Rotary Club of Kitchener-Westmount

 

Rebecca Dziarkski is engaged!  Congratulations!

Kyle Lambert thanked club members for supporting him in the Polar Plunge

Everton Wilmot – Gave an intriguing announcement about our upcoming Vacation Fantasy Lottery

Mac Graham – announced the upcoming Kitchener Knights of Columbus challenged May 1, 2026 – Brian Larkin, former Chief of Police, will be the moderator

 

Guests:  Duane Sauder attended as a guest of John Thompson

 

The total 50/50 pot is $278.50 

Laura Power/Neil Aitchison/Todd Aitchison all drew marbles… there were no winners and the pot continues to grow!

 

 

Gem Munro – co-founder of the Amarok Society spoke to club 13 years ago.

 

The Amarok Society is a registered charity founded in 1992 By, Gem and his wife Dr. Tanyss Munro focused on educating the world’s poorest children.

 

Their work is to teach mothers living in urban slums to become volunteer teachers of the children.  In return for free classes, mothers agree to hold classes for children in their homes.

 

Gem is the author of a 10 book series And Where the Spirt Spun Them.  These stories follow the lives of two fictional children living in the slums.  Proceeds from sales support the work the Amarok Society.

 

Gem shared a story about learning about and supporting mothers and children in Bangladesh – described as “poorest of the poor”.

 

Dhaka is a primary hub for the Amarok Society’s programs – where there are millions of children too poor to attend school and who would not get an education otherwise.

 

The traditional approach of building schools and hiring teacher was deemed not to be successful in this case.  Their solution is teaching mothers in the slums to become educated teachers. 

 

In the beginning of this work there was lots of opposition.  For example, some believed you could not teach the mothers, could not deal with slum lords or corrupt police and husbands would not allow the outside influence. 

 

Gem showed us a video of a school in operation and the progress made by a mother who had no literacy or numeracy before attending the school 6 months earlier.  The video disproves the notion that mothers cannot learn. 

 

Gem noted that many mothers living in the slums have a vocabulary of 600 words versus the average of 15,000 for most people.

 

They teach the mothers English and he explained why – English is the language opportunity –“privilege protects privilege”.  Teaching English is viewed as a means to end the cycle of poverty.  The following subjects are taught in their schools: science, social studies, conflict resolution, health, hygiene, nutrition and birth control.

 

In addition, to breaking the cycle of poverty, the schools are breaking the cycle of social isolation and supportive communities are being formed.

 

Mothers are taught to think critically and make decisions for herself, family, and community.  Many of the mothers/teachers become leaders in the community.

 

Birth control is a way for mothers to take control of their lives.  Gen noted that 2 million people live in a land-mass 1/8 of Ontario.

 

A requirement for women who attend school is that they must learn as quickly as possible and agree to teach at least 5 children in their home.

 

Through learning and sharing mothers move from depression and despair to hope. 

Gem shared a video of a mother who is a leading figure in an effective campaign against early marriage for girls – have eliminated this practice in the slums through persuasion and reason. 

 

This mother would not agree to her daughter being married until she completed her medical degree. Today her daughter is a practicing physician focused on ailments in poor women.

 

Gem noted that while this success is remarkable success, is not unique.

 

Question from Ray:  How many children enrolled?  Answer 20,000.

 

Question from Bill:  When you first reach these young women is hope something they have in their minds?  No

 

How does hope and decision-making impact men in their lives who may not be supportive?

2/3 of mothers were being beaten for their attendance – this did not deter the mothers from attending.  However, overtime almost every husband came to accept the education and the men learn along side the children.

 

Question from Rebecca:  How does Gem get into the slums when it is so dangerous for other North Americans?  Gem says he uses a gentle approach that is incremental and that takes time, using the local people, and supported by Rotary Internationally.

 

Everton thanked Gem noting that by inspiring hope the Amarok Society is changing communities.  This ripple effect is something Rotarians strive for.