Ever wanted a piece of the Sunshine Coast to share with others? How about 1,000 pieces? And how about at the same time, helping the Amarok Society improve literacy for the underprivileged in Bangladesh? You can do all that by buying a jigsaw puzzle map of the upper and lower Sunshine Coast from one of three area Rotary Clubs.
The colourful puzzles depict a stylized map of the area from Langdale to Lund, with well-known locations like Molly’s Reach, BC Ferries terminals and the communities of the Coast marked with whimsical icons. Designed by Powell River-based artist Evelyn Kirkaldy, one example of the local insight map location-markers share includes the placeholder for Pender Harbour. It is the image of a popular local seafood delicacy, the spot prawn.
First released last December, the puzzles continue to be available for $35 each. To purchase, contact either the Powell River, Pender Harbour or Sechelt Rotary Club.
How the initiative started
The genesis for the project came from Powell River Club member Bente Hansen. She told Coast Reporter via email she became aware of the work of Amarok Society founders Tanyss and Gem Munroe “many years ago." In 2007, the society partnered with Rotary clubs around the world to work as partners in pursuit of Rotary's ideals of peace, education, and service above self.
Sarah Johnston, secretary and past president of the Pender Harbour Club, a Rotarian of 21 years, told Coast Reporter that revenue from puzzle sales is being used to support the society’s work. She noted that puzzles sales revenues have reached the level where they can replace the $2,000 a year each of the clubs had been providing from their general revenues to this cause.
Johnston said the item has been a big hit with many, “People tell us they just love it." At a recent Rotary International conference, she said the puzzle drew the attention of members of that organization’s executive, who took the time to pose for photographs with it.
'Teach mothers to teach others'
A posting on the Powell River club’s website states the society’s Dr. Tanyss Munroe recently updated their group on the Rotary Sunshine Coast Mothers School located in the slums of the city of Dhaka. She noted that is now one of 27 society schools in that area which it cites as “the world’s most densely populated and highly polluted city." The first of those facilities opened in 2006.
As highlighted on the society’s website, using a school to teach 60 children at a time, in a world where 250 million children are growing up illiterate “was like trying to drain the ocean with a spoon." It opted for the approach to “teach mothers to teach others."
The society, with home offices in Edmonton, Alberta, explains in its online presence that its schools in Dhaka are open to mothers. When those women complete a class, they are tasked with relaying that knowledge to five of their neighbourhoods children in a “micro-school at home." In that way, Amarok schools can multiply the benefits of learning to read beyond the mothers, and in turn help the youth to advance to higher levels of education and break the cycle of poverty.
In Hansen’s view “the work that Tanyss and Gem have done to bring education to the poorest part of the world in a manner that allows both the mothers and the children to learn is courageous and inspiring."
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Correction: An earlier version of this story stated three puzzles can be purchased for $90. This is not the case. We regret the error.
