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Rotary is friendship and service Finnish Afghanistan Project. RC Matti Honkala. Rotary is friendship and service. Perhaps exceptional friendship among the Finnish 2009-2010 governors and spouses. Rotary is friendship and service. International Assembly in San Diego 2009:.
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Rotary is friendship and serviceFinnish Afghanistan Project RC Matti Honkala Rotary in Change - 6 October 2011
Rotary is friendship and service • Perhaps exceptional friendship among the Finnish 2009-2010 governors and spouses
Rotary is friendship and service 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. Rotary in Change - 6 October 2011
Rotary is friendship and service • 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
Rotary is friendship and service • 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 Rotary in Change - 6 October 2011
Polio campaigns in Afghanistan - since 1997 – even during Taliban rule Polio Campaign posters on armoured carrier and mobilizing communities to vaccinate their children
Low Risk Zone (Southern Region) 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
Despite all difficulties, partnership resolve in Afghanistan remains high ‘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
1st bOPV campaign Afghanistan 16 December 2009
Rotary is friendship and service • 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
Rotary is friendship and service • 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 €
Rotary is friendship and service 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! Rotary in Change - 6 October 2011
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? Rotary in Change - 6 October 2011
End Polio Now Working Group in Finlands Rotary • RC Matti Honkala , Chair • PDG Tuomo Matilainen • PDG Kari Kontula • RRFC Zone 15 Matti Wall Rotary in Change - 6 October 2011