Crocus Planting
End Polio Day 2024
This autumn, the Rotary Club of the Studio's Elstree proudly participated in End Polio Day 2024, joining Rotary clubs worldwide in raising awareness and continuing the fight to #EndPolio.
Raising Awareness in Local Schools
As part of our ongoing commitment to the End Polio Now campaign, club members visited local schools to share the important message about Rotary's decades-long fight to eradicate polio. During school assemblies, we gave short, engaging presentations to students, educating them about the global efforts to eliminate polio and the progress that has been made, thanks to the End Polio Now initiative.
Planting Seeds of Hope: Purple Crocuses for a Polio-Free Future
The purple crocus has become a symbol of the End Polio Now campaign, representing the purple ink used to mark the finger of a child who has been vaccinated against polio. Every time a crocus is planted, we honor the millions of children vaccinated as part of the collective effort of Rotary, governments, and partners worldwide.
The Power of Giving: Making a Lasting Impact
Rotary's commitment to ending polio is reflected in its substantial contributions to the global effort. Thanks to the incredible generosity of Rotary members and supporters, Rotary International has contributed over $2.6 billion toward ending polio. With support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other key partners, every dollar raised has been matched 2-to-1, amplifying the impact and bringing us closer to a polio-free world. Together, we are on the brink of eradicating this disease for good.
We would like to extend a huge thank you to the schools, teachers, and students who joined us in supporting this vital cause. Your participation makes a difference and helps us take another step toward achieving a world free from polio.
End Polio Day 2023
On Saturday 28th of October the club organised a planting session to raise awareness and support the End Polio Now campaign on Saturday 28th of October 2023
This campaign, led by Rotary International, has made significant strides in nearly eradicating polio worldwide. The event saw the participation of eight dedicated Rotarians and an additional eight friends and volunteers.
During this planting session, over 3,000 crocus corms were planted in a designated areas at the Elstree & Borehamwood train station and at Allum Manor & Hall. £175 was spent on buying the corms.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Contribute £3 for every £1 spent thus £700 will be spent on the Polio vaccine.
During the planting session, the club seized the opportunity to promote two essential community projects: the Book Swap scheme which promotes literacy and fosters a sense of community by creating a space for individuals to connect through literature. The scheme not only enhances access to reading materials but also encourages social interaction and the exchange of ideas among residents.
The event also promoted Rotary 'Message in a Bottle', a programme enables users to store essential medical information about medications in a designated bottle placed in their fridge.
A corresponding sticker is affixed to their front door, alerting paramedics and first responders to the presence of vital medical information. This initiative ensures that residents receive proper medical attention in emergencies and enhances their overall safety and well-being.
In addition, a special tribute was made by the club planting some crocii in a memorial area at St. Teresa's Church in honour of Fr. Dominic, the local Catholic priest for Elstree and Borehamwood, who sadly passed away at the beginning of October.
The significance of the club's activities did not go unnoticed, with Rotary District Governor Suraiya Kassamally joining the group during the crocus planting session.
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In addition to raising awareness, we wanted to make a tangible impact. To symbolize our dedication to the cause, we delivered small bags of purple crocuses—the internationally recognized symbol of the fight against polio—to each school. These crocuses were planted in school gardens this autumn, creating a lasting reminder of the role we all play in protecting future generations from polio.
