On Monday, September 1, the Rotary Club hosted two guest speakers.

Rtn Lucy Hopgood-Brown (photo left) briefed our club on the history and current project in Congo with Reverend Dr. Marthe Kondemo, 45, an academic and pastor who serves as the General Secretary for Women and Families of the National Church of Christ in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Her rural women stakeholders include 15 million women representing more than 100 Protestant denominations in a vast, diverse nation with a population of 104 million. Marthe recently completed three months in New South Wales, hosted by the Royce and Jean Abbey Vocational Scholarship Committee, the Rotary E-Club of Greater Sydney, and HandUp Congo, a small non-profit that facilitates initiatives in Congo through Rotary Australia World Community Service.

The RCM is working on the HandUp project, and with a matching district grant, it may be able to significantly support this venture. See details in the Rotary Downunder: https://rotarydownunder.org/rotary-amplifies-womens-voices-in-congo/ or donate directly to https://www.handupcongo.org/.

James Kidenya (photo right) presented his harrowing but exciting experiences on STV Winde Bound sailing ship. James was sponsored by the RCM, and the overall project is proudly supported by Australian Rotary districts. The sailing adventure sees 14- to 17-year-olds come together to live, work, and play with people they have never met before. Over 10 days, the teens learn about becoming a team member, taking responsibility, giving and taking orders, pushing themselves physically and mentally, being cold, wet, weary, possibly sick and often frightened—but in the end, they will look back on it as the best experience of their lives. James did experience all this and more... but he will not do it again!