Guest Speaker Report
by
Rotarian Peter Douglas
Wednesday 24 September 2008
Our first speaker was Catherine Giammarco, daughter of Rotarian Paul. Catherine was introduced by Suzanne Freund and thanked by Ian Johnson.
Catherine is a Year 11 student at Santa Sabina and in April along with 7 other students, 2 teachers and the husband of 1 spent 2 weeks in South Africa undergoing what is described an ‘immersion’ experience where they became immersed in a new culture with indigenous South Africans.
Kopanang (which means ‘gathering together’) Community Trust is a woman’s community driven initiative, run by the Dominican Sisters, addressing the impact of HIV/AIDS in a native township just south of Johannesburg. The project provides critical care to a wide range of needs including a drop-in day care centre, an after school programme for aids orphans, an organic food garden training programme and a daily feeding scheme for 500 orphans within the immediate townships. This program highlights the dramatic effect on children as a result of the devastation caused by the HIV/AIDS epidemic amongst native Africans.
Part of the work of the Trust is involved in cultural skills training which enables women to produce articles of embroidery, quilting, beadwork and screen printing which on one hand maintains the old traditions and on the other produces a cash flow to assist in the ongoing work of the Trust.
Catherine had with her an exquisite piece of the articles produced which was widely admired by all. Photographs of the night can be viewed by clicking the Rotary icon
Our second speakers were students from Homebush Boys High School who were the runners up in the regional MUNA Debate and as such went to the finals in Canberra where they received a Highly Commended award.
MUNA – Model United Nations Assembly is a great Rotary program which encourages senior school students to become involved in public speaking and develop an interest in world politics.
The students were introduced by Paul White and thanked by Ian Johnson.
