The Brick September 2020

 Dear friends,

Please receive our September edition of the Brick though it has come out late. 

Welcome to the month of Basic Education and Literacy. My heart soothes to the fact that Rotary chose Education as one of the focus areas. Education transforms individuals who in turn lead societal change and community development. 

Basic education comprises  two (2) stages; Primary and lower Secondary Education.  In Uganda 32% of the total population are of this school going age. Imagine what would happen if there was no opportunity to go to school! Basic Education combines formal education which children attain when they go to school, but this builds on and complements the informal school which is the home! There is no question therefore on who imparts the knowledge; everyone is a teacher.

 I am so proud that our Rotary Club of Kajjansi chose to focus on Education as a key area that all Presidents contribute to. The developments in Katwe Bweya transformed what was a pitiable school into an enviable one! The establishment of the Technical institute in Buikwe transformed the village and community at large. Education gives confidence, it promotes security, leads to open mindedness, controls the population, reduces mortality rates, solves the unemployment challenge as people acquire new skills, opens up more opportunities through mobility, the list is endless. The quality of any country is largely attributed to the quality of education! It is therefore imperative that due consideration is given to the education system so that it produces the desired quality of citizens.

 Education has been largely affected by the Covid 19 pandemic globally! This brings a feeling of helplessness and hopelessness, but it has been an eye opener to many opportunities that could never have been! Families have had chance to strengthen their bonds, parents have gone back to their primary role of nurturing their children than delegating all responsibilities to house helps. Children have learnt new skills and techniques for learning. Those from advantaged families have improved their computer skills and broad reading has been enhanced. Although many lament a year lost we should appreciate what has been able to be done and the checks and balances that the new system has revealed. Policy makers and curriculum developers have also given value for their earnings as they strove to come up with workable solutions. A new system of online learning has been embraced and is here to stay! I hope the role of teachers will no longer be underestimated now that parents have tested the deeper waters. 

Literacy is a process by which one expands one’s knowledge of reading and writing in order to develop one’s thinking and learning for the purpose of understanding oneself and the world. People are literate in different areas and it is wrong to judge a person as illiterate just because they lack knowledge in one field; Birds fly and fish swim! Literacy being a process implies that we can improve any skill up to our last day of living. 

A lot of Literature has been written to help us in understanding our heritage and diversity and it is the duty of every adult to interest the young into knowledge acquisition. It frustrates me at every mention that if you want to hide something from a Ugandan, put it in a book!   Take a look at some of the works of celebrated writers in Uganda and do a self assessment showing your knowledge before and after; Charles Mayiga, Barbara Kimenye, Wycliff Kiyingi, Mahmood Mamdan, Catherine Samalie Kavuma , Michael Nsimbi, Barbara Barungi and many others. Their message is put into systematic, enticing stories, poems and tales. 

With a critical mind, any book read, changes the perception and outlook of the reader. I thus implore you to interest yourselves in the art of reading. We can start with simple, small volumes as we grow into sophisticated literature of the likes of Shakespeare. 

Annet Nannyonjo

President 2020-21 

The Brick August 2020

 Opportunity  President Annet’s  August Message

Identity and a sense of belonging are part of man’s social needs. Welcome to the membership month where we have to reflect and celebrate our membership to this global family. 

We are presented with an opportunity to evaluate our status at individual level; are we in Rotary or Rotary is in us? Unlike membership in many other different clubs, choosing to be a Rotarian is a commitment to the service of others! It is a call to be selfless and action oriented. It is our duty to reach out to many and grow the family; there is greater synergy with big numbers. I am therefore reminding you of our promise to bring in at least one person each this year. It is unfortunate that membership to Rotary is still stuck at one million two hundred thousand (1.2m) in fact there is a fear that this number has gone down to 1.18m. Membership needs to be enjoyed! This however can only be attained through active participation in all projects and attending fellowships. Rotary creates a new family not bound by blood, but values. This brotherhood needs to be felt and experienced. 

I am grateful to those that take a minute off to check on others; this care and love binds us. Membership to Rotary is a free choice though by invitation. It however comes with duties and obligations; cardinal to this is payment of dues. Thank you to those that have taken this seriously in spite of the current economic hardships. Diversity in Rotary membership is another opportunity we cannot underrate. 

Different professions, tribes, characters, size, height, different political ideologies, economic and social status, business persons, mention it, are all united in service and indeed this expands our networks. Our reach has been expanded by allowing in full time housewives and respected members of the community who are neither professionals nor business persons, what a big family to belong to! One of the amazing things in Rotary is having someone who cares about your personal life and invites others to celebrate with you on your birthday, and those of your children and spouse and also your anniversary. Not forgetting mourning with you in time of grief. The Rotary bond is so solid that when one Rotarian achieves a milestone we all celebrate.

I am encouraging you to reflect on why you joined Rotary and if your expectations have been met. No doubt you have attained what your mind could never have imagined. Friends and family as we look at what opportunities we can offer the world, let us begin by exploiting the sense of family and belonging by inviting all our acquaintances to Rotary. Evaluate the gaps in classifications and be the first to bridge them. I am grateful to the membership team led by Rotarian Mary for a job well done. 

The Brick July 2020

Opportunity President’s welcome message

Fellow Rotarians and friends, it is with great pleasure that I welcome you to yet another year of service where many doors of opportunity are opened to us! The year has been flagged off with many new opportunities in spite of the pandemic. The District Governor visited us on the first day of the Rotary year during the very first fellowship. The slight drizzles that welcomed her foretell the rich success that awaits us as a club. The value of Rotary is easily understood and appreciated as you bring it closer to yourself. Quoting the Past District Governor Robert Waggwa Nsibirwa, Rotarians are irrational people that do extraordinary things. Think of the monetary value of the time that Rotarians dedicate to service! In addition to that, there is cash amidst other donations. Thank you for your selflessness. This year, the effect of the Coronavirus pandemic places an even greater responsibility for us to avail new opportunities to the people in our communities whose lives are seemingly helpless and hopeless.

 Our joy as Rotarians lies in service. The value of our efforts will not be measured by the expensive outfits we may don or the hearty jokes we may crack and certainly not the lavish parties we may throw but rather the number of projects we implement, the contributions we make to The Rotary Foundation, the number of new Rotarians we bring in and our overall engagement with the youth. I am still honoured and yet humbled that I was trusted with the opportunity to lead this mighty club that has now embarked on the weighty task of producing governors. Your support, encouragement and guidance is in all measures necessary to maintain and even elevate our status as a club. I am grateful to all those who have already paid their dues. Dues are the first qualification to being a Rotarian. To those that have also made contributions to TRF, I join the world in celebrating you as Rotary extends opportunities to the masses. This year has started in a seemingly challenging environment, but the chance to reach out to an even wider sphere of influence offers a soothing feeling. Rotarians have been able to share fellowship with clubs they never could have physically reached. Let us continue to exploit the same environment to engage as many people as possible. 

If the popular narrative that the Rotary year ends with the hosting of the District Governor is anything to go by then I congratulate you on a successful year. However, the DG has promised us a second visit! Let us therefore engage in such a way that will not only sustain her smile but also make our DGN proud and inspired to serve. 

It is with a warm heart that I report that we are back to our routine immunisation at Jjanyi. Thank you to Rotarian Uniah who has embarked on the assignment with zeal. I am also humbled by the big numbers that joined her. Impressively, we have already managed to hold a social event characterised with social distancing! Thank you to our PAGS Charles and Thereza for opening your doors to us. I also congratulate you on the 30 years of mutual love in a marriage union.

 I smile endlessly looking at the two newest additions to the family of Kajjansi whose impact is enthusing. James and Evelyn are so full of life. They have embraced projects, are eager to learn and very sociable.  We are so proud to have you as a part of us. In the same vein, I welcome home our Rotarian Jackson Were, his experience in the land of milk makes him even more instrumental to the club. Thank you to our friends in Mbarara who accepted him and offered him an opportunity to serve and grow in Rotary. 

  As we advance into the Membership month, it is my humble request and reminder that we embark on our search for new entrants; there is strength in numbers. We need not be selfish, let us invite others to enjoy the immense opportunities of this global family.

Congratulations on a successful first month. All indicators point to an immensely successful year; let’s go on towards this success in full gear. God bless you.

NANNYONJO ANNET

OPPORTUNITY PRESIDENT