In Gear | Rotary in Southern New Zealand In Gear - Issue 3 | Page 59

wave around it has also served to shine an even brighter
spotlight on Project Starfish’s mission.
During his many speaking engagements, David’s been
quick to remind the Rotary clubs that have been of
such great support that it’s only because of them such
progress is being made and word is spreading.
“Just the week after we got back, I also had an email
from a Rotarian over in the UK saying they wanted to
come with us next time, and when were we heading
back,” he says.
“And, we had a Rotarian who’s a Rotary Action Group
Against Slavery member, from Seattle, who said they
wanted to be part of this – so, we’ve got continuity,
people who want to come back with us and be part of
it.”
As well as helping the Rescue Mission draft its new
policies and procedures, David has a lengthy list of
projects to delegate and leads to follow up ... and a
young team of Rotarians who are right behind him.
“The opportunity for these guys to make even more of a
ripple effect is absolutely amazing.
“Our ability in Rotary to help, not just th ese NGOs, but
even at government level, people don’t really credit what
we can achieve.”
The global slavery industry is
estimated to generate around $US150
billion each year, $US100 billion of
which is spent specifically on children.
In the past 30 years, Rotary has
invested about $US1.4 billion
fighting polio. In that same period,
paedophiles have spent $US3
trillion on child prostitutes, and
the estimated tally of child rapes
committed during that time stands at
about 368 billion.
In any given year, it’s thought 4.5
million worldwide are trapped in
child sex slavery, with 2.2 million new
children estimated to be abducted
into the trade annually.
A touching tribute
In February, Georgia travelled to Christchurch to
share the success of the trip with the Rotary clubs of
Christchurch Sunrise, Garden City, Christchurch South,
and Christchurch Girls’ High School’s Interact Club.
To her surprise, the Christchurch Rotarians had
something they wanted to share with her, too, in honour
of her special contribution to Project Starfish – Rotary’s
Young Totara Award. A tree, complete with plaque, has
been planted in her honour at Christchurch’s Westlake
Park, in Halswell.
“That made my start of the year.”
The journey to Thailand and Cambodia was, Georgia
says, by far the most significant Rotary project she’s
ever undertaken in her time with the organisation,
which began when she started an Interact club as a
Christchurch Girl’s High School student.
“Obviously, the trip was massive – and it’s a massive part
of my life, and it’s actually changed where I want to go
now.
“I’ve done international projects before, and it’s been
fundraising and sending stuff over. So, to actually
I think it was coming
back here and
realising I wanted
it to be part of my
lifestyle … I just
can’t ignore it, I just
want everything I do
to go, in some way,
toward alleviating
international issues.”
Georgia and Michael
Georgia Kerby,
Dunedin Rotaractor
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