Friends of Rotary (Mar 31, 2017)

2. The Amarok Society. The Amarok Society has 20+ schools located in the worst slums of Bangladesh. We sponsor a school comprised of 25 women coming together for 2 hours per day to learn how to teach. They go back to their huts and teach their children and their neighbours children. Twenty five women teaching 5 students each results in the education of about 125 students. One of the main objectives of the program is to empower women.

Here is part of the most recent email from our school, The Amarok Society, Spruce Grove Rotary Women's School.

Tarikul, Seeker of Beauty

In Tarikul’s slum, there are three people who work at a printing press; every day they leave before sunrise, joining the surging throng of labourers that pour down the city streets, and then return with the reversal of that impressive human tide late in the evening. When they do make their way back into the slum, they’re carrying scraps of paper from the press that they will burn to cook food. I know many people who consider book burning to be reprehensible. It’s a sad irony that those illiterate labourers toil all day in a printing press; their poverty, by denying them an education, has burned every last book in the world to a cinder at their feet. All that’s left are the scraps they can steal away at the end of their shift.

Tarikul’s teacher taught him and his friends how to make toys out of those scraps of paper. Tarikul, who can now read and write, would find better uses for paper than burning anyway. Still, it’s wonderful to see his natural ingenuity finding another avenue in which to explore and grow. Making the most of unused resources is very much in keeping with the spirit of Amarok Society; in a nutshell, that’s what we’re doing by developing illiterate women into teachers and community leaders.

A book Tarikul’s reading about Bangladesh recently advised him that there is beauty to be found everywhere in the country. Inspired, Tarikul has been taking his friends out to search everywhere for beauty, and I’m sure even in their cramped and filthy slum they will find it. One day Tarikul may be leading his friends to quest for meaning as well, and progress, peace, and prosperity. It’s obvious that books are helping to open the world up to Tarikul. But what’s marvelous about his education is that it doesn’t just give the world to Tarikul – it gives Tarikul to the world.

3. Upcoming interesting speakers.

a. April 6th, Marlene Dalgleish, Ministry Director, NeighbourLink, Providing...Practical help for those who need a helping hand.

b. April 13th, Janine Peter, City of SG, FCSS Director speaking about the City's Social Sustainability Plan.

c. April 20th, Rik Kaminsky, Vice Chair, Chamber of Commerce.

In brief, the Rotary Club of Spruce Grove supports 20 local organizations, 7 international organizations, an outgoing and incoming student exchange program, another 6 student leadership projects, local vocational projects and have contributed to a number of community capital projects. This is accomplished with the generous support of many local donors and supporters.