In January, 11 members of Thousand Oaks Rotary traveled to Tijuana, Mexico to visit our Sister Club, The Rotary Club of Tijuana. We spent the first day visiting the Castro Limon Children's Cancer Hospital where we are implementing a Global Grant to provide new surgical equipment. Children who have cancer and their families have no peace. Being free of cancer creates peace.
The next day, we participated in 3 Kings Day which is a program done by the Tijuana Rotarians to provide a day of fun and inspiration for about 500 special needs kids and their families. This program provides food, gifts and a day of joy - a moment of peace - for children and families who struggle to survive. We also participated in the installation of hearing aids in children who have no ability to access such medical intervention.
In partnership with RC Tijuana, RC Thousand Oaks was able to provide 10 children with hearing aids. This gave them the opportunity to go to school and leave behind their complete isolation. Tears of joy were shed by Rotarians and the children's parents as their children were able to hear their voice for the first time. It is hard to have peace when you can't function in society. You are always an outsider and have no access to the opportunities that give you freedom to socialize and learn like a normal child. So much of what we do as Rotarians to make the world a better place also creates peace which includes peace of mind.
Here's a video of the trip.
https://youtu.be/SCajP-B5NXU
Here's a video of the trip.
https://youtu.be/SCajP-B5NXU