Turning the philosophy into action by the Rotary Club of Maseru
Is peace merely the absence of war, and freedom from disturbance? – Two pertinent questions to us in a day and world we live.
Answers to these questions will depend on our understanding of our personal and political meanings of peace and how they relate to each other, in establishing harmony in generating hope and eventually peace and development.
Peace and development are not just a cliché for cocktail talk. They are defined and determined by wants and needs of people, often most basic. For men, women and children living in resource constrained communities, simple short term interventions enhancing access to learning, food, clothing, heath care and other essential services can ensure long term opportunities for human and economic development, hope and hence, peace. More often than not the needs of the women and children in some settings are constant
While the governments have the primary responsibility for maintaining peace, they all too often are limited in scope and approach to realizing just and peaceful communities and world. Individuals and groups people united by a common interest and concern can, and have made tremendous personal contributions towards establishing and ensuring peace.
One of the world's first service clubs, the Rotary was formed on the 23rd of February 1905 by Paul Harris, an attorney who wished to capture in a professional club the friendly spirit of service to humanity. The Rotary today is a worldwide organization of business and professional leaders, and exists to achieve a better, more peaceful world, through its own efforts of providing humanitarian service and promoting high ethical standards in all vocations.
Rotary International’s president Sakuji Tanaka aptly puts “In Rotary, our business is not profit, our business is peace,” further emphasizing that “Our reward is not financial, but the happiness and satisfaction of seeing a better, more peaceful world, one that we have achieved through our own efforts.” This objective is set against the "Rotary 4-way Test", to ensure its actions are compatible with the Rotarian spirit and standard for ethics in business and professional conduct.
The Rotary Club of Maseru:
The Rotary Club of Maseru was chartered in 1977 in Maseru bringing together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service to those less fortunate than themselves, encouraging high ethical standards in all vocations, towards building goodwill and peace in Lesotho and within the global community.
The motto of Rotary International “Service above self” is the guiding principle to which the Rotary club of Maseru adheres by providing its members and its community partners with opportunities to positively impact in rural and urban communities in Lesotho. In doing so, the club also promotes networking opportunities and building lifelong friendships and collaborations, thus contributing to the personal and professional growth of members in an organization that is respected worldwide for its high values and standards.
The Purpose and Philosophy:
Central to the Club’s existence is its community service through projects, and collaborating with other sister clubs across the world, in resource mobilization, technical collaborations skill sharing and fund raising.
The Club’s philosophy is to uphold the highest professional standards, and a belief that worldwide fellowship and international peace can be achieved when business people and professionals unite under the banner of service. The Rotary Club of Maseru manifests those qualities, principles and ideals of service in character and service to the communities in Lesotho
Community service:
The Rotary Club of Maseru approaches community projects in a spirit of service. The needs of a community are assessed by gathering information about a community’s opinions, needs, challenges, and assets to determine which project(s) will meet the real needs of the community. This assessment is conducted through various modalities including consultation with community leaders, public forums, and a review of any data that may have already been collected regarding issues and needs.
Projects Supported:
Rotary Foundation which provides global grants to support large international projects with sustainable, high-impact outcomes in the six areas of focus; Peace and conflict prevention/resolution, Disease prevention and treatment, Water and sanitation, Maternal and child health, Basic education and literacy, Economic and community development. The rotary Club of Maseru, through applying the guiding principle of the Foundation mobilizes resources locally and internationally to support modest but responsive projects in Lesotho. Rotary projects are based on need and sectors vary, however, clubs generally have a yearly project emphasis covering a specific type of project.
Over the years, The Rotary club of Maseru supported:
For the year 2012/2013, the Board comprises: President – Jack Refiloe Khomari, Immediate Past President – Maime Nthathakane, President Elect and Director of Club Administration – Jacob Mufunda, Director of Membership – Kal Basin, Director of Foundation – Percy Metsing Mangoaela, Director of New Generations – Shatu Nhlapo, Director of Service Projects – Deepak Pullanikkatil, Director of Public Image – Megh Raj, Treasurer – Puleng Lebitsa, and Secretary – Thabelo Khoboko
The Rotary Club of Maseru is secular organization open to all persons regardless of race, color, creed, gender, sexual orientation or political preference. The Club meets for lunch every Tuesday at 1.00 pm at the Maseru Sun Hotel where the members discuss projects and promoting ethics of business of life and international understanding, and celebrating cultural diversity through fellowship, built on those eternal principles that have served as the moral compass for people throughout the ages.
For more information on the activities of the club you may contact:
The Rotary Club of Maseru
P.O Box 7544, Maseru 100, Lesotho
Is peace merely the absence of war, and freedom from disturbance? – Two pertinent questions to us in a day and world we live.
Answers to these questions will depend on our understanding of our personal and political meanings of peace and how they relate to each other, in establishing harmony in generating hope and eventually peace and development.
Peace and development are not just a cliché for cocktail talk. They are defined and determined by wants and needs of people, often most basic. For men, women and children living in resource constrained communities, simple short term interventions enhancing access to learning, food, clothing, heath care and other essential services can ensure long term opportunities for human and economic development, hope and hence, peace. More often than not the needs of the women and children in some settings are constant
While the governments have the primary responsibility for maintaining peace, they all too often are limited in scope and approach to realizing just and peaceful communities and world. Individuals and groups people united by a common interest and concern can, and have made tremendous personal contributions towards establishing and ensuring peace.
One of the world's first service clubs, the Rotary was formed on the 23rd of February 1905 by Paul Harris, an attorney who wished to capture in a professional club the friendly spirit of service to humanity. The Rotary today is a worldwide organization of business and professional leaders, and exists to achieve a better, more peaceful world, through its own efforts of providing humanitarian service and promoting high ethical standards in all vocations.
Rotary International’s president Sakuji Tanaka aptly puts “In Rotary, our business is not profit, our business is peace,” further emphasizing that “Our reward is not financial, but the happiness and satisfaction of seeing a better, more peaceful world, one that we have achieved through our own efforts.” This objective is set against the "Rotary 4-way Test", to ensure its actions are compatible with the Rotarian spirit and standard for ethics in business and professional conduct.
- Is it the truth?
- Is it fair to all concerned?
- Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
- Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
The Rotary Club of Maseru:
The Rotary Club of Maseru was chartered in 1977 in Maseru bringing together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service to those less fortunate than themselves, encouraging high ethical standards in all vocations, towards building goodwill and peace in Lesotho and within the global community.
The motto of Rotary International “Service above self” is the guiding principle to which the Rotary club of Maseru adheres by providing its members and its community partners with opportunities to positively impact in rural and urban communities in Lesotho. In doing so, the club also promotes networking opportunities and building lifelong friendships and collaborations, thus contributing to the personal and professional growth of members in an organization that is respected worldwide for its high values and standards.
The Purpose and Philosophy:
Central to the Club’s existence is its community service through projects, and collaborating with other sister clubs across the world, in resource mobilization, technical collaborations skill sharing and fund raising.
The Club’s philosophy is to uphold the highest professional standards, and a belief that worldwide fellowship and international peace can be achieved when business people and professionals unite under the banner of service. The Rotary Club of Maseru manifests those qualities, principles and ideals of service in character and service to the communities in Lesotho
Community service:
The Rotary Club of Maseru approaches community projects in a spirit of service. The needs of a community are assessed by gathering information about a community’s opinions, needs, challenges, and assets to determine which project(s) will meet the real needs of the community. This assessment is conducted through various modalities including consultation with community leaders, public forums, and a review of any data that may have already been collected regarding issues and needs.
Projects Supported:
Rotary Foundation which provides global grants to support large international projects with sustainable, high-impact outcomes in the six areas of focus; Peace and conflict prevention/resolution, Disease prevention and treatment, Water and sanitation, Maternal and child health, Basic education and literacy, Economic and community development. The rotary Club of Maseru, through applying the guiding principle of the Foundation mobilizes resources locally and internationally to support modest but responsive projects in Lesotho. Rotary projects are based on need and sectors vary, however, clubs generally have a yearly project emphasis covering a specific type of project.
Over the years, The Rotary club of Maseru supported:
- A preschool at Ha Ntho in Quthing for 25 OVCs.
- Construction of Ventilated Improvised Pit latrines for the primary school at Sefikeng, Berea.
- Feeding program and psychosocial support children of God’s Love – orphanage in Maseru
- Provision of backup power generator for St. James Hospital in Mantsonyane to ensure uninterrupted service delivery to patients
- Annual Christmas celebration for children at QEII Hospital in Maseru.
- Distribution of 250 wheelchairs to physically disabled in collaboration of Rotary Club of Maloti.
- ARV treatment adherence project for people living with HIV and AIDS of Tsepang Clinic at Moteband Hospital, Hlotse
- Provision of ruggedized laptops for children in Nohana
- Awareness and career guidance through school based seminars
- Establishing Rotaract and Interact clubs to encourage, inspire and support youth with the spirit of service.
- Collaborating with the Ministry of Health in creating awareness on Polio and the importance immunization
For the year 2012/2013, the Board comprises: President – Jack Refiloe Khomari, Immediate Past President – Maime Nthathakane, President Elect and Director of Club Administration – Jacob Mufunda, Director of Membership – Kal Basin, Director of Foundation – Percy Metsing Mangoaela, Director of New Generations – Shatu Nhlapo, Director of Service Projects – Deepak Pullanikkatil, Director of Public Image – Megh Raj, Treasurer – Puleng Lebitsa, and Secretary – Thabelo Khoboko
The Rotary Club of Maseru is secular organization open to all persons regardless of race, color, creed, gender, sexual orientation or political preference. The Club meets for lunch every Tuesday at 1.00 pm at the Maseru Sun Hotel where the members discuss projects and promoting ethics of business of life and international understanding, and celebrating cultural diversity through fellowship, built on those eternal principles that have served as the moral compass for people throughout the ages.
For more information on the activities of the club you may contact:
The Rotary Club of Maseru
P.O Box 7544, Maseru 100, Lesotho