FIFE SCHOOLS

This page and the sub-pages are provided to help the schools in Fife support the Rotary "Thanks for Life" programme. For some background information about Rotary click on ROTARY CLUBS.

THE BACKGROUND

Since 1985 Rotary Clubs throughout the world having been working with the World Health Organisation and other agencies to eradicate polio. We are now left with only four countries where polio is endemic, namely Nigeria, India, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Towards achieving final eradication the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has provided $US 355  million and challenged Rotarians to raise $US 100 million. The "Thanks for Life" programme aims publicise the work of Rotary Clubs in Great Britain and Ireland, with the emphasis on  polio eraidaction, and to raise money towards the $100 million challenge.

For schools to get involved there is a significant education aspect to the TfL project. Rotary is also asking schools to help with the fundraising. One aspect of the project would be to take part in a Purple Pinkie activity, for more information click on PINKIE.

The Thanks for Life project is focussed towards gaining maximum impact around the birthday of on Rotary 23rd February 2010, with events taking place between 20th and 28th February 2010. Events can also take place in the period leading up to or after this main period of activity.

WHERE ARE THE ROTARY CLUBS IN FIFE?

There are 16 Rotary Clubs in Fife with Rotarians keen to work with the local schools. For contact details for Rotary Clubs in Fife click on ROTARY IN FIFE.

WHERE CAN I FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THANKS FOR LIFE?

For background information on the "Thanks for Life" programme click on BACKGROUND INFORMATION. For specific information for schools click on FOR SCHOOLS. For leaflets, PowerPoint and DVD references click on LEAFLETS. There are several information posters that can be found by clicking on POSTERS and viewing the information under the heading "Documents".

There are two particularly good DVDs featuring Rotary's work towards eradicating polio. Click here to see details of THE FINAL INCH, and here to see THE LAST HURDLE. The Final Inch, an Oscar nominated documentary, is available for pruchase from Amazon for $7.50.

WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS?

1. Review the above references.

2. Get in touch with your local Rotary Club for:

a. Someone to visit the school and talk about the project.

b. Someone to visit the school to talk to the pupils.

c. The provision of materials e.g. leaflets, posters, DVDs etc.

d. Support with planning the TfL strategy and the Purple Pinkie campaign.

e. Publicity

3. Support the Thanks for Life project for the educational benefits and raise some funds towards matching the grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation;50p pays for one dose of the vaccine.

4. There is no specific format, the emphasis is on having fun, supporting an important campaign to finally end a crippling and potentially fatal infectious disease, polio (poliomyelitis) that still strikes children mainly under the age of five in some countries.

POLIO FACTS

1. Polio can cause paralysis and sometimes death. Because there is no cure for polio, the best protection is prevention.

2. For as little as 50p worth of vaccine, a child can be protected against this crippling disease for life.

3. It can cause paralysis within hours, and polio paralysis is almost always irreversible.

4. In the most severe cases, polio attacks the motor neurons of the brain stem, causing breathing difficulty or even death.

5. Historically, polio has been the world’s greatest cause of disability. WE ARE CLOSE TO ITS ERADICATION. For more information CLICK HERE.

If you have any comments or enquiries please click on FEEDBACK.