The Rotary Club of Ikate in District 9110, Nigeria has donated computers, food items and toiletries to the Pacelli School for the Blind and Partially Sighted Children in Surulere, Lagos State.
Rotarian Ikechukwu Nwaohiri, the club president, some past presidents, and some other members of the club, visited the school with Rotarian Dr. Wale Ogunbadejo, the District Governor, Rotary International, District 9110, Nigeria. Members of the entourage included the District Secretary, Rotarian Segun Adewakun and District leaders during the Governor’s visit to the club on Tuesday, October 3, 2017.
Being told you have a visual impairment that can't be treated can be difficult to come to terms with. Some people go through a process similar to bereavement, where they experience a range of emotions including shock, anger, and denial, before eventually coming to terms with their condition.
A full sighted person can never understand what it is like to live every day with little or no sight, neither will they understand what these traumatized children in Pacelli School for the Blind and Partially Sighted go through every day, praying and hoping they would fully recover their sight some day.
DG Ogunbadejo encouraged the children never to feel inferior to anyone saying charging them that “being visually-challenged is not the end of your life. Always remember that you can achieve whatever you want to achieve. Don’t let anyone knock you down. You are not inferior to anybody.”
The least anyone could do for these children is to make them feel a sense of belonging, rather than feeling dejected and rejected by the society.
This is exactly what the Rotary Club of Ikate did on that fateful day. Some of the items donated by the club include three desktop computers and monitor sets, an all-in-one personal computer, cartons of Macaroni and toilet papers.
Sister Jane Onyeneri, the school principal, while addressing the club and also the district leaders, said that “Rotarians have been a great support to the school. Companies and individuals also support us and that is how we raise our funds and pay our staff. We also raise funds through the fundraising ceremonies that we organise.
She said that “in the past, the government used to support us but since the Catholic Church decided to take over the school, the government stopped supporting us. But last year, Governor Ambode gave us a Coaster bus and he has also promised to help us solve our problem of flooding which has been a major issue here.
“Our children are doing excellently well academically. We also learn extra curricular activities such as computer training (typing) and crafts. We are very happy to take care of them. We work with passion”, she said, calling on Rotarians and members of the public to support the school individually.
DG Ogunbadejo encouraged the children never to feel inferior to anyone saying charging them that “being visually-challenged is not the end of your life. Always remember that you can achieve whatever you want to achieve. Don’t let anyone knock you down. You are not inferior to anybody.”
According to the District Governor, “there are children who are roaming about the streets, not knowing where their next meal will come from. You are still privileged. You have wonderful people taking care of you here. So, don’t ever see yourself as underprivileged.”
During the visit, the children sang joyfully in appreciation to Rotary. The District Governor, in his generosity made the occasion a memorable one by announcing a scholarship award for one of the Primary six students named Precious Omodia. This commendable act by the Rotarian Ogunbadejo came as a surprise to the school staff and children as they never saw it coming.
Meanwhile, while going through the workbook of Rotary Club of Ikate at the board meeting, the District Governor commended members of the club, especially those who did their best in keeping the club alive at a time when it seemed the club would go into extinction.
He encouraged the club to bring in more female members and also advised the board members to tread the same path as the Rotary Club of Ikoyi by making a handbook which will contain the clubs value-adding weekly activities for a particular Rotary year available to all members of the club. This, according to the DG, will make the members always look forward to attending the club meetings.
The DG inducted two new members into the club, during which he advised the club to always bring in people of integrity, dignity and value, and not people that will tarnish the club’s image.