Community Service with the 7^th West Africa Rotary Project fair

 

From October 26 to October 31, 2011, Dakar hosted the 7th Rotary annual regional project fair where Rotarians from West Africa and around the world promoted their club service projects. Rotary International is an organization of service clubs located all over the world. The stated purpose of the organization is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service.

 On October 29 & 30, Rotarians exhibited their projects (such as water and sanitation, micro credit, health, nutrition, literacy and humanitarian issues …) inside booths.

 The organizers of the event were looking for 10 bilingual (French-English) young people of grades 11 & 12 willing to help welcoming attendees and translating during these 2 days.

 Within the framework of the community service activity, 10 of our students, El Hadj, Hani, Karim, Carine, Birassi, Ophélie, Kadiatou, Khadidiatou, Solange and Haris participated last Saturday and Sunday to the Project Fair held both at Teranga Pullman Hotel and The Mess des Officiers.

The meeting was presided over by Rotary Int’l Past president Mr. Ray Klinginsmith from the USA. Delegates came from the whole West Africa region (Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, Cape Verde, Senegal…..).  The objective of the Fair was to find and convince financial sponsors who mainly came from America. The goal of these sponsors was to support projects that may alleviate poverty in the West Africa region. The projects focussed mainly in the following areas: water sanitation, hygiene, water supply, basic education. Quite frankly, our students did a tremendous job, highly appreciated by each and everyone. They helped in the various booth do translation work, escorting delegates, providing guidance, etc…  Their help was just invaluable and was praised by the majority of the delegates and organizers.

 Below are testimonials from two of our service volunteers students who share their experience and some pictures

 

Djamila Idir- Benghazi

Service coordinator

“What a wonderful experience it was to take part in the Rotary event! When I was first told about this community service hour opportunity, my only concern was getting those 20 hours over with…but little did I know. It was great getting to know college students who welcomed us with open arms. It was as if, just by entering the conference room, there was no need for an ‘icebreaker’. Before going to the hotel to work, we went through a formation. We were told to make eye contact, and most importantly, smile. A smile is a curve that sets everything straight. With that in mind, we put our training into practice. I personally began with the will to speed up time, and left with the thought that the whole experience ended in the blink of an eye. “

El Hadj (grade 12)

 

 

“During the past weekend, I had the pleasure of spending time with a few ISD students and members of the Rotary International Foundation. We were able to have an insight look at the work of these people and how they raise money in order to help thousands of people achieve their goals: helping an organization to build a school for up to 4000 disabled children who have never gone to school before. This foundation is really prestigious because each member has the will and devotion in helping the world to be a better place by using their resources in order to help thousands of people improve their life”.

 

Birassi (grade 12)