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Thursday 10 October 2013

Operation Save a Rhino !

  


On 21 September 2013 the Rotaract Club of Matopos in partnership with the Rotaract Club of Belmont and the rest of the Bulawayo Community joined Environment Africa and participated in a march to commemorate World Rhino Day at the same time raising awareness on the plight of Rhinos in our country. The day was filled with so much excitement, with the absence of our club photographer Ernest Mackina being greatly felt as we lacked someone who could  capture the  beautiful moment (yours truly and a few other Rotaractors had to save the day by capturing the moments on our smart phones a far cry from the 20something megapixel shots usually  captured by our very own professional photographer Mackina who was away on Intwasa duties). The march started at Hard square commonly known as Hamara eggs
passing through town and finally ending at the Centenary Park. The event march which could be mistaken for another Victoria falls carnival was led by the Zimbabwe National Army Brass Band that belted out common tunes whilst the drum majorettes and school kids drawn from various schools in the city  danced and marched  too. Not to be outdone where the Zimbabwe National Parks people and our very own hardworking Rotaractors who rather chose the easier root, that of just sitting in the truck whilst it moved as they carried the placards and banners that had various messages written on them to raise awareness on Rhino conservation.

The march a brainchild of Rtn Charlene and her organisation Environment Africa(EA)  has been taking place for the past 2  years in Harare, but this time her organisation decided to bring it to Bulawayo. Environment Africa , a Zimbabwean rooted not for profit organisation with over 20 years of African experience in  responding to the needs of all African people and the environment.  The organisation's main focus is providing African solutions for the most pressing environment and development challenges whilst working with conservation and communities in a collaborative, innovative and action orientated way that promotes a sustainable future for Africa. The World Rhino Day commemoration march was graced by the new Minister of Environment Mr Saviour Kasukuwere coupled with a lot of high profile dignitaries in the Zim politics who set aside their busy schedules to take part in this event. The march helped in raising the much needed awareness on rhino conservation given the depleting population numbers that are taking place in most of Zimbabwe’s game parks given the escalation in the poaching tendencies by individuals who go after the rhino for its horn. According to media reports, Zimbabwe is home to the world’s fourth largest black rhino population after South Africa, Namibia and Kenya and nearly one-quarter of the country’s rhinos have been slaughtered by organized gangs of poachers between 2007 and 2009, as once again Southern African nations faced an upsurge in poaching activity. This renewed poaching activity is driven primarily by use in Viet Nam where rhino horn is used as a “blood purifier” to treat the symptoms of over-indulging in alcoholic beverages and rich foods, and is rumoured to be a cure for life threatening diseases such as cancer.  The use of powdered rhino horn to reduce fevers also remains a traditional remedy in China and other countries. Despite the recent increase in demand for horn, rhino management and protection efforts by organisations like Environment Africa have been working and black rhino numbers are actually increasing.

 On that same day Environment Africa founder Rtn Charlene "Charlie" Hewat was appointed the first Rhino Ambassador for Zimbabwe by the Minister, in his remarks the Minister described  Rtn Charlene as a committed and highly respected conservationist who has worked for over 20 years to raise awareness on the need of rhino conservation, he added on to say that the government of Zimbabwe had decided to appoint her the Rhino ambassador given the hard work she has been doing over the years with her organisation to address the awareness of Rhino poaching and the possibility of them becoming extinct in Zimbabwe if nothing is done about the poaching. The march ended with lots of food and music. To the Belmont and Matopos Rotaract Teams, we say bravo to you for the job well done.

Article written by  Club reporter  Chris Xris Chakwana     


Tuesday 3 September 2013

One on one with the DRR

As we are in the last month of our first quarter I wanted to write something really amazing for this online news letter. So i cracked my brain wondering what to write then it hit me it literary me, the most amazing story I can ever write that everyone would love to read is an interview with our very own DRR. Now unlike me most people have never had the great honour and privilege of knowing her and forming a close relationship with her. So with the help of my S.H.I.E.L.D contacts I tracked her down and using my Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1(designed for humans) I interviewed 
her online (the wonders of modern technology) and it was quiet interesting

 Me: Hello DRR Jayne Terera (JT)

JT: Hie Nash McRonzie

Me: Please just call me Nash

JT: Ok

Me: Can you tell us a bit about yourself, who is Jayne Terera what makes you tick?

JT: Jayne Terera is a 20 something year old lady, business manager and a Proud Rotaractor. What makes me tick is God, my family and my friends. My biggest driving force is not wanting to be mediocre.I want to live up to my full potential and make a difference in the world.

Me: wow now that's lovely I like that, so what does DRR stand for

JT: DRR stands for District Rotaract Representative

Me: What does it mean to be a DRR, what are your roles and responsibilities

JT: The role of the DRR is basically that of overseeing the activities of the Rotaract Clubs in the district. I play an advisory and supportive role to club Presidents and Rotaractors. Specifically the mandate of the DRR is 5 fold, namely to facilitate training of Rotaractors in the District, help clubs retain and increase quality membership, increase awareness of the District, encourage joint projects between clubs in the District as well as organise the annual District Conference

Me: That sounds like a heavy task,better you than me i guess. How does one become DRR, Do i have to be a Harvard graduate or something

JT:  (laughs) not at all. For one to be a DRR, you have to have served either as a President of a Rotaract club in the District in which you wish to be DRR or have previously been a member of the District Rotaract Committee for a year. I was the District Public Relations Officer in 2011-2012 and have been subsequently elected to be DRR for 2013-2014.

Me: How has this role affected you

JT:  The role of DRR is an exciting one because you get to meet and interact with Rotaractors from different countries and languages. Its exciting to get to experience different cultures and mesh them into one, being the Rotaract culture Fellowship through Service. Another great way this role has affected me has been the ability to hone my leadership, teamwork as well as communication skills.

Me: Looks like it has done wonders for you now I want to be DRR What are your goals for the district,what changes are you going to make,whats going to make your reign different from your predecessors (this is were it gets interesting,dramatic music playing)

JT:  Firstly I would like to thank my predecessors who have steered the District into the right direction thus far. My main goal for the District this year is to unify the District by encouraging collaboration between the clubs. Currently, we are in the process of coming up with a Environmental Campaign jingle which we will translate into 3 or 4 languages that will be able to air in all 4 countries in the District. Another big objective this year will be to establish a Rotaract Club in Malawi as well as Mozambique both of which have not had active Rotaract clubs for the past 3 years. In this year I also hope to resuscitate the Potential Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (PRLS) seminar which has been dormant for the past year. PRLS is tentatively scheduled to start in February 2014. As you can see, these are big goals which will need a lot of cooperation from fellow Rotaractors in order for them to come into fruition.

Me: Those are amazing goals you have for the district,you might also need help or advice from fellow DRRs which brings the question are you in contact with other DRRs

JT: Yes, I am in contact with other DRRs from Africa, namely:






Sarah (Kenya) - DRR 9212 - Kenya, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea
Amir Marouane (Tunisia) - DRR 9010 - Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania
Winfred Karungi (Uganda) - DRR 9211 - Uganda, Tanzania
Dominique Yon (South Africa) - DRR 9350 - South Africa, Angola and Namibia
Michel Ndjock (Cameroon) - DRR 9150 - Cameroon, Burundi, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Rwanda, Sao Tome, Tchad
 
Me: With all those contacts are there any plans of joining or forming a MDIO (Multi-District Information Organisation)
 
JT: So far I have been in talks with DRR Sarah from D9212 about possibly forming a MDIO. An MDIO functions as a regional office of information and resources and comprises of Rotaract clubs in 2 or more districts. It is formed for the purpose of facilitating communication and disseminating information. The Formation of an MDIO is quite a process though with the DRRs having to get at least 2/3 approval from the clubs in their districts, having to get approval from the District Governors and then the final approval from Rotary International. However like I said, we have begun the process and will inform you of the progress in due course.
 
Me: Well I hope it works out. Can you tell us about the people in the district committee and why you chose each person for that specific role
 
JT: The members of the District Committee are as follows:

Nyasha Muronzi (Me) - ADRR Clubs and Membership
Patson Musiiwa - ADRR Training
Victoria Mungwena - ADRR DISCON
Farirai Nyamukapa - District Secretary
Kudzai Murongazvombo - District Treasurer
Kay Terera - District PRO
Amos Mwanza - Country Representative Zambia

This team was chosen on the basis of each individuals strength. Each member of the team is an inducted Rotaractor who has served either as a President, Vice President or Committee Director in the past and so has the necessary experience needed to lead the District. Furthermore, Amos Mwanza was elected into office at the Ndola District Conference in May this year.
 
Me: Looks like you picked the A-team wise move I guess that's why you are the DRR, how well are you working with the DG & DRC
 
JT: I am working very well with the District Governor Stella Dongo and the District Rotaract Chair Masimba Mukurazvita. Rotarians are very passionate about new generations and are therefore excited about Rotaract and the role we play in Rotary International.
 
Me: That's music to my ears, do you have any plans to visit the rotaract clubs in the district,
 
JT;  I do plan to visit clubs in the District. I was able to meet some of the Ndola, TPR and Catholic University club members at the Ndola DISCON, I have also managed to visit most of the clubs in Harare and recently I visited the Rotaract Club of MSU in Gweru. during this year I intend to carry out more club visits
 
Me: Yipee that's great news,well my lunch break is over so we have to end this, Any wise words you would love to impart on the rotaractors
 
JT:  My parting words would be all the best for this coming year. I look forward to a very fun filled and fruitful year as we Engage Rotary and Change Lives.
 
Me: Thank you for those words and thank you for finding time in your busy schedule to have this interview. Cheers DRR Jayne Terera
 
JT: It was my pleasure Nash..Take care
 
And with that the greatest interview of my career ended, It was nice talking to such an enligthened Rotaractor, it looks like the future if our district is in safe hands 

By  ADRR Nyasha Muronzi (Nash McRonzie)






 












Tuesday 26 February 2013

World Rotaract Week

Mar 11-17, 2013

Every year, Rotaractors and Rotarians around the world celebrate World Rotaract Week during the week March 13 to commemorate the founding of the first club in 1968.
World Rotaract Week is a time for celebrating the success and importance of the Rotaract program. This event is also an excellent opportunity to inform members of your community about the amazing work that Rotaract clubs do, and give them an opportunity to get involved.

The name Rotaract (derived from "Rotary in Action") was selected to show the program's close affiliation with both Rotary and Interact clubs.RI President Luther Hodges inaugurated Rotaract in 1968, with the Rotaract Club of North Charlotte becoming the first club. The club received its charter on 13 March and had 21 members.
Within a day of the first club's certification, the Rotaract Club of the University of La Salle was chartered in Tacubaya, Mexico. The Rotaract club of Secunderabad, India, was certified the following week.
Since the 1950s, many Rotary clubs had been starting unofficial clubs for young adults, fueling Rotaract’s rapid growth in its first few years. Rotaract grew from 21 clubs in 1967-68 to 289 clubs a year later. There are now more than 8,000 Rotaract clubs in 167 countries and geographical areas.
Rotaract clubs were originally open to young men and women ages 17-24. Since 1991, young adults ages 18-30 have been welcomed. And this year Rotaract turns 45years, so we will be celebrating 45 years of service above self

Happy Rotaract Week All!!!!

Source: http://www.rotary.org/ and The Rotaract Handbook

Saturday 5 January 2013

Wise words..........

Since this months issue of the Matopos newsletter has been released at the beginning of the year,we thought what better way than to start this new year than get wise words from a piece written from one of Rotaract Matopos members who is currently residing in USA, Tebogo G.H Ndlovu who gives us wise words in her beautiful piece titled "The misnomer of ‘better’"


The misnomer of ‘better’

Words of advice for my mirror image..

I see you, Lady In The Mirror
 Ever concerned about Being Better
 I’ll give you a hand then
 This is what being better is Not

Being better is not having the last say in a quarrel
 Or delivering the blow that kills
 Being better is not having the upper hand
 Or conniving to stay that way
 Being better is not owning
 The appeal of a coarse voice
 Or the sharpness of a sleek tongue.
 Being better is not yelling the loudest
 Or expertly throwing daggers with your eyes
 Or how large your fist is
 Or the charisma in your gait.

Being better isn’t the price of your perfume
 Or its scent carrying with it pomp and circumstance
 Being better isn’t in your last name
 -Your tribal inheritance
 Or which chunk of the country you hail from
 Being better isn’t lording your wealth over others
 Or using the sound of your accent
 To label them lowly.

Being better isn’t in how well
 You manage your high heels
 Or how far you’ve travelled
 From your hometown
 It isn’t in being a certain race
 Or boasting a certain complexion within a race
 Being better isn’t reserved for those of the first world
 Nor is it lodged in your background.

Being better isn’t being the best
 Or being the worst
 Or abiding in the security of mediocrity
 Being better isn’t about Comparison
 But about Exchange.
 Being better is understanding
 How common you are
 How fragile good fortune is
 And that chance -like music- is universal
 A gift awarded us by the grace of God.

Being better is stainless elation
 When your best friend gets married first
 Being better is admiration
 When your nemesis wins the race
 Being better is blameless pride
 When your sister succeeds
 In changing the world.

Is there someone you don’t like?
 And for no particular reason?
 Being better is neutrality with all
 -If not outright fondness
 For that stranger who could be
 A beautiful person
 Believing
 That everybody is magnificent
 Acknowledging
 That your worst enemy is only so
 Because of the weight of his worst days
 Extract the color of discrimination from your vision
 View the world in black-and-white
 For you are the same as your worst enemy
 And his too
 -You are human.

Copyright © 2012 Tebogo Ndlovu

First published ; http://theamateursquill.wordpress.com
Second publication;   http://scribbledn.blogspot.com

How to write a C.V.....


The CV is a critical tool for getting you the interview for the job you want. There has been a paradigm shift from focus on qualifications to a focus on experience and competencies. An employer wants to know what difference you will make to his bottom line and he only gets this information from the information you provide him in the CV. Nowadays there are several types of CVs. You don’t strictly have to stick to a chronological one. It simply depends on your particular circumstances, employment history and what you feel comfortable with. If you don’t have a lot of work experience or you are changing careers, then you can write a functional CV. This type of resume focuses on skills, responsibilities and accomplishments with little emphasis on dates and specific work experiences. It is organized by functional titles that explain general areas of expertise. It is important to note that the employer will catch on to your avoidance to put down specific periods of employment and naturally they will be suspicious and raise an eyebrow. A combination of the chronological and functional formats is probably the best. Chronological work dates and competencies / skills are highlighted. Always make sure you provide all the information the employer is looking for. A CV should include the following information:- Personal particulars including starting date, reasonable salary expectations and contact details. Educational Background – school subjects and qualifications Work Experience Other relevant information – special memberships, hobbies, extracurricular activities and miscellaneous skills. Unless otherwise specified keep a CV brief. Depending on your level of experience, it should be no more than 3-6 pages. You will therefore have to leave out irrelevant work experience such as your holiday job at Edgars in April 2001 when you are applying for the Marketing Manager position. In your CV, be sure to use keywords. Keywords describe the skills required for each job. These words can easily be picked up from the advertisement or job description. However don’t simply repeat the words in the advert elaborate on them to show that you truly are proficient in that particular field and you understand what the employer is looking for. Know your limitations and don’t exaggerate your achievements. Don’t leave out any information about yourself. This includes references. People like to say “referees available on request”. This is giving work to the employer. Put references that the employer can contact without you priming them first. It gives the employer confidence that he will receive a reliable reference. Make sure you present your resume well. Employers will give it a brief initial glance and depending on how it catches their attention they may or may not give it another look. So it needs to be striking and attention grabbing. It should be neatly typed on good quality paper and it should match the paper used for the resume. As I mentioned last week, the spelling and grammar needs to be perfect. Also make use of standard fonts and avoid any complex formatting especially when sending your resume via email or submitting it online. Through implementation of these tips, you will be one step closer to the job interview for your dream job.

By Thembani Chikowore.

#Thembani Chikowore is the Recruitment Manager at Sesani Skills which specialises in Procurement of Management Skills for the Mining and Construction industry.

And one of our own achieves!!!!!!!


Our former Vice President of The Rotaract of Matopos  our very own Pamela N Mukwenha  who is currently in exile  in South Africa *for academic reasons* was selected out of a million global applicants to be a delegate at a Global Change makers summit which was held in England recently. Pamela  an undergraduate student of Chemical Engineering at the University of Pretoria is also the cofounder of Jamili Afrika an organisation that she started with her friends to promote the good name of Africa.Her selection to be a delegate at the summit automatically makes her an ambassador of the Global Change makers programme .The Global Changemakers programme is managed by the British Council Switzerland. The British Council is the United Kingdoms’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities .The Global Change makers are a select group of young people, aged from 16 to 25, who have demonstrated a significant track record of achievement in their local communities through social entrepreneurship, community activism and volunteer work. These exceptional young people are part of a global network where they share ideas, knowledge, and best practices, and where they work individually and together on projects that directly impact the lives of those in their local communities. Currently there are over 730 change makers from 120 countries working alongside more than 50,000 other young people to promote positive social change.
Pamela credits her love for community development through social entrepreneurship to her work as a youth ambassador under the Ministry of Education & JICA, her experiences with Rotaract Matopos and Lead Us Today . The Club congratulates her on her achievement and clearly the world will continue to shake because of ‘small giants” like her. Amhlophe ,Makorokoto "usifake emephini siyaziqhenya ngawe'   #we are proud of you#.

By Xris Chaks