“The test of a vocation is the love of the drudgery it involves” - Logan Pearsall Smith
For the first time in history, the vocational service month was celebrated this January as opposed to October. The month focused on the second avenue of service in Rotary; Vocational Service. The vocational month reminded us of a few aspects in service; first and foremost the adherence to, and promotion of ethical standards in all occupations; including fair treatment of employers, employees, associates, competitors and the public is very important. Secondly the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations, not just those that are pursued by Rotarians and thirdly the contribution of your vocational talents to solving the problems of society and meeting the needs of the community. The icing to the cake was the awarding of several individuals by Rotarians and Rotaractors for their exceptional contributions to the community.
The Vocational Month saw Ann Katuregye receive the prestigious Vocational Service Award from the Rotaract Club of Bukoto. Ladies and gentlemen, a round of applause to this lady who has transformed children from different walks of life.
One evening as Ann watched news on UBC TV she learnt of the plight of a young defiled mother from Buwenge in Jinja seeking support to treat her deformed little child. She was compelled to contact them and canvass for funds to get the child treated. A step that changed her life to this very day. This young girl was born deformed with a nasal bridge swelling childhood. With the help of Uganda Network for empowerment of the marginalized children and youth MEMACY-UGANDA, Essezza was picked from her home and admitted at Mulago Hospital and craniotomy surgery was done successfully.
After this successful story, many children started coming in for help with many different deformities. It is from this that Anne started a foundation after Esezza to help children and people with such challenges all over the country. Many children living in poverty stricken areas are victims of such deformities and cannot afford to go for surgery to correct these deformities yet in some cases they are cancerous.
To see this, Ann started Esezza Foundation (yet to be registered) a Foundation through which she has been able to reach out to children across the country. Esezza foundation gets its name from one of the children, Esezza orphaned at a tender age by her parents and left in the hands of her grandmother. It is from the grandmother that Esezza was picked, and although other children have gone back to their homes after their operations, Esezza has become part of Ann’s home. Through this foundation, she has a goal of offering children suffering from life threatening health condition and devotions hope.
Ann is a 56 year old woman born in Rukungiri, widowed with three biological children. She is an HIV activist and has worked with Joint Clinical Research Center where she worked closely with defiled girls and mothers. Four years down the road, she has taken care of and overseen successful treatment and surgeries on approximately 30 children. Her home has been opened to children with all conditions; tumors, cancer, hydrocephalus, extreme skin disorders, fistula, mention it.
Ann is passionate about children and dreams to see all children have a future despite differences in health and livelihoods. And moving on, Ann plans to register her foundation, construct a Foundation home and seek partnerships with foreign or local NGOs and hospitals.
Ann’s extraordinary and exceptional contribution touched the hearts of very many people and in addition to the award, shs. 240, 000 was donated by Rotaractors, Rotarians and Guests present during that fellowship and handed over to Ann to assist her foundation. The Rotaract club of Bukoto also looks forward to paying a visit to Esseza Foundation Home to extend more support in that regard.
As Rotaractors and Rotarians, we do things voluntarily because we have a motive to do so. When that motivation is depleted, no amount of force, productivity techniques and apps, can make any of us perform, at least not at your highest levels. Inspiration is one of the best motivators. And while you can certainly draw inspiration from a variety of sources around you such as people, nature, books and magazines, it is not that easy to get your daily dose when you work in a traditional setting such as an office, or even from your home. If you are surrounded by nature and you can take long walks and admire the beauty around you every day, that would be great, but few people live in such a setting, or have the time. So what can you do to get inspired on a consistent basis? It is such inspirational stories and people like Ann Katuregye that keep us motivated and fulfilling our obligation of service above self.
