Rotary is friendship and service Finnish Afghanistan Project

Rotary in Change - 6 October 2011

Rotary is friendship and serviceFinnish Afghanistan Project

RC Matti Honkala

Rotary is friendship and service

• Perhaps exceptional friendship among the Finnish 2009-2010 governors and spouses


International Assembly in San Diego 2009:

Matti: how to engage the Finnish Government

in PolioPlus more intensively?

Finlands Development cooperation with civil society organisations

• Projects run by nearly 300 Finnish organisations (NGOs) in 90 countries received a total of 83.7 million euros in support.

• The majority of the projects develop education, health care, good governance and civil society.

• Most of the assistance focuses on Africa and Asia.

• Most of the projects are in Tanzania, Kenya, Somalia, India and Nepal.



– DG Tuomo Matilainen contacted a distant friend known to be working in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and got information concerning NGO programs available

– Matti Honkala and Tuomo Matilainen made a visit to the chair of NGO programs department of the Ministry (October 2009)

Rotary is friendship and service Conclusions of the meeting

– Finlands Rotary is an eligible NGO to apply for a grant

– The amount of a three year grant may be as high as 1 M€

– In case of acceptance the Rotarians should provide 15 % of the total amount of the grant

– The grant can only be applied to benefit a country of Finland´s sponsorship


• Matti H. participated in a seminar arranged for the NGOs and was able to inform the participants about the success story of Rotary in eradicating polio (early November 2009) and also about experiences in Afghanistan

• The chair contacted Matti later in November: the Government of Finland will provide an extra grant for 2010 to be used in Afghanistan


Polio campaigns in Afghanistan - since 1997 – even during Taliban rule

Polio Campaign posters on armoured carrier and

mobilizing communities to vaccinate their children

Polio Eradication in Afghanistan: main risks and challenges

• Accessing children & safety for vaccinators in the southern Region

• High population movement between polio-endemic areas in Afghanistan & Pakistan

• Maintaining high immunity in polio-free areas of Afghanistan

Low Risk Zone

(Southern Region)

‘Drs. Kakar & Taheri, veterans of the fight against polio, died with their driver in the attack at Spin Boldak '

Ambitious Afghan polio effort

proceeds despite slayings

National Post (Canada), 19 Sept 08

Despite all difficulties, partnership resolve in Afghanistan remains high

1st bOPV campaignAfghanistan

16 December 2009


– the time for the application was short

– only 10 % of NGO payment was required for this extra grant

– the Board of Finlands Rotary approved the decision to apply

– an e-mail to Challenge Chair John Germ

– Rotary wheels turned quickly, PolioPlus officer Kris Tsau gave an immediate and thorough support

– Rotary family works: the action plan was translated into Finnish by DG Virpi and daughter Emma


– The grant of 250 000 euros was approved in April 2010

– The next application for a three year grant was due by the end of May 2010• again great support from Kris Tsau

– the grant was approved in November 2010:2011 150 000 € from Rotarians 30 000 €2012 300 000 € 53 000 €2013 350 000 € 62 000 €


The total amount for Afghanistan project is 1 220 000 € = 1 700 000 USD

• This doubles the amount the Finnish Government has contributed to PolioPlus during the previous 20 years!


What next?

• National Polio Eradication Collection– The permission for two years

– different sponsors: national TV, sports teams etc

– Polio Guide for Rotarians

– media publicity all over the country

– First Collection Day October 24th (World Polio Day)

– not all DGs and clubs want to be involved


Questions

– Are Rotarians ready to collect money in public?

– Are we able to tell Rotary´s story?

– Might this be a great way to show what Rotarians do?

– A way to combine service and positive public image – interest of potential members?

End Polio Now Working Group in Finlands Rotary

• RC Matti Honkala , Chair

• PDG Tuomo Matilainen

• PDG Kari Kontula

• RRFC Zone 15 Matti Wall


Rotary is friendship and service Finnish Afghanistan Project

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