On Wednesday, October 23rd, 2019, the Utah Valley University (UVU) Rotaract and the Orem Rotary Club co-hosted the World Polio Day Commemoration at UVU.  Rotaract is a student club at UVU, and part of the Rotary International (RI). Rotary  International is “a global network of 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.” More than 35,000+ Rotary International clubs globally work together to: 1) Promote peace; 2) Fight disease; 3) Provide clean water, sanitation, and hygiene; 4) Save mothers and children; 5) Support education; and 6) Grow local economies. Rotaract Clubs bring together people ages 18-30 to exchange ideas with leaders in the community, develop leadership and professional skills, and have fun through service.

Rotaract is also a member of the Utah International Mountain Forum (UIMF), a coalition of student clubs at UVU to promote the United Nations sustainable mountain development agenda in the state of Utah and North America. The event at UVU focused on the most famous initiative of the RI: the Polio Eradication as part of the goal to fight diseases worldwide.  It was hosted through the student engaged learning model, where we students work as a group to implement practical task and our teachers help us as mentors.

Kyle Warren moderates the event 

Kyle Warren, UVU Rotaract President, moderated the event by welcoming the audience and the speakers. He also reported to the audience about UVU Rotaract activities and goals. Then he invited to the podium Yana Andersen Rotaract member, who introduced Dr. Baldomero Lago, the Chief International Officer at UVU Office of Global Engagement. As the first speaker, Dr. Lago spoke about the essence of engaging students in sustainable development and how his office does everything to assist UVU student’s participation and contribution to the UN activities at local and international levels. I liked what Dr. Lago told us because I participated at one of the events which his office co-sponsored, the 68^th United Nations Civil Society Conference (68UNCSC) in Salt Lake City in August 26-28, 2019.

   

Dr. Baldomero Lago speaks during the event

Dr. Lago also reported to us about success of hosting the 68UNCSC in Salt Lake City. According to Dr. Logo, it is the first time that the United Nation Civil Society took place in another city beside its primary headquarters in New York and Geneva. He expressed appreciation to Rotary members and us for contributing to the success of the 68 UNCSC. Dr. Lago also invited the audience to participate at the 3rd Annual Utah Diplomatic Conference on International Trade Relations which will take place at UVU campus on November the 4^th , 2019.

The keynote speaker of the event was Dr. John Hanrahan, the Rotary District Governor. Kyle Warren introduced Dr. Hanrahan by mentioning the most important facts from his bio and professional career as a medical doctor, and also humanitarian and contributor to RI projects.

Dr. John Hanrahan, the Rotary District Governor as a keynote speaker at the event

 Dr. Hanrahan spoke about and the necessity to end the polio in all around the world by vaccinating kids and the history of RI involvement with this important goal. Dr. Hanrahan has also shared with us many stories about RI effort to end polio since its beginning. However, Dr. Hanrahan has also explained how polio is rare in these days, but it is still a dangerous disease, and we need to work together to end this danger.

After Dr. Hanrahan, Kyle Warren invited to the podium Albeny Singh, another Rotaract member to introduce Dr. Steve Anderson, the UVU Director of community and government relations.  Dr. Anderson is UVU graduate and he reported to us about the activities of his office.

Dr. Steve Anderson, the UVU Director of community and government relations

At the beginning of his remarks, Dr. Anderson shared with us a story how his grandmother was treated and healed from polio. He reported to us about programs in his office which assist students with their education such as internships at local, national and international levels.

Abdulrahman Alghanmi introduces Dr. Robinson

The final speaker was Dr. Dean Robinson, the President-Elect of Orem Rotary. I was assigned personally to contribute to this event by introducing Dr. Dean Robinson.

Dr. Robinson speaks during the event   

Dr. Robinson shared with us the history of Rotary International from its establishment in Chicago by Paul P. Harris in 1905. He also explained how Rotary clubs work together to implement their main goal, which is to help the communities and to raise the awareness among them through action to create lasting change.

Group photo after the event at UVU

It was a great event for me and other UVU Rotaract members through a student engaged learning to gain new knowledge about Rotary International and its noble goal to eradicate polio worldwide. It was a great opportunity for us to meet and interact with many new respected individuals who make a difference in the lives of the people worldwide. The event was successful thanks to the support from the Orem Rotary members and the UVU office of Global Engagement.

             Abdulrahman Alghanmi, UIMF member

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Rotaractors hosted table as part of the World Polio Day   

UVU Rotaract members hosted table at UVU as preparations for the World Polio Day commemoration 

On October 21, 2019, members of the Utah Valley University Rotaract club hosted a table at university campus. The main goal for the tabling was to raise awareness among UVU students and faculty about Rotary International, its activities and in particular contribution to the polio eradication around the world.

The October 24th is the World Polio Day for  all members of the Rotary International to involve people around the world through various actions to fight this disease. Currently polio still exists in three countries: Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan.

Rotaract is the student club and part of the Rotary International. UVU Rotaract works closely with the Orem Rotary club.   Members of the Rotaract led by Kyle Warren, its President, used the tabling also to raise funds for Rotaract activities.  UVU Rotaract is a member of the Utah International Mountain Forum, a coalition of student clubs at UVU, which focuses on the promotion of the United Nations sustainable mountain development agenda in the State of Utah and at the UN. Hannah Bieker, represented UVU Rotaract during the visit of UIMF delegation to the 63rd session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in March 2019.  

                Abdulrahman Alghanmi, UIMF member

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Video of the Event

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World Polio Day Brochure

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Task List for World Polio Day

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STUDENT REFLECTIVE ESSAYS

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Kyle Warren- Preparations for World Polio Day at UVU 

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Samuel Elzinga-The Role of Rotary in the Eradication of Polio and its Place in the SDGs

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Kyle Warren-World Polio Day Commemoration at UVU

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Byan Alghanmi-World Polio Day at Utah Valley University

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Kanyon Lee Learning about Rotary International and Polio Eradication

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Albeny Singh – My contribution to the World Polio Day Event at UVU

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Cory Levin-World Polio Day Commemoration at UVU

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Jose Coreas-UVU Rotaract hosted World Polio Day-

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Yana Andersen – Contributing to World Polio Day at UVU

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Caleb Stowell-Commemorating World Polio Day at UVU Through Student Engaged Learning

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Sariah Gomez-Achieving a Polio-Free World Through Rotarians

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Drew Tschirki – World Polio Day Event At Utah Valley University

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Titus Elanyu – World Polio Day at Utah Valley University