Introducing SIRC’s President for Rotary Year 2013-2014

The 1st July marks the beginning of the new Rotary Year 2013-2014. On that date SIRC member Jan Lindquist takes over the reigns as SIRC club president.

Jan works for the Swedish Telecom company Ericsson’s. During his 22 years with the company he’s worked in the U.S., Germany and Sweden on various software development projects. Currently he’s working in the Ericisson TV Internet Solution team based in Kista, a suburb of Stockholm. 

Jan was born and raised in Sao Paulo, Brazil before going on to study in Chicago at Illinois Institute of Technology in his late teens. He’s married to Kimberly and they have one 14 year old son with an enthusiatic interest & talent at playing basketball. Jan enjoys riding 18 kms to and from work on his recumbent bicycle, each working day throughout the year.

Reducing maternal and young children mortality rates in Mali

About 3 years ago Stockholm International RC partnered with Stockholm-Sergel RC and Stockholm-Ladugårdslandet RC on some international service projects.

In January 2012, we took the decision to support a project idea in Mali in the area of child and maternal health aimed at reducing child and maternal mortality (among the highest in the world) through various efforts at a health centre in Sebenicoro, 10 miles west of Bamako. For this project we have partnered with Bamako Ouest RC in Mali.

On March 22, 2012, there was a coup d ‘ état in Mali, the desert rebels known as the Tuaregerna rebelled, the President was overthrown and the rebels occupied the North of Mali.

Since no one could have predicted the revolution, we continued with our plans to start a project and submitted a project proposal for funding of a pre-study in Mali to Forum Syd.

The pre-study application was approved in December 2012 and after long and many discussions it was decided to visit Mali to carry out the pre-study between 24 March and 2 April, 2014. The team that went out there were: Monica Essén, gynecologist, Herman Essén, a member of Stockholm-Ladugårdslandet RC and Eva Wenström, Stockholm-Sergel RC, the project leader.

For more information on the project and its’ current status please click HERE

6,000 meters of water pipelines to 400 families in Mexico – 2013

As one of the four International Service Projects Stockholm International Rotary club has agreed to participe in this Rotary Year 2012-2013 we will help fund a project with the San Luis Potosi Tangamanga Rotary club in Mexico to install over 6,000 meters of pipelines to bring clean water to 400 families in the community of Ejido Bledos in Mexico.

 

For more information on the project and its’ current status please click HERE

Cleft lip operations for 120 children in Bolivia – 2013

As one of the International Service Projects Stockholm International Rotary club has agreed to participe in this Rotary Year 2012-2013 we will help fund a project with the  Santa Cruz de la Sierre Rotary club in Bolivia to operate on 120 poor children suffering from cleft lips.

 

The following link HERE provides an overview and current status of the project.

A potential new mission & purpose for war veterans

Recently our club has taken an interest in the plight and issues being faced by Swedish veterans who have returned home after serving in war zones around the world over the last 10-15 years and some of the organisations in Sweden who try to help and support them.

We read a lot about the problems American veterans in particular face after coming home and leaving military service and it is not pleasant reading.  Well you might be surprised to learn that many Swedish veterans face similar issues and problems.

We found the following interesting Tedtalk recently about an organisation in the USA that believe they have found a new, fulfilling mission for military service veterans. Could something be done along similar lines here in Sweden?