, but I will also learn a lot from the hard work that we are going to be doing. Learning so much about how other people live, makes me appreciate how I live.

During this trip I expect to learn about polio and how it affects people. I am sure that children in India can learn from my brother and I, how to use a computer, and basic information about the U.S. Being a young women going to India, people going along with me can learn that anyone who is young can do the same things that older people can do.

To prepare myself to travel to India I have had to spend many hours thinking about what I need to bring along. We have visited the global market downtown. My parents and brother have bought clothes for when we are there. On the other hand, I found clothes at our local Target. Our whole family has been meeting with Maya. Maya is an exchange student from India, and she has been giving us advice on what to bring and what to expect. Maya has also taught us how to cook curry and roti. We cook Indian food every now and than. The food is spicy, but I am used to it. That means that I will not starve when we have to eat in India. Over all I am probably the most excited person going out of my family. My mom is all worried because she does not know what to expect. I am all right with not know what will happen, so for right now, I am ready to travel to India.

Thoughts from one of the DREAM TEAM members

Since 1979, Rotarians have been the active soldiers in the war against Polio. As a Rotarian I knew I wanted to take part in the battle. When the opportunity to join a team traveling to India presented itself I accepted the offer and became part of “The Dream Team 2008”.

The Dream Team is comprised of over 50 Rotarians and Friends of Rotary, from five countries and is a diverse group of individuals with one common goal, to see a day when our world will be free of Polio. We each fundraised and will reach our combined goal of $50,000. for our project prior to departing for India.

Our mission is multi-faceted. Our first and foremost service is to be part of National Immunization Day where we will immunize about (1,000) one thousand children under the age of five. Our second goal is to complete the Rotary Computer and Vocational Centre in Chalhalka, as well as the ROTARY DAY-CARE CENTRE OF CHAHALKA.

Administering those two drops of life to the children will truly be one of my life’s most heartfelt experiences. I know one day that Rotary will eradicate Polio and even though four countries including Nigeria, India, Pakistan and Afghanistan, are still considered polio-endemic the dedication and determination of Rotarians prevail.

Following the National Immunization Day, our team will head west of Delhi to a poor village of about 500 families, Chahalka. Chalhalka’s water supply was a polluted ,dirty, stinking, breeding ground for water bourne diseases and mosquitoes until 2007, when Rotarians led by Past District Governor Elias Thomas, of Maine, helped to return the water to a safe status. This year, Rotarians will improve the quality of life for residents in this remote village through education and vocational training.

The impoverished families in Chahalka cannot always see the value in education (even though it is provided for free). Youngsters often are needed to work to help subsidize the fainly. So our “Dream Team” again led by Elias Thomas will establish the Rotary Centre for Computer and Vocational Training. This center will benefit the entire village. Young school dropouts will be taught computer skills, enabling them to apply for entry level jobs in India’s burgeoning IT industry. We hope this will also encourage younger children to stay in school and learn valuable skills.

Simultaneously, we will provide vocational training including tailoring and weaving to the housewives. This will give them the opportunity to generate additional income for their families which hopefully, will make it possible for their children to stay in school.

So on February 6th I will embark on a great life experience. I have received all my immunizations and will taking my anti-malaria medication which, my doctor tells me gives you night terrors. I will leave from Newark carrying Club and District banners, educational toys and gifts and some 15 hours later arrive in New Delhi.

Many people have asked me why I am doing this. The answer is simple…I am doing this because I’m a Rotarian!

~Susan Wischhusen Rotary Club of Shirley and the Mastics

It's That Time of Year, Again...

In just about three weeks, I will again be returning to India. This year, I have the honor of leading over 50 Rotarians and Friends of Rotary to India for two purposes: First, we will participate in the National Immunization Day (NID) on Sunday, February 10, 2008, where we will join tens of thousands of other volunteers, some from hospitals, some from the government, some from the United Nations and the World Health Organizations, and many from Rotary Clubs throughout India and the rest of the world. In one day, it will be our task to immunize all children in the country under the age of five against this crippling disease. As many of you know already, Rotary challenged itself more than twenty years ago to eradicate polio from the face of the earth, and about 99% of polio has been eliminated from all but four countries in the world, where the virus remains indigenous. Second, we will gather in an abjectly poor village, about fifty kilometers west of New Delhi, where we will work as common laborers, along with local Rotarians, to create the ROTARY VOCATIONAL AND COMPUTER TRAINING CENTRE OF CHAHALKA, as well as the ROTARY DAY CARE CENTRE OF CHAHALKA.

The village of Chahalka is a tiny Muslim village, tucked away in the barren territory situated near the foothills of the Aravali Mountain range. In a previous trip to Chahalka, it is difficult to imagine survival in this desolate area. When we worked in the village this past year, we helped to restore the potability of the village's water supply, which up until the time we built two washing platforms, the women and girls were doing their daily washing on top of the huge well tile, with all of the waste water pouring right back down through the hole through which they had drawn the "clean" water in the first place!

Our team is comprised of Rotarians and Friends of Rotary from five countries ~ USA, Canada, England, Australia and Sweden. Two Rotarians are bringing their children, ages ranging from 12 to 17. What an amazing experience it will be for these young people, and for us who are a bit older to witness how each evolves through working in a totally Muslim village, where up until very recently, the villagers had not even experienced "white westerners"!

We will endeavor to keep a journal, with many contributing to it, throughout the journey, and to provide as much of the fabric of the culture to our friends at home, as possible. You are welcome to comment and to communicate to us through our email addresses. Mine is as follows: eliasthomasiii@hotmail.com

Thanks for your interest.