Why Rotaract-A journey through Rotaract - by Aiebee-Iberedem Nkereuwem PHF

WHY ROTARACT? A JOURNEY THROUGH ROTARACT AIEBEE-IBEREDEM NKEREUWEM (PHF)

TABLE OF CONTENTS Preamble -------------------------------------------- ii Benefits of Rotaract ------------------------------ 1 Programs & Causes of Rotary/Rotaract ------ 3 What is Expected of Us as Rotaractors? ----- 6 Why Did I Join Rotaract? -------------------------- 7 Why Do People Fall Out of Rotaract? -------- 9 Is there Life A er Rotaract or What Does it Even Mean? ---------------------------------------- 10 Conclusion ------------------------------------------ 11 i

WHY ROTARACT? PREAMBLE Having already known before today what Rotaract is, how it started, its purpose and goals, then it is definitely right for us to also look into some basic programs/ac vi es, benefits of Rotaract as well as what we are expected to offer, in fact the journey through Rotaract. Talking about the benefits which I in some cases do not really like engaging a person/people with except in scenerios where I'm sure the person/people in ques on would also be ready to offer their part as there isn't any prize without hard work, and once an individual is ready to pay a price then such person should equally be expectant of returns that follow suit. Therefore, I will be highligh ng some benefits which I have also experienced as a Rotaractor, and this has been in my 6+ years of being an inducted, ACTIVE and RESPONSIBLE member of the organiza on; I emphasize on ACTIVE and RESPONSIBLE because you can eventually be inducted as a Rotaractor but you're neither ac ve nor responsible to your Club either by a ending mee ngs/ac vi es, paying your dues, standing in where there's no one to do so to ge ng one or two things done, not represen ng your Club and even your immediate community, etc. ii A JOURNEY THROUGH ROTARACT

WHY ROTARACT? BENEFITS OF ROTARACT Here are few but very basic and important things we all stand to gain as ACTIVE and RESPONSIBLE Rotaractors; 1. Friendship: In an increasingly complex world, Rotaract provides one of the most basic human needs, the need for friendship and fellowship; it is one of the few reasons why Rotary began in 1905. Remember, a lot of things come in POSITIVES and NEGATIVES and friendship isn't an excep on, so you will meet friends/acquaintances in Rotaract that will have/come with both but you will have to take responsibility to make a choice on what is right for you. 2. Leadership Development: Rotaract is one of the best organiza ons of leaders and successful people, serving in Rotaract is like a school which gives us the privilege of learning leadership, mo vate, influence and lead communi es. Also, be reminder that this is only limited to you as a person being that you have to be available to develop yourself in this aspect of life. 3. Con nuing Educa on: We learn each day of the week in Rotaract because there is a program designed to keep one informed about what is going on in the community, na on and world or even to improve ourselves at one stage or the other. Each gathering/mee ng provides an opportunity to listen and learn from different speakers of different capaci es and a variety of mely topics which cut across all aspects of life. 1 A JOURNEY THROUGH ROTARACT

WHY ROTARACT? 4. Ci zenship in the Community/World: Rotaractors usually get recognized by lapel pins or a certain merchandize that say \"Rotaract\" or some mes something to reference the organiza on. There are many places in the globe that have Rotary/Rotaract clubs. Rotaractors are always welcome in the midst of Rotarians especially recently as Rotaract was officially announced as partner with Rotary rather than a program and they are encouraged to a end any of the 31,256 clubs in 165 na ons; this means instant friends in both one's community and in the world community. This is no limit to what you can get in this world as a Rotaractor. 5. Business Development: Another benefit is business development. Everyone needs to network; Rotaract consists of a cross sec on of every business community. Business growth is one of the major reasons Rotary exists and there's barely any profession or career that doesn't exist in Rotary/Rotaract. So you have the whole world of business in your palm to deal with... Rotaractors help each other. 6. The Opportunity to Serve: Rotaract is service; its business is mankind while its product is service. Rotaractors provide community service to both local and interna onal communi es. This is perhaps the best reason for becoming a Rotaractor, the chance to do something for somebody else; to sense the self-fulfillment that comes in the process, and the return of that sa sfac on to one's own life. It's richly rewarded. One of Rotary's mo o says; “He profits most who serves best” 7. Fun: Rotaract is fun, a lot of fun. Each gathering/mee ng is fun. The ac vi es and projects are fun. Think of anything in Rotaract, fun won't be out of it. There are lots of benefit you will enjoy being a member of Rotaract but you must always be available to learn, teach, help, give, lead, etc. 2 A JOURNEY THROUGH ROTARACT

WHY ROTARACT? PROGRAMS & CAUSES OF ROTARY/ROTARACT ROTARY PROGRAMS Rotary's programs are developing the next genera on of leaders, providing funding to make the world a be er place, and making peace a priority. The programs are not just for club members, we also learn how you can make a difference in your community through Rotary. Rotary Peace Fellowships: Each year, Rotary selects up to 100 professionals from around the world to receive fully funded academic scholarships at Rotary Peace Centers. Rotary Community Corps: Finding community solu ons to community challenges, Rotary Community Corps unites Rotary members with non-members to make a posi ve difference. Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA): RYLA is an annual leadership development program for young people who want to learn new skills, build their confidence, and have fun. Events range from one-day seminars to week-long camps. Rotary Youth Exchange: Rotary Youth Exchange builds peace, one young person at a me. Students learn a new language, discover another culture, and truly become global ci zens. New Genera ons Service Exchange: New Genera ons Service Exchange is a short-term, customizable program for university students and young professionals up to age 30. Par cipants can design exchanges that combine their professional goals with a humanitarian project. 3 A JOURNEY THROUGH ROTARACT

WHY ROTARACT? Grants: For 100 years, The Rotary Founda on has been turning project ideas into reality. Our clubs receive funding to support humanitarian projects, scholarships, and interna onal exchanges. Scholarships: Rotary invests more than $7 million a year in our future leaders and philanthropists by funding scholarships for undergraduate and graduate study. ROTARY CAUSES Rotary/Rotaract is dedicated to causes that build interna onal rela onships, improve lives, and create a be er world to support our peace efforts and end polio forever. Promo ng Peace (Peace Keeping and Conflict Resolu on): Rotary encourages conversa ons to foster understanding within and across cultures. We train adults and young leaders to prevent and mediate conflict and help refugees who have fled dangerous areas. Figh ng Disease (Disease Preven on and Treatment): We educate and equip communi es to stop the spread of life-threatening diseases like polio, HIV/AIDS, hepa s, malaria, etc. We improve and expand access to low-cost and free health care in developing areas Providing Clean Water, Sanita on, and Hygiene (Water, Sanita on and Hygiene - WASH): We support local solu ons to bring clean water, sanita on, and hygiene to more people every day. We don't just build wells and walk away. We share our exper se with community leaders and educators to make sure our projects succeed long-term. 4 A JOURNEY THROUGH ROTARACT

WHY ROTARACT? Savin Mothers and Children (Maternal and Child Health): Nearly 6 million children under the age of five die each year because of malnutri on, poor health care, and inadequate sanita on. We expand access to quality care, so mothers and their children can live and grow stronger. Suppor ng Educa on (Basic Educa on and Literacy): More than 775 million people over the age of 15 are illiterate. Our goal is to strengthen the capacity of communi es to support basic educa on and literacy, reduce gender disparity in educa on, and increase adult literacy. Growing local Economies (Community Economic Development): We carry out service projects that enhance economic and community development and create opportuni es for decent and produc ve work for young and old. We also strengthen local entrepreneurs and community leaders, par cularly women, in impoverished communi es. Protec ng the Environment (Suppor ng the Environment): Rotary members are tackling environmental issues the way they always do: coming up with projects, using their connec ons to change policy and planning for the future. 5 A JOURNEY THROUGH ROTARACT

WHY ROTARACT? WHAT IS EXPECTED OF US AS ROTARACTORS? 1. Time: Rotaract is a me consuming organiza on just like few other things in our lives and every Rotaractor must be ready to sacrifice his/her me to carry the causes. These causes may come when our schedules aren't favoring and we should always be ready to take responsibility. But, this doesn't mean we are expected to neglect our jobs, businesses, families, etc for Rotaract. The organiza on is rather asking us to be responsible in the aspect of me. So in other words, it teaches us me management. 2. Treasure: Treasure as we all know is a big deal and there's no person, organiza on or family that would do without treasure. I am one in the midst of millions that does not refer to treasure as money alone though it is highly tagged as one. I also see treasure to be something dear to you; so if in case there's a project to be carried out and members are expected to make cash dona ons, some of us may not be buoyant at such me but if I realize that there's something I could donate to support the project then that is/can be my treasure. So we all should try to some mes look beyond the pocket contents and also see what can contain the pocket. 3. Talent: Everyone is good at something or we all have the ability to do something. Example; some of us are fashion designers, teachers, graphic designers, event managers, bankers, engineers, traders, etc. All these services are needed in our Clubs at one point or the other and it's our responsibility as members to make sure the Club isn't stranded when such me comes and by so doing we directly or indirectly impact on our businesses either buy developing such businesses or even learning one. 6 A JOURNEY THROUGH ROTARACT

WHY ROTARACT? 4. Thinking: We can all think even when it isn't the field at which we are good at, we all should be able to think broad on and make sugges ons when discussions are on either at a regular mee ng or any brain storming gathering. Thinking enhances or capacity to do things; like they say, “if you can think it, you can do it”. You never would know that your li le thoughts would build a las ng image for your club, so let it out so others can build on with you. Stomach ideas are usually unproduc ve. WHY DID I JOIN ROTARACT? – ASK YOURSELF – Joining Rotaract is a PERSONAL decision that you need to take. I emphasize on PERSONAL because you should be ready to take responsibility for your ac ons as an adult and try not to let others influence it. Though in some cases, our decisions are influenced by someone or something but it is maturity if we take responsibility of what follows (posi ve or nega ve). In one way or the other, history may have it that someone invited us to join the organiza on or something a racted us to it. We have to know that service is beyond who invited us or what prompted us to join. It’s like going to school, we all get taught a par cular or different subjects but our passing of the subject is dependent on if/how we read and/or understand what is/was taught. This passing of the subject is OUR RESPONSIBILITY not that of those who taught us, to some extent understanding them also is our call irrespec ve of how it is/was taught. Service is even more complicated because you must know what service to render, how to render such, define who needs the service and may require you to know when to render such service. 7 A JOURNEY THROUGH ROTARACT

WHY ROTARACT? You will/may as well need to communicate first with who needs such which in some cases you'll need to also educate them because needing something doesn't qualify that we know how to use/handle it. If you ask why I joined Rotaract, like I earlier mentioned that it may have been an invite from someone. Well and yes, this was my case but my decision to join had to come from me and my conviction. Being that I have always wanted to own and run an NGO at a very young age, this also helped my decision to joining and my focus is the fact that I have the urge to always help others. In my 6+ years of being a Rotaractor, just like every other path in life isn't a smooth ride, Rotaract hasn't been an exception because I have gotten in and out bumpy tracks with lots of people, decisions, etc and for the fact that no two humans are the same, I am totally different from lots and thus the reason. But sometimes our differences may just be a stepping stone to something worthy so we always have to look at the bigger picture even with our various differences. My answer to why I joined Rotaract as always built in my head has and will always be my passion to be a support to others. Helping others gives me a lot of fulfillment and though for sure in most cases I get inconvenient but the word HELP means a lot to me knowing that no one person can do all things alone. Helping others is one of the toughest kinds of work any man would do especially when you do it without a guaranty of reciprocation. So if you ever ask yourself why did I join Rotaract? Look beyond who invited you and see what convicted you to do so, but don't forget the fact that, sometimes your conviction might not be enough to answer this question. When this happens, you will 8 A JOURNEY THROUGH ROTARACT

WHY ROTARACT? need a focus to what can keep you. May I also say that, finding what can keep you may be another tough thing because it may be you finding what was never in existence. This means that most mes, our convic ons aren't the focus we need to con nue in a journey. We need REASONS, we need a DRIVE. Find yours because I have known mine all along. WHY DO PEOPLE FALL OUT OF ROTARACT? Answering this ques on will make me refer you to the last paragraph of Why Did I Join Rotaract? I’d say it is because some mes people focus so much on WHO and WHAT rather than WHY. What this means is, though the WHO and WHAT are important because they are factors in our journey but we need a stronger factor which is WHY to keep going. Let me explain this way; the primary reason for schooling may be to gain knowledge (WHAT) and we all were in one way or the other introduced to this by someone; may be parents, friends, etc (WHO) but the WHY factor is when we realize what we would gain (cer ficates, pres ge, respect, good jobs, etc) at the end of schooling ourselves through whatever level of school that may be. So you see, the WHY factor gives us a more jus fied reason for schooling. Falling out of Rotaract is one of the easiest things to do a er being inducted. This is because people will always give you reason(s) to evaluate your decision(s) and this might be in character, a tude, manner, speech, etc. It is way easier than focusing on service because service requires more of your inner soul than just your sight and hearing. Some people would say “it is because what a racted me to join is no longer there”. 9 A JOURNEY THROUGH ROTARACT

WHY ROTARACT? I hope you know, or maybe I should say don't forget that those things were created and driven by people, so it may be that they are no longer there to drive such things, or it may be that those things were me bond ac vi es, events, or programs for limited number of years, or maybe they have just lost touch of such ac vity or event drive. I guess the real ques on here is WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO OFFER? Let’s answer this par cular and very important ques on by recalling WHAT IS EXPECTED OF US AS ROTARACTORS (4Ts) - (Page 6) which are; 1. Time 2. Treasure 3. Talent 4. Thinking The ques on of WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO OFFER would be rela ve to either your talent or thinking. People create things either by what they know how to do by themselves while involving others or by sharing their thoughts with others to help them execute such thoughts. If you cannot either serve with your talent or thinking, then you are basically the reason for your fall out. IS THERE LIFE AFTER ROTARACT OR WHAT DOES IT EVEN MEAN? YES! There is life a er Rotaract! Obviously, this is not you answering the ques on of when you eventually sign out of Rotaract, would you join Rotary? NO! In Rotaract, Past Presidents in my guess should be the best run-to- person for their clubs at all mes because being in a posi on gives you the privilege to advice another in same posi on, at least you would make 10 A JOURNEY THROUGH ROTARACT

WHY ROTARACT? the usual saying of “experience is the best teacher” true but there's a clause to this; as humans we cannot give what we don't have. Life a er Rotaract is you being a guardian to other Rotaractors or a club, and this doesn't mean guiding your home club alone but you also extending your hand of fellowship to new or younger clubs as they would need experiences of your service years as a Rotaractor. The life a er Rotaract is simple. It is you being a trust worthy and posi ve ci zen, a leader and a development agent. CONCLUSION So to conclude on this, considering all we've highlighted above, OUR JOURNEY THROUGH ROTARCT is service, friendship, leadership development, con nuous learning, posi ve ci zenship in the world, business development, and opportunity to serve and have fun. Our usual gree ng is Fellowship through Service. This statement encompasses all that is highlighted above and as a ma er of fact the statement \"Fellowship through Service\" depicts UNITY and GROWTH and these are things that would propel us to achieve all the causes of Rotary and also help us gain all we stand to as Rotaractors. To help our understanding of it a bit more; …two cannot work together except they agree, so we need the friendships, learning, leadership, networking and the fun to serve posi vely. My last on this piece would be, once you're inducted, stay on course, don't lose focus. Rotaract is life, life is a journey and you are created to live, living is you doing good, doing good is fulfilling your purpose. 11 A JOURNEY THROUGH ROTARACT

ABOUT THE WRITER Aiebee-Iberedem Nkereuwem PHF +2348098858005 || [email protected] Instagram: iamaiebee || Facebook: iamaiebee developed func onal websites for individuals, companies, Corporate Aiebee-Iberedem 'ReiGn' and Government organiza ons, Nkereuwem is the 2nd and as well maintaining and amongst 4 intellectual and managing them since 2013. self confident children to Pastor & He is an humanitarian service volunteer, a member of the Deaconess Nkereuwem Tim Affia. He hails from E nan LGA, Akwa Rotaract Club of Gbagada, District Ibom. He's a great support system as his 9110, Nigeria who has served in name interprets to all those around various offices both in the club him irrespec ve of race, gender or and District. status. He is always willing and Aiebee spends his spare me and ready to give his best for others busy moments with family, even when it's not convenient. computer, music, games, He is an ICT Expert with a versed swimming, driving, mee ng and prac cal knowledge in Web people while having great likeness Development, a strong willed for sarcasm. individual with a success mindset This is his second publica on a er Outstanding Rotaractor: What It irrespec ve of the circumstance. He is the Crea ve Director for O d d I n s n c t . c o m a n d h a s Takes to be One.