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G.E.M. Munro, along with his wife, Tanys Munro and their four children, established the Amarok Society some twenty years ago and since that time have immersed themselves amongst the poorest of the poor in Bangladesh. In a society where women are given little or no recognition, the Society has built a system instructing mothers and having them share their knowledge of the basics, English and Math skills. Each mother committed to teaching English and Math to five children in their own homes. The demand for a desire to learn is the core of this new-found happiness, instructing children and creating hope. As newfound leaders, mothers are now against and thereby eliminating early marriage. Their attitude of “every child is my child” has led to one notable mother disallowing her daughter’s marriage until she achieved her medical degree. Of note is that medical degrees are given instruction in English only. Currently extremism is rampant in Bangladesh. Opening doors to the slums are slammed in the face of extremism. Extremists depose education, ignorance distorts the mind. Through eighteen years Rotary has enabled the establishment of thirty schools in Bangladesh, plus four in India. There is a need. Lack of action threatens the world. The cost to open a school is $100; to operate for one year $10,000. (Gem compared this to the cost of three million of building one IBM Missile.) Once again, the Amarok Society continues to thrive. G.E.M.’s visit to our Club following several years, was a refreshing reminder that belief and perseverance creates hope and success in the poorest of the poorest. |
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