Dar Bahari charity golf Cup raises Sh50m

Dar es Salaam. The seventh edition of Rotary Club of Bahari charity golf tournament staged at the Dar es Salaam Gymkhana Club course on Saturdy realised a total of Sh50m.

Barely three hours of playing golf was enough to raise the sum. The money will go to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (Wash), a water project designed to provide Dar es Salaam schools with sustainable clean water.

Under the Wash auspices, teachers undergo special training on, among other things, hygiene so as to simultaneously improve health and education for learners.

The Rotarians in partnership with the business community, Rotary Foundation and the schools will be investing in water and sanitation systems in schools, so as to bring clean water, sanitation and hygiene services directly to the children, reducing their exposure to waterborne diseases.

“Installation of healthier water systems in schools will create a positive cycle by significantly improving school enrollment, attendance and improved academic performance,” said the Bahari Rotary Club president, Amyn Lalji.

“Children who attend school and learn positive health behaviours like washing hands take these behaviours home to their families,” he added.

Lalji said the club aims at requesting a global grant from Rotary Foundation so that more schools in the city benefit from the project.

“This initiative aims at reducing school dropout rates, particularly for girls who are compelled to leave school at puberty.”

“It will also increase community adoption of good Wash behaviours as children become change agents within their families and communities,” he added.

According to him, it will also prevent the outbreak and spread of epidermics and reduce nutrition deficiencies, diarrhea, and other illnesses related to inadequate access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene.

“This initiative is in line with Rotary International’s key focus area basic education and literacy, water and sanitation,” he said.

Lalji said the past six annual golf tournaments raised over a cumulative Sh240 million, which contributed towards various club service projects, making a significant difference in the community by providing support to the underprivileged.

He said Sh43 million was raised in the previous edition. The beneficiaries imcluded The Gift of Life, Save A Child’s Heart Foundation and akaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute at Muhimbili National Hospital that jointly organised teams of medical professionals who volunteered their time and expertise to perform life-saving heart surgeries at The Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute.

Some of the money was spent on facilitating courses for for local surgeons and nurses on how to deal with the complex cases and on intensive post-surgery care.

In the past, The Rotary Club of Bahari has supported projects that aim to improve literacy, sports and creativity, building of school libraries and equipping the libraries with textbooks and youth economic empowerment.

The Rotary Club of Bahari also made a donation to Sister Carmel Welfare center for underprivileged girls and built two tailoring rooms, donated ten sewing machines and five knitting machines so as to sustainably empower the underprivileged women economically.

Saturday’s tournament saw seven handicapper Irfan Jaffer returning a 40-stableford points to claim the top prize. Jaffer sank a total of four birdies with three of then in the front nine. He birdied at par five second, par four fourth and par five fifth to reach the turn at 23.

He further stamped his authority with the day’s final birdie at the course’s windy and longest par four 18t for 17-point inwards.

Jaffer was closely followed by former cricketer Hasnain Rahim who carded a 39-point with 18 points outward before improving to additional 21 as he approached the clubhouse.

In division B Ali Dhanj slightly edged Arjun Lavingia on 39-point countback.

In division C, 24-handicpper Eric Tango stunned the entire field with a deep scorching 47 points that was disputed by golf captain Akil Yusufali. Tango risked a chop of his handicap to 20 in the very next event.

In senior category, Gulam Dewji posted 34 points to beat Joseph Kapambwe on countback. In ladies category, Lily Lee edged Rehema Athumani by a single point.