Nearly 100, Still Serving!
Dr John Barath’s Gift of Care to Ukraine
By James Onions – ICC Executive Council –Learning & Development Working Group Lead
Never too old to serve: one Rotarian’s generosity turned compassion into practical help.
Dr John Barath, an accomplished dentist and a founding member of the Rotary Club of St Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, will celebrate his 100th birthday in January 2027. His story is not simply about longevity, but about recognising suffering and choosing to act.
Moved by the suffering in the war zones in Ukraine, Dr Barath donated a mobile dental unit at his own expense. It could be taken to remote villages, communities near the front line and, when needed, to people unable to reach conventional dental facilities.
The photograph of Dr Barath standing proudly beside his packed equipment is especially powerful: he appears ready to fly with it himself.
Other images show the mobile dental vehicle and its carefully planned interior, and the ICC team who transported, revealing how one generous idea became a working treatment facility.
ICC BRIDGING BORDERS
From the Caribbean to Great Britain and Ireland, and onward to Ukraine
ICC cooperation transformed a personal gift into service.
The Intercountry Committee linking Rotary GB&I and Rotary in the Caribbean has developed trusted links between the 24 nations of District 7020 and District 7030 and the 24 Districts of Rotary in Great Britain and Ireland. One of those nations is Trinidad and Tobago, home to the Rotary Club of St Augustine.
The initiative began late in 2022, with the Caribbean and Great Britain and Ireland ICC and the Rotary Club of St Augustine in D7030. They linked to their ICC chair in England, Michael Ramcharan in D1145. Working with his National Chair, James Onions, Michael was linked to the
Rotary GB&I –Ukraine ICC, where Tony Preston transported to ICC member Borys Bodnar in RC Ukraine Unity-D2232. In fact, Tony delivered the equipment directly into eastern Ukraine, to then DGE Myron Uhryn,who could put it to immediate use.
In Ukraine, Dr Myron Uhryn, another accomplished dentist, and the Sanatsia Charitable Foundation had already developed the “Trident Dental” and “Elephant” projects to deliver mobile dentistry. For the previous eight years, their volunteer dentists, doctors and maxillofacial surgeons had treated children, civilians, former captives and others living in areas deeply affected by war. They helped all – including the children remaining in the Donbas area, especially for urgent treatment.
Dr Barath’s gift helped professional care travel to the people who needed it most.
‘’We were amazed at the extent of Rotary’s reach when, in the first year of the full-scale invasion, we received suitcases containing a mobile dental unit from far away Trinidad and Tobago. We were very grateful to all involved, to the donor Dr John, James Onions and my good friend Tony Preston of RC Ukraine Unity, who brought it to Ukraine from London.’’
DGE Myron Uhryn, RC Lviv.
Dr Barath’s generosity has given Dr Uhryn’s medical teams a practical means of bringing essential dental care closer to people affected by war. His gift demonstrates how compassion, combined with Rotary cooperation, can cross continents and become real service. Two Rotarian dentists dedicated to service.
Tony Preston and Steve Sidelnyk (RC UkraineUnity)
This story carries two connected lessons: service has no retirement age, and ICCs can knit together people, clubs and countries across both borders and enormous distances.
Those ICC links were vital in getting the mobile dentistry to where it could be used. In this case, new deep friendships developed along the way, triggering many more actions. These included deep friendships between many involved and support from RC St Augustine for a global grant project in England.
‘’Let John’s example become our call to action:’’ Do not wait for the perfect moment or assume that someone else will respond. Look around, identify one need and take one practical step. Offer a skill, make a connection, contribute a resource or support someone already serving. ‘’We are never too old, to o distant or too limited to make a difference.’’Service has no retirement age, and a willing heart can still change lives.
Thanks to everyone involved.
Rotary Izmir Dokuz Eylül
District 2440, Turkey - Past District Governor
Past Rotary Public Image Coordinator
Turkish Rotary Magazine board member
Active member of the WASH and SRoF fellowships
TRF CADRE
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