AMI REGION

REGION AMI

ASSOCIATIONS

RT Arabian Gulf RT Botswana RT Cameroon RT Eastern Africa RT Madagascar RT Malawi RT Mauritius RT Nigeria RT Senegal RT Seychelles RT Southern Africa RT Zambia RT Zimbabwe AFRICA, MIDDLE EAST & INDIAN OCEAN REGION

The Cornerstones

of Tabling

By BRAM ROZESTRATEN,AMI Chairman 2022-2023

TABLING WORLDWIDE, in general, is quite similar. We do our fellowships, raise money and goods for projects and raise brand awareness wherever we go. In the AmI region, we also work on these cornerstones. In this article, I want to highlight three Associations that have made great efforts this year regarding these values.

FELLOWSHIP IN PARADISE

Round Table mauritius hosted the AGm weekend for AmI in may 2022. We all had an absolute blast in an amazing hotel on this beautiful island. During this weekend, Round Table Seychelles, Round Table madagascar, Round Table mauritius and Round Table Reunion signed an moU to create a bond between these islands in the Indian ocean. In November, mauritius travelled with a delegation of 35 Tablers to the French island La Reunion to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Round Table France 291. The Tablers of this club had planned a great weekend with a business meeting and loads of activities, including paintball and a Gala dinner inviting 41 Club and Ladies Circle. A “Movember” painting was auctioned off during the dinner for 2.200 euros. All benefits went to the Movember cause. These gents have been excellent hosts, and we take our hats off to you. If you are making travel plans, put these islands on your list: a must-travel.

PROJECTS: ARRESTED FOR CHARITY

Round Table Harare 23, part of Round Table Zimbabwe, hosted its annual “Jail and Bail” fundraiser on December 2nd, 2022. our Round Table International Community Service Officer, Daniele Cusi, and myself were invited to be “thrown in Jail” and raise money through donations to “pay for our bail”. This is one of the many examples of what type of FUNdraiser you could do in your community to raise money to support your projects. In this case, Daniele and I were raising funds for their legacy project in Harare called “Rainbow Children’s Village”. The Tablers there have renovated their clubhouse into a facility for children under 12 years post-chemotherapy. The kids can rest in a safe and child-friendly environment, including meals to regain strength before making their way home. A truly amazing cause where our Tablers saw the big gap between treatment and post-care, and they managed to fill it with this noble legacy project.

GROWTH IN THE WARM HEART OF AFRICA

Round Table malawi has been pushing hard to increase numbers. membership has always been a big discussion point. In malawi, the 3 clubs have increased the number of Tablers in the Associations from 34 to 41, which is an impressive 22% growth in just one year. How did Round Table Malawi pull this off? By going out of their “comfort zone”: In the South, they have been going to high schools to promote the Round Table brand, giving inspiring talks about brotherhood and the charity we do in the communities. The 2 Tables in the Central Region of malawi have promoted our brand during numerous fundraisers and conversations with supporters.

In conclusion, next time you have a meeting, invite someone from your friend group, work or even from some birthday party you attended, and you will see this potential new brother grow within your Table.

AS YOU CAN SEE, many ways of practising these cornerstones of Tabling exist. I hope I have been able to inspire you to incorporate those within your own Table. If you have any questions regarding ways of improvement, reach out to any of the Associations, a brother is just a phone call away.

Yours in table

Bram Rozestraten

amichairman@round-table.org

30

Editorial & Stories

CHRISTMAS GIFT CONVOY TAKES OFF AGAIN IN 2022!

High Anticipations And Successful Convoy in a Tense Year

By Mr STEPHAN ZIPPERLEIN,Round Table Germany

FILLED BY THE JOY of the children in Romania, Bulgaria, moldova, Poland and Ukraine. Filled by the great gifts & donations that make the convoy possible. Filled by the selfless efforts of the many drivers, helpers, and supporters. This was made possible for the 22nd time by children from all over Germany. They donated more than 132,606 Christmas gifts for children in Bulgaria, moldova,

Poland, Romania as well as Ukraine.

33 TRUCKS, 5 BUSES AND 7 ESCORT VEHICLES set off for the target areas on Saturday morning together with a total of 228 volunteers. After two years of restrictions due to the pandemic, they got to drive and distribute the lovingly packed gifts from children and families from all over Germany personally. With the support of numerous friends from Ladies’ Circle, Round Table, old Tablers and the Agora Club Tangent, no less than 132,606 packages were packed, collected, sorted, packed and loaded for the world’s largest side-by-side project.

THE FOCUS OF THE CHRISTMAS PARCEL CONVOY is that the presents come from the heart, and they do. ”We are always thrilled to see every single child unwrapping their Christmas parcel with shining eyes,” says Steffi Hahl, convoy leader and managing director. Each package the team was able to hand over brought not only toys, candy, and surprises, but also many many moments of happiness. And it is not just a small Christmas gift that is delivered, it is so much more! It is hope that the convoy bring! A sign for the local children that we see their need, that they are not forgotten and that we are there for them now and in the future.

BEHIND THE SCENES, the Convoy team, almost 40 helpers, were actively at work long before the official start of the convoy in Hanau, almost 9 months all in all, and their voluntary efforts ensured that everything ran smoothly as usual.

Many ”repeat offenders” but also numerous new faces met in early December for the official farewell of the convoy. In addition to all the joy of seeing old and new friends (again), in addition to all the positive impatience that it is finally starting and the anticipation of giving needy children in Eastern Europe a nice Christmas, there were also worrying thoughts. Since February 24, 2022, there has been a war in the middle of Europe, and this has also had an impact on the convoy. Not only in Ukraine itself, but also in the neighboring countries Bulgaria, moldova, and Romania the consequences of the war are felt directly. Thus, many refugees from the war zone have found a temporary home in these countries - often equipped only with what they could carry on the run. IT WAS THEREFORE all the more important to be on site again this year and to ensure that children’s eyes shone brightly. For the first time, a truck is also driving to refugee homes in Poland. Every minute of time invested on site in the Circle, at the table, in the collection points, in the central warehouse, behind the wheel and during distribution is time well spent. It helps to make the world of many children a little bit happier and gives them a moment of joy, of security and lets them know in their often perspective-less everyday life that they are not forgotten. of course, this also applies to Ukraine, which will not be directly visited this year. A part of the parcels for Ukraine has already been driven to Lviv and Kirovograd via the network of the “Raisin Initiative” Tuesday before the official convoy start. Another delivery to odessa in Ukraine was carried by the moldova team and the two trucks will be switched over before the Ukrainian border.

2022 IS A SPECIAL CONVOY, under special circumstances, but for that very reason also particularly important. This was also directly felt at the farewell in Hanau - fewer words of greeting, more emotions, and

short moments with those who carry the convoy and make it possible: the helpers.

AS ALWAYS, AFTER THE CONVOY is before the convoy! Spurred on by countless shining children’s eyes, happy faces, joyful moments during this difficult time and experiences and adventures on site that none of the helpers would want to miss, the minds behind the Christmas parcel convoy will soon get back to work to ensure that the WPK 2023 will once again be a success. We would like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to all those who have helped and will help, to all those who have donated, to all those who have contributed and supported their network - we can be proud of what we have achieved as a community - sideby-side - and, as every year, on a completely voluntary basis! And if you want to be more intensively involved in the coming year: The WPK always needs reinforcement, get in touch.

The whole Konvoi-Team wishes you a merry Christmas.

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

Watch the latest RTI Table Talk focusing on the Christmas Convoys from Germany, Austria and Denmark.

Watch here

We are always thrilled to see every single child unwrapping their Christmas parcel with shining eyes.

STEFFI HAHL

Convoy Leader & Managing Director