On Monday 25th February we hosted an evening with Mr Paul Newman, Derby Community Manager from Derby County Community Trust.

Paul talked on the work of the Trust including their very successful Rams in Kenya project.

He explained that the Trust is engaged with thousands of people throughout Derbyshire, both young and old. With an investment of £1.7m into the community in 2017, it reached over 17,000 participants on a variety of projects, ranging from teaching young children about healthy eating to helping to reduce the risk of falling in the older generation.

Paul showed great pride in being awarded, in 2018, the Checkatrade 'Community Club of the Year'. However, it was the Rams in Kenya project which proved to be the jewel in the Trust's crown in securing the accolade.
Paul said: "We're absolutely bowled over to win this award. I've been at the Club sixteen years now, going from bags of balls to setting up projects in Africa."

Rams in Kenya is an annual project which sees up to 70 volunteers fundraise and travel over to Africa to aid education, development and sustainability for hundreds of children. Paul spoke about how the work of the Trust in Kenya had expanded. The first Rams in Kenya trip in 2012 included 13 volunteers with 2018 seeing 73 volunteers on the trip. Due to this incredible growth, the scheme now works with four partner projects, Jubilee, Ungana, Cherish and Mama Kerry schools. Below is an example of the Kenyan projects carried out in 2018.
Jubilee: - a new secure library was built with enlarged windows to ensure a more comfortable learning environment, while all existing classrooms and the kitchen were repainted. Foundations were also dug for five new classrooms and books were supplied for all six of the year groups.
Mama Kerry: - Running water was installed, and a new classroom that was built included guttering to a new water tank (kindly funded by the Riverside School in Loughborough).
Teaching and sports coaching were provided for the children, a brand-new kitchen was built, with work surfaces, sink, clay oven, serving hatch and chimney.
Clothing, shoes and stationary were distributed to the children, and a female hygiene talk included; sanitary products being provided to the girls.

If the idea of volunteering appeals, there are two roles available - Teaching and Multi-Sports or Building and Renovation.

This year's trips are planned for 18th May, with one or two weeks being available. For more information, contact Paul Newman at: paul.newman@dcct.co.uk.

Church Wilne Rotary Club is attracting new members through various initiatives, associate membership, satellite clubs and Friends of Rotary, where people can assist with running some of our events. Volunteering helps to get a taste of what it would be like to join the club

For more information on Rotary, our speaker evenings, events and the main activities organised by our club please contact our Secretary, Mick White at: rccw1220@gmail.com

Rtn David Hewitt
For Church Wilne Rotary