There is a new country on the Optimist International map.  

We welcomed 16 charter members to the Optimist Club of Iraq. It’s located in the capital of Baghdad. Charter president Nadia Hamzah Fouad was among those who attended Optimist International’s first Middle Eastern conference in Beirut in September. 

“We aspire to work together to give help young people because now we have high unemployment, universities graduating minds, without work.” said Fouad. The Club is being sponsored by the Optimist Club of Damietta, Egypt, and the Galveston Noon Optimist Club in Texas.

Meanwhile, the Optimist Club of Al Marfraq, Jordan organized last month. It is about 80 kilometers north of the capital of Amman and is being sponsored by the Damietta Egypt Optimist Club and the Optimist Club of St Louis Missouri.

There has been a lot of positive activity by Optimist Clubs in Africa and Asia since the start of the new Optimist year on October first. 

The KAMP Optimist Club in Uganda organized a football (soccer) tournament in its area hosting several teams for the competition.

Meanwhile, the Mother of Tomorrow Optimist Club in Jinga, Uganda has announced plans to tackle the issue of unwanted pregnancies among young girls. Members are saying the lockdown imposed in the country because of COVID has led to a lot of the problems because schools have been closed thus putting the lives of teenage girls at risk.

Optimist International’s presence in Sri Lanka is going to the animals.

The Optimist Club of Colombo which is comprised of former JOI members has been asked to participate in a nationwide. “Project Care To Wild' involves Youth Organizations of Sri Lanka to come together and fight for Animal Welfare.“ said member Arosheny Puvanenthirarajah. “We plan on conducting 5 or 6 webinars to raise awareness, stand against and minimize animal torture.”

Webinars are also the focus for the next several months in the south Pacific. 

In conjunction with the Celebrate Community 2021" observance, the Optimist Club of the Philippines organized a webinar attended by 271 participants.

This date coincided with Global Mental Health Day. The theme of the webinar is "Conquering Mental Battles and Daily Obstacles: “In our current situation, where we still have limited mobility due to COVID, our club helps many young people because we can provide knowledge to reduce their worries caused by the pandemic” said President Rajesh Michael Cordova.

The Optimist Club of Malta has launched its first major project that assists students with their studies after school. Ikber Maghna has involved the local government, several businesses that donated materials and has been endorsed by the Ministry of Education.

President Patsy Garner and Past International President Ken Garner were on hand last month to conduct the inaugural ceremony for the installation of officers of the Nepal District. "Ken and I were honored to be present, and install the officers of the Optimist International Nepal District officers. The Nepalese Optimists have worked so hard to achieve their goals, and we wish each of these new officers great successes in their new Optimistic journey" - Optimist International President Patsy Garner. The Nepal District is comprised of 26 clubs. Work is underway for more new Clubs and membership development in the months to come.