MIDDLETOWN >> It was the journey of a lifetime.
That’s how local Rotarian Christina Braden describes her recent trip to Agra India to join in the fight to keep India Polio Free.
On January 3, Braden of the Rotary Club of Middletown traveled alone from San Francisco to Delhi, India. She joined 59 other Rotary volunteers from six other countries to work alongside four Rotary Clubs from India for the 2018 Mega Polio Campaign.
This three-day national immunization day event was organized by Rahul and Sachin Wadhwa of the Rotary Club of Agra Taj Mahal.
Rotary has been working to eradicate polio for almost 40 years; the goal of ridding the earth of this disease is in sight. Rotary started their End Polio Now campaign in 1979 with vaccinations for 6 million children in the Philippines. Today, Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan are the only countries where polio remains endemic.
“Pakistan and India share a border, which is why it is so important to participate in these immunization campaigns because the risk is real, and it would be devastating to lose ground in our fight to end polio” explained Braden. “My work with Rotary in efforts to eradicate polio, administering oral polio vaccines to keep India polio free has been my greatest achievement to date.”
Braden administered 120 drops of OPV during the event; overall the group of 59 volunteers vaccinated over 4,000 children.
Braden admitted she was nervous the first time she administered the vaccine, worried too big of a drop would come out of the vial, or not enough would be dispensed. The mothers where extremely grateful and their smiles made her feel at ease.
“My fears quickly vanished”, she said.
During the trip, Braden was also shown two local public schools in the town Shamshabad in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Rotary has done amazing projects in these public schools. Clean water, private bathrooms for girls, and hand hygiene education are all projects the Rotary Club of Agra has funded.
“It was so heartwarming to see and learn of the amazing projects these Rotarians have done to make their community better for their children” remarked Braden. The bathroom facilities she saw in the rural areas of Agra really made her stop and think about how much our youth take for granted here in the USA. “My children have always had clean water and my daughter has always had the use of a private girl’s bathroom, but that is a luxury many other girls in the world do not have.”
When asked how she prepared for her journey, Braden replied; “I did a lot of research on the internet, read one article after another, and people gave me great advice. I made several trips to doctor’s offices near and far for vaccinations. I didn’t know I would need to get every single vaccine again. I was mostly concerned with being emotionally strong for what I would see in India, the poverty and the living conditions. However, the people are so amazing you quickly discover the beauty all around you. I didn’t see the poverty; I saw happiness, joy, appreciation, and love. Agra is a delightful place.”
While on her trip she did take note of the many needs these rural communities have. The people need clean water, better sanitation, and bathroom facilities for girls, technology, and most importantly they need to keep the girls in school.
Braden observed that many girls after the 5th grade stop attending school. In areas like Shamshabad, schools can be located far away, and transportation is an issue. Lack of bathrooms is also a big reason why girls stop going to school.
Education is the key; the only way to really change the future for these communities is education. That is true for everywhere in the world, said Braden.
When she returned home she decided she could continue to make a difference by starting a non-profit corporation funding girls’ education grades 6-10 in India. Educate HER is just getting off the ground and “I couldn’t be happier” said Braden.
“If you can make a difference for one person and then that person can make a difference for another you have created a chain reaction of change for the better for an entire community,” she added.
All it takes is $560 a year to fund a year of education, including books, school supplies, transportation, and a free meal. If you would like more information on Educate HER, please see their website, www.educateherinfo.org or you can find them on Facebook and Instagram.
Bradenhas shared her journey, experiences, and funny stories with the Rotary Club of Middletown, the Interact Club at Middletown High School, Calpine The Geysers, and she will speak next month at the Fire Sirens Club.
“I never get tired of talking about my 10,000-mile journey”, said Braden. “I hope my stories can inspire someone to step out of their comfort zone and do something for the good of humanity. There are so many ways to make a positive difference in the lives of others.”
Rotary is a service organization that has something for everyone. They participate in local projects and global projects as well. Lake County is home to four different Rotary Clubs (Middletown, Kelseyville, Clearlake and Lakeport). Everyone is always welcome! The Middletown Club meets every Friday morning at the Greenview Restaurant at Hidden Valley Lake Golf Course at 7:15 a.m. For more information on Rotary and to find when other clubs meet, you can visit their district website, www.rotary5130.org For more details on this story or to find out more information on Educate Her please contact Christina Braden at ck.braden@gmail.com or 707-291-5420.
