Evergreen Rotary

Polio Travel Grant to Nigeria

by Finn Knudsen

Dear fellow Rotarians,

You may be aware that Cynthia Giffen has been working for some time to participate in and now is scheduled for the RI Polio Plus trip to Nigeria November 10-20. ( see Polio Plus - Nigeria 2007 Brochure here)

Most of you remember Bob Stillmock did such a trip to India a couple of years ago, and we have heard his excellent presentations and promoting all of us to participate in this RI program focusing upon the eradication of Polio.

Thanks to my participation in the 2006 RI convention in Copenhagen I met a member - Lateef Afudon - of the “Rotary Club of Lagos West”, and we have stayed in touch since via e-mail. (Mark met Lateef during the 2007 RI convention in Salt Lake City). This connection assisted Cyn immediately having a sponsoring club from Nigeria, and as you can see the extend of this Rotary friendship in the e-mail Lateef send to Cyn today.

Cyn has asked me if our club members can assist with some of the items identified by the local Rotarians, that are desperately needed for that country, and Cyn plans to bring them along (that is similar to what we experienced, when Bob traveled to India and we helped him out). Cyn just left our club and I understand is transferring to the Conifer club, however I feel we should support Cyn as much as possible, assisting her with the needed items as shown in the e-mail below. Please do what you can, and let’s support Cyn for the great job she is doing for being a Rotary ambassador for all of us here in District 5450, and representing the Evergreen area. Feel free to contact Cyn directly with your support for the donation of items she is looking for.

Thank you and have a great weekend!

Cheers,
Finn

Dear Finn,

Per our earlier telephone conversation I am sending you an email requesting help from anyone and everyone that wants to contribute or has suggestions on who may… As you know I am partnering with the Rotary Club of Lagos, Nigeria for my trip to Abuja , Nigeria November 10-20, 2007. I will be meeting up with them while I am in Abuja to work together at the Project Fair. It is such an honor to be working with such amazing people.

I spent a great deal of time today thinking about the needs that have been expressed to me and many of the stories I have heard from other folks that have done similar trips. The supplies they need are things we don’t even think about in this country. Most families could afford to have these items in their homes if they wanted them or saw a need and in this country the doctors don’t have them often times. We take so much for granted and forget how fortunate we truly are. Most of us spend more in a week than many of these families live on in a year. We are SO blessed in this amazing country we live in… I am so BLESSED to be given the opportunity to go and be touched by the lives of so many amazing women, men and children in a country that takes nothing for granted and whose people have so little. I suspect I will get a lot more from the experience in the learning than I could ever hope to give. Thank you for helping me connect with the club and Lateef. You are my own International Angel…

They have asked for my help in securing some medical items listed below. Anyone and everyone that can help in any way would be greatly appreciated. I intend to find a supplier that can sell me some of the items cheaply, get some donated, etc. so people can either contribute financially or provide me with the actual items they are requesting. I will be FILLING my bag as I travel with all the items I am able to gather and pack as few personal items as I can get away with. Several people have already committed to contributing financially as they are unable to get the items themselves.

Please direct people to me via my cell phone or email if they are interested.

On behalf of the Rotary Club of Lagos in D-9110 I genuinely thank you all for your consideration in this matter.

All my best,
Cyn

Hello, Cyn.

Thanks for your mail and offer and forgive my slight delay in responding but I needed to consult with the President and the Board of the Club.

Nigeria has 4 Rotary Districts and Lagos in D-9110 where our Club is is an hour flight to Abuja. Three members of my Club are billed to attend the Project Fair and I should be one of them. I do not know what your thoughts are but having gone through your program and itinerary it might not be very convenient to visit Lagos where you can be sure to be given a warm and memorable welcome by my wife and I. Be that as it may, we shall definitely meet at the Abuja Fair.

My Club has requested for an assistance from you/your to enable us execute some of our projects for the year and it is in the following areas:

1. Blood Pressure Monitors
2. Medicated Eye Glasses
3. Equipment for Eye Screening

I hope some or all of them will be handy and convenient for you. We shall forever be appreciative.

Thanks for being there. I shall write again.

Lateef

Hello Cyn:

I have just learnt that some Rotarians coming for the same program to Abuja are getting there via Lagos. It will be great if you can route your trip through Lagos so that you and I can fly to Abuja together. If OK by you, then you could arrive Lagos a couple of days before the start of the event, or do you prefer a couple of days with us in Lagos after it? It will enable you see more of Nigeria. The decision is yours. Please keep me posted.

Lateef