Vocational Training Team from Uganda in D5890

Vocational Training Team's (VTTs) build on the Foundation’s long-standing commitment to vocational training, first formalized with the establishment of the Group Study Exchange program in 1965. VTTs take the GSE concept of enabling young professionals to observe their profession in another country a step further by offering participants the opportunity to use their skills to help others. Hands-on activities vary from one team to the next but may include training medical profes- sionals on cardiac surgery and care, sharing best practices on early childhood education, or explaining new irrigation techniques to farmers. A successful VTT increases the capacity of the host community to solve problems and improve the quality of life.  The VTT must be sponsored by Rotary clubs or districts from two countries.  Teams must consist of at least two members (either Rotarians or non-Rotarians) with at least two years of professional experience in the designated areas of focus and a Rotarian leader who has expertise in the area of focus, international experience, and general Rotary knowledge. In certain cases, the Foundation may grant permission to designate a non-Rotarian as team leader. There are no restrictions on the age of participants.

Rotarian Bill Davis has an interesting story about the development of the VTT from Uganda currently in our home district.  A team of 5 Doctors and nurses from the Uganda Heart Institute in Kampala arrived in Houston last Saturday for two weeks of training at Texas Children's Hospital. The team will be home hosted by Rotarians from the West U Rotary Club. Bill says, "This $34,000 Rotary Grant resulted from a chance meeting I had on a flight from London to Houston with a travel nurse returning to the U.S. from a medical mission in Uganda."   When traveling, wear your Rotary pin or some apparel with the Rotary logo and you will most likely meet someone in the airport with a conection to Rotary.  It could be another Rotarian, an exchange student, or a Rotary scholar.  Bill's chance meeting led to this terrific training opportunity for this medical team to come to the world renown Texas Medical Center in Houston.  The Rotary Grant funds all travel and other expenses for the team.  This photo is taken from a fun night with the five medics from the Uganda Heart Institute in Kampala after work hours.