Reach out to Africa

In 1961 I was granted a Rotarian Scholarship to Cape Town University. During the year which I spent there I travelled extensively throughout South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Namibia.

I visited 35 Rotary Clubs, met many Rotarians and became immersed in the rich culture of the South of Africa. On my first visit I learnt to appreciate deeply the traditions and challenges which life on this continent offers. Respect and admiration for this land and its people drew me back many times as a Rotarian. Now, in a wonderful way, I have the unique chance to use all the experience I have gained to strengthen the role of the Rotarian in Africa.

This is the fourth year of ROTA (Reach out to Africa) and the idea is to function with more efficiency and dynamism in order to achieve our objectives. We need to increase the number of Rotarians in Africa. I hope to see a substantial increase in projects for international services for the continent, especially those in which the Rotary Foundation is participating. Our committee has an excellent website which I encourage all Rotarians to visit www.reachouttoafrica.org.

I have established two new activities this year to facilitate Rotarian’s visits to Africa and their involvement in projects of international services. First there will be a Rotary meeting in Cape Town from the 3rd to 5th of February and second we are organizing Rotary Project Safaris.

These Safaris will make visits easier to poorer areas where local Rotarians are carrying out several projects which need financial assistance. More information can be found at www.rotary.org/president or elsa.sanabria@rotary.org.

I am proud of belonging to the Rotary Foundation. My presidency will be enriched if I can help Rotary to grow in Africa. Help me on this road to make our work on the African continent larger, better and more ambitious.

RAY KLINGINSMITH
PRESIDENT INTERNATIONAL ROTARY

"Brasil Rotario" (Rotaryan Magazine), November 2010 p. 5