On Friday 26 October, DGE Mohammad Ali was invited to speak about International Rotary at the UKOWLA Conference, held in The Guildhall, Hull.  The conference was the final event as part of the City's Freedom Day celebrations so its prime focus was on "Links to West Africa".

In his introduction of Mohammad, the Chair of the Freetown Society, Patrick Doyle, paid tribute to Rotary International in District 1270 for their participation in the Hull Freedom Trail and referred to their involvement with all the Freedom Day celebrations that had taken place on 25 October.

Mohammad's 20 minute presentation to the multi-national delegates began with an overview of the profile of Rotarians and the ojectives of Rotary International.  He gave a detailed explanation of Rotary Foundation and how it works in respect of funding international projects.

(This picture shows Mohammad talking with Alex Tetteh of the Ghana Society of the Physically Disabled.  They are recipients of the Wheel Chair Foundation.  He was particularly interested in the Jaipur Limb Project)

He went on to explain about GSE, Peace Scholars and Rotary Volunteers.  His presentation was illustrated with an overview of the projects that have been undertaken by Rotarians all over the world - Polio Plus, Water Aid, Shelterbox, Aquabox and Jaipur Limb Project and finished with our own District 1270 Projects - Lifestraw, Computers into an African School.

Mohammad was the final speaker at the end of the first day of the Conference and when the Chairman closed the session, Mohammad was soon surrounded by delegates wanting to discuss a variety of topics from getting Rotary involvement in a specific project, how to contact Rotary clubs and existing relationships.

One interesting quote of the day came from a lady from Sierra Leone who had seen a big Rotary Wheel outside a hotel,  She thought it was a gambling club!  She also commented on the fact that there was little evidence of Rotary in Sierra Leone but we felt that this might be partly due to the current instability. 

She was delighted that the Hull Freedom Trail was taking out bras, coats and other items.  She explained that most of the things sent to the traditional charities were to be found on the markets being sold - she has lost her faith in charities for this one reason alone.   She was also very scathing about NGO's. When I explained that everything was going directly to the aid agencies such as HANCI and the St George Foundation and that the bras etc were being delivered to the Consulate she was delighted saying it meant that these things would go where they were needed.

There is no doubt that by participating in the Hull Freedom Trail we have reached an audience far far greater and wider than we could have dreamed and anticipated when we began the journey a year ago.