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Adopt
a grandparent
Ian
Helby - Rotary Harare Central
September 12, 2002
The
programme I am involved in is called "ADOPT A GRANDPARENT" and it
is designed to assist seniors who would otherwise become destitute
as a result of the incredible inflation we are experiencing triggered
by the ineptitude of the Zimbabwe Government.
The Rotary Club
of Harare Central was tasked with setting up a Committee to investigate
the plight of those in "Retirement Homes" where they are no longer
able to meet the ongoing costs of shelter. The committee (comprising
in the main of Rotarians from the 9 clubs in Harare) is determining
the demand throughout the country and is chaired by Ray Butcher
of the Rotary Club of Harare Central. I also belong to the same
club and I chair the Finance sub-committee. There is a further sub-committee
which attends to the administrative aspects of crisis management
and the benefits of central purchasing. This is chaired by Mike
Britten who is also a member of my club.
The programme
has the following objectives:
- OBJECT: To
provide financial aid to seniors who are financially distressed
to enable them to continue to lead a life of dignity which they
are no longer able to afford.
- MEANS: The
Rotary Club of Harare Central has set up a Board of Trustees.
- TRUSTEES:
The Board of Trustees comprises the President of The Rotary Club
of Harare Central (ex officio) who has the power to delegate a
nominee in conjunction with representatives from other Rotary
Clubs with a Financial Classification, the Treasurer of the Rotary
Club of Harare Central and the chairman of the Old Age Home Association
(at present Major Gordon Howard of the Salvation Army). The Trustees
special assignment is to supervise any bank accounts and monies
that are received for the Trust.
- FINANCES:
Sums received from Rotary Clubs, donors and other sources will
be deposited into the Trust Account on a monthly basis. The Committee
will acknowledge all receipts and keeps sponsors advised on the
welfare of recipients.
- CANDIDATES:
Candidates for assistance will be those with limited resources
who are resident in registered Retirement Homes. Applications
will be processed by the administrators of the participating Retirement
Homes and will be approved by the Committee.
- CONFIDENTIALITY:
of the recipients is deemed essential to avoid embarrassing the
individuals concerned.
The scheme has
only been in operation for a few months and at the moment we are
assisting four seniors who are resident at Athol Evans Home, Harare,
in their Frail Care section and are unable to meet the costs thereof.
A profile of
the individuals receiving assistance is:
- an elderly
woman approaching 90 who has a daughter needing constant sheltered
care, which is being provided elsewhere. Her son is attempting
to assist both his mother and his sister on a fixed pension and
is bedeviled with his own problems of a sick wife currently undergoing
cancer treatment.
- a man of
79 who has been a patient since 1993 and became totally destitute
when his family left the country and abandoned him.
- a woman
in her mid-50's who has been a patient for 13 years and is in
very poor health having suffered a stroke. She has no family and
no money.
- a woman
in her 80's who is blind and paralyzed on one side. Her family,
believed to be in Australia, has not been in contact with her
or the Home for nearly five years.
Any funds that
are received under the programme are controlled entirely by the
committee. There is no Government involvement whatsoever.
Should you have
any further queries please let me know. Any
amount no matter how small would be more than welcome. A little
goes a long way in Zimbabwe!
Please would
anyone depositing into either of these accounts advise me - helby@mweb.co.zw
- so that I can let the Treasurer know.
Foreign bank
account details:
Bank:
Standard Bank, Isle of Man
Account:
43007264
Type:
Offshore Reserve Account
Name:
Pittman S A & Wallpole N M
Customer:
100437
Local bank
account details:
Stanbic
Bank, Belgravia, Harare
Number
: 0140075173101
Name:
Rotary Club of Harare Central
Kind regards
Ian Helby
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