A Happy Birthday to Rotary Club of Thika

Six years ago the Rotary Club of Thika was born. And last Friday, May 22, it threw a party to itself as members marked yet another reminder of the Service Above Self commitment. The party, complete with a cake and followed by the regular swallowship was memorable.
Four Charter members who were at the Occassion stepped forward to cut the cake and they were (From Left): Rtn Steve Mugucia, Rtn Mugo Kirika, Rtn Linda Longstaff and Rtn Joe Thiga.
It was almost house full that day and we had a former Rotaract Muraguri (Right) who now works with Fina Bank in Thika and who had been looking for a Rotary Club to join near Thika.... and he felt so much at home that he needed no coaxing on which club to join.
He found our club lovely and welcoming and you can guess by the smile!
Gauging by the mood the cake was a real treat and Millicent (pictured Left with her guest) was happy that members had had fun.
Rtn Eleanor had come with two guests too (below) who graced the occassion and had lots of fun. They must have found Thika to be the choice Club to keep on visiting (even if the Birthday Party comes once in a year).
For the six years, the club has maintained its focus and has become one of the most vibrant in the country. It has over the six years reached out to the physically challenged, provided water to the community and made sure that the girl child. The club has also grown in terms of numbers and its fellowship is by the day becoming as exciting as ever - and Kenya Wildlife Service Communication's officer Mr Ngugi who was there during the party can attest.

The "Ranger" (left) never misses a chance to ask the Rotarians to support the tourism industry by becoming domestic tourists. And he promised that soon he will join the Rotary Club of Thika. (He is most welcome.)

And as the party continued, there was plenty of talk and drink. It was one of those occassions when Rotary becomes the epitome of fun. It was also a day of reflection on how far the Rotary Club of Thika has come from and how to sustain and keep the membership growing.

If you are a Rotarian or a Rotaract visting Thika, do give us a visit on Friday evening at the Thika Sports Club starting at 7 pm.

Meanwhile, the induction for the incoming team led by Rtn Joe Thiga is all set....... (KEEP READING).

The return of Brave Rtn Wamaitha

Thika Rotarian Dr Wamaitha Mugo has been away for a while - coping with a breast cancer. When she returned recently to give a talk on how she has survived the last ten years , it became an eye opener for all Rotarians in Thika.

It was one of those moments that the room fell silent and all you could hear was Wamaitha's voi8ce as she narrated her story. It is a story that many survivors hardly tell.

Wamaitha not only detailed her fight to survive but was candid in answering questions. "Getting diagnosed is the start of a long journey. Surviving is the bigger story. But it all calls for determination and will to live," she says.

At the end of it all, this was one of trhe most memorable talks that Rotary Club of Thika has ever organised.

That was Brave Rotarian Wamaitha's Day!

When Rtn Ken Scivyer visited

We recently had a visitor Ken Scivyer who gladly presented us with the Rotary Club of Monkspath flag. He was very happy to have come to the Rotary Club of Thika and to participate in you fellowship. Next time you are in Thika, do pop in again. In this picture, Ken hands over his Club's falag to RC Thika President Mugo Kirika.

HURRAY: We are Six Years Old, TODAY!!

We almost forgot that it was our birthday! It is our charter President Rotarian Linda Longstaff who early in the morning sent a short text message reminding members of this special date. Oh well! On 20th May 2003, the Rotary Club of Thika was finally chattered as Club 62234. Today, we look back at the six years as a statement on what we stand for. As we celebrate this birthday, we want to rededicate our efforts in serving the community and assisting the needy. At the Rotary Club of Thika we belief that Dreams can Turn True.

We owe all it to our Charter President Linda Longstaff (Pictured)

Happy Birthday to us.

SANITARY TOWELS PROJECT RETAIN GIRLS IN CLASSES

The Rotary Club of Thika sanitary towels project continues to reach out to hundreds of girls who skip classes because they cannot afford the sanitary pads.

Recently, Rotarian Wamaitha Kirika and Rtn Millicent Githui went flat out to give the pads and talk to the girls in different Thika schools
As we continue with this project we seek new partners in getting more girls access the pads.

JOIN US TODAY TO MAKE DREAMS REAL

New RCC Born at Mithini

It is now official!
The Rotary Community Corps of Mithini has been chartered. Sponsored by Rotary Club of Thika, the RCC got its charter on on March 20 in a colourful ceremony presided over by Assistant Governor James Gachui (above Right).
Speaking during the ceremony AG Gachui commended the RCC members for taking the initiative forward.“We appreciate your commitment in serving the community. That you want to contribute to the development of this community in the spirit of Rotary is very commendable”, said AG Gachui while handing over the charter to the RCC’s president James Maundu. Gachui also commended the 28 members of the RCC for getting together saying this will promote peace and progress in the community.
Rotary Club of Thika President Mugo Kirika said the RCC will be accorded the support it needs to serve the society.
“We will be there for you and we will do all we can to support you,” said President Kirika.
Rotary Club of Thika trainer and IPP Steve Muguchia termed the RCC as a bridge between Rotary International and the Community. During the event, A.G Linda longstaff updated RCC Mithini members on the progress of the borehole. The borehole will be completed soon and is sponsored by Rotary Club of Nairobi.

Service Above Self at Thika Cemetery

This was the grave of James Smith who had a farm in Makuyu, Kenya. His grand-daughter a Rotarian had recently contacted The Rotary Club of Thika to not only help trace the grave but to also take her to a farm that was owned by her father during the colonial days.
In the true spirit of Service Above Self, the Rotary Club of Thika members joined Smith’s Grand-Daughter Rtn Sharon Daishe to Makuyu and also helped her to trace the Cemetery. Recently, the members returned and fixed the broken tombstone and now want to rehabilitate the entire Thika Cemetery as part of the town's unique history.

In the picture are Members of Thika Rotary Club with Daishe (SECOND RIGHT) after the grave was rehabilitated.

Here is the Tombstone before it was repaired.

Bed-kit dreams come true in Thika

Some 600 vulnerable children from Thika District benefited from bed kits that were distributed by Rotary Club of Thika in March 2009.
Donated by Sleeping Around the World- a Canadian charity- the distribution was led by RC Thika President Mugo Kirika and co-ordinated by Rtn Eleanor Harrison.
Other Rotarians, Rotaracts and Rotary Community Corps and other volunteers worked tirelessly to make the event a success.
“It’s very fulfilling to put a smile on so many children”, said Kirika after the event.The children, with expectations showing on their faces, arrived at Garissa Road Primary School where the distribution was taking place early enough to receive what one of them called ‘sleep’.
“I came to receive sleep’ is what one boy who only gave his name as Mwangi said as other children laughed cheekily.
The 600 beneficiaries between age 6 and 12 were from different schools within Thika district while others came from childrens’ homes around Thika town. The needy were audited by teachers and their names forwarded to rotary. Each kit consisted of a mattress, a mosquito net, a t-shirt and a pair of shorts, a towel, slippers, a bed sheet and a school bag.
Children were also treated to lunch through the school’s feeding programme. Eleanor, who has been at the forefront in organizing gave a vote of thanks for making the event a success. It was another day out for Rotary Club CThika.