Oct. 19, 2010: Windsor St. Clair, Ontario Rotarian Paul Moraud (left), a Canadian water treatment professional, and Dearborn Heights Rotarian and Team Leader Derek Locke (right) presented the program on the 5-member District 6400 U.S.-Canadian Group Study Exchange Team to West Africa in April.
The Rotary Motto of "Service Above Self" covers a lot of ground. Literally.
International Group Study Exchange (GSE) is a facet of Rotary's Second Avenue of Service - Vocational Service. The essence of Vocational Service is the importance of high ethical standards in all professions, the importance of all vocations and the opportunity to contribute one's vocational talents to address the problems and needs of society. Vocational Service encourages Rotarians to serve others through their vocations and to proactive high ethical standards.
GSE promotes enhancing the quality of life by exchanging ideas and expertise between Rotarians and others, primarily between developed and developing nations. This could include sharing ideas related to business practices, engineering or technical topics, health care issues, literacy, and a host of other concerns. Generally, exchange groups visit from four to five weeks in the host country, living with Rotarian families.
Locke and Mourad were members of a five-person District 6400 GSE group that traveled for four weeks in African Rotary District 9100, which covers 14 countries including Ghana and Burkina Faso, the two countries where the team concentrated their energy. Part of the mission of the study group was to look for potential water projects that District 6400 could assist with. They were also able to provide 420 mosquito nets to a children's hospital. The team shared ideas with their African counterparts on sustainable clean water projects.
Other members of the team included Katie Bush, a University of Michigan researcher in waterborne disease, sponsored by the Taylor Rotary Club; Andrew Dowie, a civil engineer working in sewer and waste water drainage, sponsored by the Windsor St. Clair Rotary Club and Athena Kolbe, a social worker who has past experience in water projects and the effects water has on communities, sponsored by the Detroit Rotary Club. In addition to clean water initiatives, the team collaborated with African professionals on health care and health administration issues.
Both the North American and West African groups learned from eachother, and will hopefully continue to share ideas that will translate to better understanding and improving living conditions on both sides of our world. More information about the travels and activities of District 6400 GSE teams can be found at
http://rotary6400gse10.wordpress.com/. Another example of how Rotary can change the world.
