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April is Maternal and Child Health Month By: DG Marion Cheney, Dover RC  In the mountains of Poland, 26 children traumatized by violence get a chance to be kids again at Rotary Camp. Beneath the emotional scars of living in a Ukrainian war zone, Mykyta flashed the same mischievousness of any other 12-year-old boy headed to camp. Mykyta and 25 other Ukrainian children headed to Zakopane, Poland for two weeks. To experience being a child outside of a war zone. Their two week respite, organized by Rotary members, has a higher purpose: To help the children heal and cope with the trauma they may encounter when they return home. Each camper has a parent or sibling killed or injured in the fighting in Ukraine. Psychologists at camp will guide them along the way during an itinerary that mixes escape and therapy. The Rotary Club of Kharkiv Multinational in Ukraine has brought children to the camp for three years and has witnessed the impact. The program, called vacation 2017 Zakopane: Well-Being for Ukrainian Kids, includes traditional camp activities and field trips along with support from mental health professionals. An out-reach group of 7 Rotarians from across our District 7780 will be leaving for Poland on April 19th. Our Rotarians will have the opportunity to meet Rotarians and children at the camp in Zakopane, Poland. In addition, they will tour other camps and programs throughout the region. The focus of this Out-Reach Trip is to learn more about the programs and needs of the refugee children who have escaped the horrors of war and the needs of Rotary Clubs across Poland who are helping to create hope for the young Mykytas … the future of Ukraine. Later, a self-funded trip will take volunteers back to Poland to work on projects with Rotary Clubs. Once again, the Magic of Rotary continues to Create Hope in the World. |
This month I wanted to start by congratulating the five clubs in our district which are already qualified to submit their district grants: Brunswick Coastal, Fryeburg, Portsmouth, Saco Bay-Sunset and Westbrook-Gorham. We also have 22 clubs who have checked off the important step of having two club members trained. Great work to all! There is one more chance to attend live grants training this month. We will have a session at the District Training Assembly on April 20. You can also complete the training on our website.
We are excited to announce a mutually beneficial partnership and collaboration with Journey Magazine with the shared goal of enhancing community engagement and increasing awareness around substance use disorder and recovery. This partnership leverages the strengths of both organizations to extend the magazine's reach, impact, and support for individuals and communities navigating the challenges of recovery. Journey, in turn, will amplify and educate about Rotary, sharing our advertising in their magazine as well as inviting Rotary Members to participate in our community pop up resource events. The publication also will provide training on substance use disorder and recovery, Narcan use, and anti-stigma messaging. More information about the magazine is at 
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