Aberdeen
St Fittick and Sierra Leone

Left to right: Alastair Brodie, Sandy Lindsay, Alastair
Robertson, Sheena Anderson,
Alan Millar, Kirsty Anderson , and Jack Campbell
Previous visitors to this site may recall
the story of our links with Sierra Leone and in particular
with the Lumley Children’s Orphanage in Freetown,
the Club’s principal International Project in
2006. Building on these links, February 2007 saw the
departure from Aberdeen for Sierra Leone of our Senior
Vice-President Sheena Anderson, International Convener
Alastair Brodie and Past Presidents Jack Campbell
and Alastair Robertson, accompanied by Sheena’s
daughter Kirsty, Alan Millar who is a teacher at Torry
Academy and Sandy Lindsay who is a school technician
at Mackie Academy, Stonehaven. They are pictured above
at a Club meeting when they each delivered an account
of the visit. The purpose of this visit was threefold,
firstly to foster the link with the Orphanage by painting
the buildings (assisted by the children) and here
they are all hard at work.

The outside was grubby and the rooms
inside showed the kind of wear and tear you would
expect from 25 boisterous kids, but both have now
been transformed by their efforts. Secondly it was
to attempt to set up a twinning arrangement between
local schools here in Aberdeenshire and those around
Freetown, and thirdly to assess the possibility of
setting up an agricultural co-operative With the first
and second of these aims very successfully achieved,
the third is still very much in consideration, along
with several other avenues still to be explored as
additional future projects. In their presentation
to the Club it was obvious that all of the team had
been emotionally moved by their experience of life
in this so deprived part of the planet, and the depth
and sincerity of their feelings was very apparent
to their audience. There are obviously opportunities
galore here for Rotary to live up to its aims, and
St. Fittick’s commitment in this respect should
see much further development of the relationships
and friendships already built up. So watch this space!
Here are some pictures giving a flavour of the visit
by the self-styled “Magnificent Seven”,
a well-earned soubriquet. First, the dangers of standing
too close to the painting - look what happened to
Ishmael!
Thus necessitating a visit to the laundry -

All in all this project was a tremendous success,
providing both fun for the children – and adults,
and a rewarding experience for all concerned. As for
the Magnificent Seven, they still meet up to discuss
and formulate plans for all the projects in progress
and still to come. All strength to their efforts.
Who
Wants to be a Millionaire

The Rotary Club of Aberdeen St Fittick joined with
Aberdeen Foyer, who are a franchise partner for The
Prince’s Trust, to deliver Princes Trust Team
17 from inception to completion. From a start on 30th
January, the Community and Personal Development Project
came to a conclusion on 20th April when Team Members
presented their Project to a mixed gathering of public,
family, friends, people met throughout the programme,
Prince’s Trust Board Members, and Rotarians,
that included the Lord and Lady Provost, in the historic
setting of the Town and County Hall at Aberdeen Town
House. Pictured above is President James Robertson
handing over the sponsorship cheque to Kathleen Singer,
Foyer Prince’s Trust Team Leader. Looking on
from left to right are David Whyte, Natalie Stewart,
Frazer Woodward (Team 17 members), and Committee Convenor
Rtn. Ian McLean.
In front of 100 guests, the summary of experiences
and achievements took the form of Chris Tarrant’s
“Who Wants to be a Millionaire” Game Show
with questions and answers that led the audience through
the Team 17 Project. On completion the Lord Provost
presented Team members with their certificates for
completion of the 12 week Project. A further presentation
was given by the Team at a Club Meeting on 10 May.
Humour and fun, an essential part of Projects, was
portrayed in questions such as “who sponsored
the event?” Participants deliberately gave the
impression that they struggled with this question.
It required a fifty fifty choice. The two remaining
answers were Aberdeen Football Club and St Fittick
Rotary Club. This required to be referred to the audience.
With a chuckle, “fortunately,” Club members
were able to guide participants to the right answer.
The Team went on to win £1M.
Team members for Aberdeen Team 17 were from a variety
of sources including, Careers Scotland and Social
Work Departments in Aberdeen, Ellon. New Deal participants
were referred through Job Centre Plus. Referrals also
came through Aberdeen Foyer from tenants and via programmes
run by Aberdeen Foyer, such as Gateway to Work. Twelve
youngsters, aged between 16 and 25, completed a 12
week personal development programme aimed at enabling
them to develop their confidence, motivation, self
esteem and skills. It was an action packed programme
of challenging projects and teamwork commencing with
getting to know your colleagues, followed by building
an “egg rocket” communication and teamworking
exercise. Drug awareness featured in a general Health
and Safety workshop. Risk Assessments were completed
for all stages of the 12 week programme. Following
planning a schedule of Healthy Menus and associated
shopping list, a residential week was spent at an
outdoor Centre near Aviemore. Specially trained Instructors
encouraged teambuilding through activities that included;
Night Walk, Abseiling/Rock climbing, Hill Walking,
Orienteering and Problem Solving. The team enjoyed
these activities immensely. Feedback and individual
presentations were given on the final night. Team
members then carried out a Work Placement Week at
various volunteer firms/establishments in Aberdeen
chosen as areas of individual member’s interest.
Next in the development programme was career guidance
and job seeking training to enhance employability.
Application forms were completed. Rtns. Dorinda Adam
and Sean Reddy advised individuals and carried out
a series of mock job interviews. In addition, this
had the benefit of showing the human face of Rotary
to young people who were pleased to appreciate the
Service aspect of our Organisation. CV’s were
completed in the Foyer IT Suite and individuals started
to complete actual job applications. To encourage
ownership, Team members had earlier located and raised
funds for their Community Projects. Fund raising was
carried out bag packing at M&S and a sponsored
ski. Following a number of small projects the main
one that featured in and around Inchgarth Community
Centre, Garthdee, Aberdeen was planned. It comprised
the completion following extensive renovations to
the Centre. Convener Rtn. Ian Mclean was thanked for
orchestrating all matters on behalf of the Club. B
& Q gifted paint. Ian commented that being allowed
to share in getting covered in paint apparently endeared
him to the Team. Team members were thanked on completion
and the Centre was opened to the public.
In conclusion, the Prince’s Trust Programme
is clearly of great benefit to those who participate
in it. The team members were assessed throughout for
their core skill ability. Team members all took advantage
of the course to develop team working, communication,
problem solving, tolerance, and leadership, caring
for others, motivation and taking responsibility.
The development of Team member’s self-esteem
and motivation is difficult to quantify, but is most
certainly evident at the end of the programme. Team
members all remarked on the sense of achievement they
felt at being able to put something back into the
Community. It is hoped that, once verified, Team members
will all gain their SQA qualifications in Communication
and Social Awareness & Development. The members
of Aberdeen Team 17 will hopefully look back on the
Prince’s Trust Team programme, as being a most
positive experience. We wish these youngsters well
in the future.
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