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February 19th 2007
In the absence of both the Club President and the Vice President it was the
Junior Vice President Robert Parker who had the pleasure of welcoming this
week’s guest speaker Sheila Ogden. The clubs International Committee had
highlighted the ‘Hope and Homes Project’ as a charity worthy of their
support and it was their Chairman Ted Witton who organised Sheila’s visit to
the club. Sheila is the area Secretary for the Charity and spoke of her
involvement with this organisation having attended a presentation by the
founder Mark Cook. Mark first came across the plight of 60 young orphans in
war-torn areas when he was serving as a Commander with the UN in the former
Yugoslavia. Many of the children were living in extreme poverty having had
their orphanage bombed and virtually abandoned to fend for themselves. This
was a very moving story about one individual and his commitment and vision for
a better future for those children who for no fault of their own had been
estranged from their parents and in some cases were living alone on the
streets.
His charity has continued to grow and now helps children in
Eastern Europe and Africa by removing them from the despair of the orphanage,
where even the basic facilities do not exist and reuniting them with their
family or finding them suitable foster parents. This charity has provided
equipment volunteers and has trained local people to perform many of the
administrative roles and as a result new orphanages have been built. This
organisation was only formed 12 years ago and they have certainly made an
impact in many of the countries where they have offered their services. As a
result of their efforts they are making the local authorities more accountable
towards their responsibilities for these children in need. Their expertise is
now sort by other charities who are involved in bringing aid to countries in
turmoil that effect the lives of vulnerable children who are in most cases the
innocent victims. The club had great pleasure in handing Sheila a £1000.00
cheque for this charity. Rotarian Robert Parker thanked Sheila for the talk
and wished the charity well in all its future projects.
Sheila receiving cheque for £1000 from International Chairman Ted Witton. |
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