ROTARIAN PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

My Cherished Fellow Rotarians,

I am excited to serve as your Club President and to work alongside such a passionate and dedicated group of individuals. I feel even more excited that I happen to be the first president of my club in the new District 9104. I am committed to upholding the values of Rotary and to working towards our shared goals.

  As we begin this new Rotary year, I am reminded of the words of Nelson Mandela, "What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead." These words embody the spirit of Rotary and the mission of "Service Above Self".

 Our RI President’s theme for 2023-24, Create Hope in the world calls for Rotarians to create hope in the world by promoting peace in troubled nations, help those affected by conflict, and maintain the momentum of initiatives begun by past leaders to help the world heal from destructive conflicts and achieve lasting change for ourselves.  Thus our Vision Statement: “Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change across the globe, in our communities and in ourselves”.

I reckon with the fact that as Rotary members we have a shared responsibility to take action on our world’s most persistent issues, including amongst others to: promote peace; fight disease; provide clean water, sanitation, and hygiene; save mothers and children; support education; grow local economies; and protect the environment.

I am enthused that over the years, our club has accomplished so much, from providing clean water to communities in need to supporting local schools and organizations, and providing support to health facilities amongst others. Looking ahead, I am committed to continuing to oversee our legacy of service and humanitarian effort, support our community's most vulnerable populations, promote health and quality education, and empower the next generation of leaders through youth programmes, and in close partnership with Rotaractors.

In the coming months, we will be working on developing partnerships with other organizations and creating strategic alliances that will strengthen our Club's outreach. The aim is to give our members opportunities to grow both personally and professionally, by participating in training programmes and mentorship initiatives.

One of our initiatives I am passionate about is our support of women's empowerment programmes and initiatives to provide women with the necessary skills, resources, and tools to break down the barriers that have held them back and help them to embrace their full potential. The benefit of empowering women in our society is that it can lead to long-term economic growth, social development, and poverty reduction. When women are empowered, they can make significant contributions to their families, their communities, and the broader economy, and also help to break the cycle of poverty, promote sustainable development, and reduce inequality. We must continue to support and invest in initiatives that enable women to overcome the barriers they face and unlock their full potential. By doing so, we can create a more equitable, just, and prosperous society for all.

For this Rotary year, we plan to undertake projects related to the National Polio Immunization Programme, Donation of Medical Supplies and Equipment to Hospitals, Tree Planting, Solar Vaccine Shelter, Reading and Donation to Schools, Basic Bookkeeping Skills for Women Entrepreneurs, Breast Cancer Screening, Sickle Cell Awareness, and joint projects with the Ghana Girls’ Guide.

As we strive to achieve our goal of providing services to those in need, it is essential that we keep in mind the Rotary values of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (honesty, integrity, and ethical dealings). Let us not forget that our contributions as Rotarians can have a profound impact, lifting communities and empowering individuals.

I am honored and humbled to serve as President of our esteemed Rotary Club of Accra-Airport in the new District 9104. I want to express my gratitude for the trust and confidence you have placed in me, and I look forward to working with each and every one of you to make a positive impact in our community and beyond.

In the midst of all the challenges we face, Rotary can be a bright light, a shining beacon of goodwill, humanitarian effort, and just plain fun. Lord knows we all need a little fun in our lives these days.

As we move forward, I want to leave you with the words of Malala Yousafzai, "I raise up my voice—not so I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard...we cannot succeed when half of us are held back." Let us continue to work towards empowering all members of our community and Creating Hope in the World”.

Thank you.

Peace Akwei-Brock

President, Rotary Club of Accra-Airport, 2023-2024