We held our annual club elections, if you were not at the meeting, you can still vote on Thursday prior to the Vagabonds. New badges were discussed. Broke into committee teams for the remainder of the meeting.
Senitizo's December Newsletter Looking Back at 2025 and Forward to 2026!
As the year comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on just how much has changed in twelve short months. The work has been steady, often challenging, and always meaningful. When I look back on this past year at Senitizo, what stands out most are the milestones when plans became places - opening doors at new clinics and new patients receiving the high-quality health care they deserve.
This year, we began operations at our HIV and tuberculosis clinic in Bangui, expanding our programs for the first time into the capital city and responding to urgent health needs among the city’s most vulnerable populations. It is a space built not just for treatment, but for trust—where patients are known, followed, and supported over time.
In rural Lobaye just south of where our first primary health clinic has been operating for the past five years, we celebrated the opening of a new maternity ward, bringing safe delivery services closer to women who previously were forced to deliver at home. We have now tripled the number of women that are giving birth with skilled care, clean facilities, and the reassurance that they and their babies will be safe if emergency care is needed.
This year also marked the beginning of our extended vaccination outreach campaigns, which reach children who haven’t yet received any immunizations. Traveling to remote communities, including Aka encampments often missed by routine services, our teams began closing the gap for these “zero-dose” children. The campaigns now include the new life-saving malaria vaccine, which has already made an immediate impact on the ground.
These new projects were all built on the successes of our rural health programs we’ve been strengthening year by year. We’ve again treated over 10,000 patients, two-thirds of which are children, at our first rural primary health clinic. Mothers walked long distances with sick children on their backs and found not just healthcare, but dignity and compassion from the skilled hands waiting for them at our facilities.
I am deeply grateful to each of you who chose to stand with Senitizo this year. Your generosity—whether through a first-time gift, a monthly donation, a grant, or a word of encouragement—made our work possible. Here in the Central African Republic, where resources are scarce and challenges are constant, your support was a steady presence.
Your generosity is carrying us forward into 2026 as we prepare to continue expanding our maternal health services, strengthen vaccination outreach, and deepen the impact of our programs in both rural and urban settings. Thank you for believing in this work, for standing with our team, and for helping build a future where high-quality healthcare is not a privilege, but a promise. These new projects are ambitious, but they are grounded in what we know works: locally led, patient-centered, sustainable care.
The District 5960 Midterm on Saturday, January 3, 2026, is quickly approaching, and we want to ensure your club is well represented. This annual gathering is an important opportunity to align goals, exchange ideas, and prepare for a strong second half of the Rotary year. If you haven’t registered yet, now is the time.
The morning includes a message from DG Glenn Bowers, a panel discussion on membership, and a session on growing membership through Companion Clubs. You’ll take part in table discussions on club and district initiatives and hear from Second Harvest and Maddie Archbold on local food security issues. We will also receive updates from Lonny Stormo on Crutches 4 Africa and from Rick Heidick on our district’s LIFT initiative in Central America. Our keynote speaker, Rotary International Director Elect Tom Gump, will present on modern membership strategies and how clubs can adapt to remain vibrant and relevant.
The House of Friendship will feature signature projects from across District 5960 and information on the Unite for Water 2026 five-district initiative. This is a valuable chance to learn, connect, and gather new approaches to bring back to your club.
Please take a moment to register today and encourage others in your club to join you. Your participation strengthens our district and helps all of us Unite for Good in the year ahead.
Date: Saturday, January 3 Time: 8:45 am - 12:00noon (House of Friendship opens at 8 AM) Location: Base Camp, Team Building Center Cost: Free
We are just over a month away from World Snow and are currently seeking volunteers! If you are able to send the below link to your Rotary members, we would greatly appreciate it!
Thank you, Amanda, Bob, Kim, Steve, Lois, Dave, Scott, Bev, Patty, Jonathan, Tracey and Katie, for taking the time to ring the bell for the Salvation Army on 12/10/25
During our bell ringing shift, we raised $1,088 for the Salvation Army! That’s 3x more than last year – but we had frigid cold and wind last year.
Roadside Clean Up
Thank you, Scott, Amanda, Lois, Patty, Dave P. and Kim for helping with the roadside clean-up on October 15th.
Stuff the Bus
THANK YOU to Patty, Sharon, Tom, Lois, Katie, Amanda, Bev, Clare and Sam (Clare’s son) for packing 40 backpacks for United Way’s Stuff the Bus campaign. They helped ensure that local kids would have all that they need to succeed on the first day of school. Service above self in action!
Relay For Life
We were proud to sponsor this years Relay for Life. Thank you to Clare and Molly for coming out to man our table. Thank you Lois and Amanda for participating in the Relay.
