Meet Amanda Fiora.......................
"A new year brings new opportunities, a chance to start a hobby or play a sport; a time to try something different. Usually something may happen or someone might encourage and inspire you and ignite a flame within you, and then it just feels that it's the right time to do the right thing! For Amanda Fiora joining the Rotary Club of Kyrenia Liman was long overdue, but she only became a part of this hardworking group when she knew she could commit to it one hundred percent.
Amanda was born in the United Kingdom but moved to New Zealand when she was a toddler. She later went on to Australia where she spent her high school years. Living in such a beautiful yet far off country, when she reached her twenties Amanda left Australia to travel afar - mainly around Europe. This included long periods of time in England and Italy. However, as is often the case, falling in love with North Cyprus after a visit here a few years ago eventually brought Amanda and her partner to our small island.
Rotary International is a well established club with over a million members all over the world that have a mission to help and support others in need, and to give back to the local community in small yet significant ways. In North Cyprus we have three registered clubs and even though Amanda has only been an active member of the Rotary Club of Kyrenia Liman for about a year, her knowledge of their work dates back over a decade. She is currently on a committee within the group that deals with the promotional side of the club. Chatting with the very enthusiastic Ananda, she is keen to share her passion about being a Rotarian with others.
The Rotary Club of Kyrenia Liman meets every Wednesday evening at the Dome Hotel in Girne. Amanda assures me that even though the majority of the members are Turkish Cypriot, with a handful of expats, most of them speak English. To become a Rotarian you must first be introduced by a current member and you are encouraged to attend a succession of meetings to determine whether the club is for you, and whether you can commit yourself. There is always a variety of projects on the go; some on a local basis, some international. Amanda tells me that Rotary International dedicated themselves last year to a worldwide campaign to eradicate the polio disease once and for all. In fact, many of their projects, local or international, are related to health and education; the club's motto is "Service above self!
The Rotary group's most recent activity will hopefully raise much needed funds for Girne Akçiçek State Hospital and also for the Karakum Special Needs School. A pub fun day and auction at Jessic's Bar will be held on the 31st of January and will start at about 2pm. Alongside the various fundraising events, monthly guest speakers are cordially invited to talk to Rotary members - to educate and inform on a wide selection of topics. Also in the pipeline is an anniversary ball, which is being planned for February. Amanda and her fellow Rotary friends are alway keen to welcome new members - especially those with goods projects and ideas to share. To learn more about the club and to get some contact details I advise you pay a visit to their excellent website http://www.kyrenialimanrotary.org.
