By Millicent Senava Mannah
With support from Africell-Sierra Leone, the Ninth Assembly Conference of the Rotary 9101 took place on the 25th March, 2022 at the Freetown International Conference Centre in Freetown with delegates from other countries including Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Liberia and The Gambia in attendance.
President Julius Maada Bio and other important personalities were also present
The District Governor of District 9101, Rotary Club Sierra Leone, Christopher Forster, on behalf of others welcomed all the international delegates to Freetown, assuring them that they are prepared to give them the best treatment underscoring how their stay in the country will be a memorable one.
He continued that when he visited different countries in Africa, he received warm welcome from Rotarians adding that he was even assigned a police escort from Rotarians in one of those countries.
In a welcome statement at the conference, Past Assistant Governor of Rotary 9101, Rotarian Sheila John, who doubled as Chair for the Host Organizing Committee said she was honoured and delighted to have her fellow Rotarians from over 10 countries in Africa to Freetown to deliberate on the progress and challenges of their Club.
“Rotarians in Sierra Leone wish you all a wonderful and successful time in our beloved country. Thank you,” she concluded.
In a goodwill message, the International Rotary President, Shekhar Mehta, said that Rotary is an institution of community service where the ordinary people are motivated to another height, adding that serving people is the service of paying rent on earth.
He further noted that their institution would continue to do more by empowering and putting special emphasis on girls, and by so doing they would have unlimited opportunities in the world.
”I hope you take the knowledge gained at this District Conference back to your Clubs to help them succeed throughout the coming year. Together we will achieve great things as we serve to change lives,” Shekhar Mehta concluded.
In his remarks President Julius Maada Bio welcomed the Rotarians, Rotaractors, and Interactors to Sierra Leone, telling them that the country is the fourth most peaceful in Africa, according to the Global Peace Index.
“International assessments rate us highly on scorecards for governance and ruling justly. We now have a National Commission for Peace and National Cohesion. As I always say, the ties that bind us as a nation are stronger.
“I have been impressed with the emphasis on the power of one that is central to the principles of your organization – the idea that each individual is a global citizen and, working with others, can touch lives in the farther parts of our planet including Sierra Leone,” he said adding that the power of one, unleashed with a singular focus, with a common purpose, with a common goal, had changed lives and futures and given hope where there was none and could have been none.
“When Rotarians support the peanut butter project in Pujehun and stave off malnutrition among under-fives, they are helping keep alive and nourish men and women who will later change this nation,” he concluded.
Rotary, a global network of 1.2m neighbours was formed by a Chicago Attorney, Paul Harris, on 23 February 1905, for professionals from diverse backgrounds to exchange ideas and form meaningful, lifelong friendships. Members have a long track record of addressing challenges in their communities and around the world.
