Galia Barlow (third from right) visits a school in Nepal during a recent trip. Her Rotary club provides scholarships for 30 students to attend the school.
By Galia Barlow
My husband, Robert, and I decided to take one of those lifetime voyages through India and Nepal while we can still travel and learn.
Being a member of the Rotary Club of Branchburg, New Jersey, I was asked by the past governor of our district, Tulsi Maharjan, to visit the school in Nepal our club is supporting. We provide $500 scholarships for 30 students from poor, working families, which pays for books, tuition and other school supplies.
Our trip was a life-changing experience. We saw people living very differently than we do in the United States. Cows and water buffaloes walk freely in the streets, and people take care of them. We mingled with families living with their goats and other animals in huts without water or electricity. But there seemed to be peace among them.
When we saw so many people living together from different faiths — Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, Muslims, and Jews — we immediately thought of world peace.
Our visit to the school was clearly the highlight of our trip. We were invited to attend a scholarship distribution ceremony, and the kids were amazing. They work during the day to support their families and attend school at night to complete their education. It’s a long and tiring day, but they all seem so anxious to attend!
We gave them our encouragement, love, and support. Our traveling team was so moved by the experience, that we pooled money on the spot to give a supplemental contribution to the school.
We learned that it only costs $30 to send a child to the school. That is less than the price of a cup of coffee once a week for a year. It makes you realize how important our mission is as Rotary ambassadors to the world.
Through Rotary, we are helping assure that the next generation has a brighter future through education. I am proud to be a Rotarian and thankful for the way it has opened my eyes to the many ways we can help others, sometimes just by collecting and saving our pocket change.
Rotary Voices 
To me being a Rotarian means “Being a leader in Hope” – Knowing that our small effort is making a big difference in our community and communities around the world. Indeed we Rotarians bridge the continent, build communities, bring hope and opportunities to millions of people who are less fortunate than us. Thank you Rotarians around the world for making a difference. Together we can change lives, restore hope, & build futures.
Have a Happy and Healthy New Year.
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Reblogged this on Embu Rotaract.
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It doesn’t take much sacrifice on our part to make a difference in some else’s life. Make the choice to make a difference. I continue to support “Polio Plus” as a 1948 survivor and will try to make a difference so all children can be polio free. Education is the place to start so all children can learn to make the sacrifice to help others.
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Reblogged this on shanakyar.
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ThIS is a selfless travelogue supporting that doing good and working in team towards a just world is dignifying and joyful-at least to those who are compassionate and are global in theri citizenship
Gbemisoye tijani
phf
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