Last week we had the pleasure of welcoming Kate Russell, who talked about her role at Hagar NZ, which is a part of Hagar International.
Hagar is changing lives in seven Asia-Pacific countries, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Singapore, Solomon Islands and Afghanistan, helping with trafficking prevention, strengthening Survivor care, and improving outcomes for victims and survivors of slavery (of any kind/type) by providing safe spaces for recovery and care, providing education and advocacy, including to the wider family and communities/villages.
It was horrifying to learn people may be sold repeatedly, US$90 is all it takes to buy a slave in Asia today, often done by “Debt bonding” and there are roughly 8,000 people in slavery in NZ currently, with migrant businesses luring people from villages into NZ with a promise of work.
Hagar believes “Transformation starts with one individual and then ripples out, person to person, family to family, community to community – until it changes the world.
Kate is a past member and previous President of both Burnside-Bishopdale and Horizons Rotary clubs in Christchurch, and she is not ruling out a return to Rotary in the future.
Note from the Charitable Trust meeting held following our last meeting:
A donation of $30,000.00 was agreed to for the Fraser Park Community Trust, with funding from the Bill Mackay Bequest. This donation will assist with the completion of the Fraser Park rebuild and we will have a photo opportunity to acknowledge this when we visit the new Fraser Park complex on the 10th of September. Please wear your Rotary attire for the photos.
5:30 meet at Fraser Park, followed by a meal and club meeting 6:30pm at our normal venue, Timaru Town & Country Club. The normal attendance/apology system will still operate, the meal will just be later than usual. Partners and anyone interested are welcome to attend,
please notify Secretary Lionel by midday Monday 9th September. lwilsonfamily@xtra.co.nz
Great news was received from Nepal this week, see information below in this bulletin. The Project was carried out earlier this year by club members Julie Dockrill, Jessica Wooffindin, and Tina Hewitt from Christchurch.
The Hot Dog Van will be in action at a junior Soccer tournament next weekend at Sir Basil Arthur Park. This is a new event for us, if you are able to assist, remember to check out the roster.
Spring is here! Such a lovely time of year to enjoy the gardens starting to blossom.
Catch up again soon.
Lynette
