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Redlands, CA Tuesday 7/26/05
Recap from the Navigator, Dave Maupin

The Spirit of Charles Kean continues. The strategic objectives in going to Kenya have been met. Important contacts were made with three Rotary Clubs that will result in partnerships with Inland Empire Rotarians, ensuring long-term commitments and access to Rotary International resources for the orphans of The Shepherd's Homes. The highest levels of governments and the church honored US Rotarians' efforts for Kenyan children (the local police, city councilmen, and a member of the vice-president of Kenya's office attended a "Welcome the Spirit of Charles Kean" celebration at The Shepherd's Home; the Kenya Minister of Health met with our group of Americans to offer resources for the orphans; we had a special audience with the Arch Bishop of the Anglican Church to discuss AIDS; members of our team met with an American State Department official for USAID to seek additional funding; the Kenyan Department of Tourism feted our group at a farewell dinner in our honor.)

This project has proved that viable partnerships are possible between governments, non-government organizations, and the church. Inland Empire Rotarians must now enter into a two year commitment to secure matching funds from Rotary International. Funding methods to sustain 25 orphans at each of three(current) sanctuaries must be addressed.(That methodology could be as simple as obtaining commitments from 75 US citizens to pledge $50/month for each child) Creating college scholarships for AIDS orphans is another endeavor to be considered.

And after we accomplish all of this, there is the matter for responsible US citizens and Rotarians to address: changing the culture of AIDS in the US so that we can protect our own children from this pandemic that is ravaging the world. As a Kenyan Rotarian admonished me: "David, you must take the message to Hollywood that casual, unprotected sex causes AIDS. That is not the message Kenyan young people are receiving from your country's entertainment industry".

I think Charles Kean would be up to the task.

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