SCRIPT FOR “PURPLE PINKIE PROJECT” VIDEO
Our Interact Club is excited about helping raise funds for Rotary’s PolioPlus program.
Since 1985, Rotary has achieved a 99 percent reduction of polio worldwide.
Polio victims on other countries are called “CRAWLERS”, and socially are considered lower than
animals in their society.
The Purple Pinkie Projects helps raise funds to protect children from polio.
We plan to do this project in our high school, at area elementary & middle schools, and at community
events.
Millions and millions of children and their parents in countries where polio still exists know that a
freshly painted purple pinkie means the child is protected from polio.
Throughout the world, each time a Rotary International volunteer gives the polio vaccine to a child in
the village, the child’s pinkie is colored purple with GENTIAN VIOLET INK.
Their purple pinkie indicates they have been immunized against polio, and prevents another volunteer
from giving a double dose of the precious vaccine.
Building upon this symbolism, when our local school children make a $1.00 contribution during Purple
Pinkie Project day, our Interactors will paint their pinkies with the same Gentian Violet Ink used around
the world on a National Immunization Day.
Gentian Violet is used in the mouths of babies to treat “thrush”, so it is safe.
It stains the pinkie for one day, and the purple stays on the cuticle for around 5 days.
During the elections in Iraq, it was used to stain the index finger when they cast their ballot.
We contact the school’s principal to schedule the Purple Pinkie Project at their school, and then we
make posters for the hallways, and send information home to all the parent.
All paperwork will bear our club’s name, plus the Rotary and Interact emblems.
The school nurse or P.E. teachers talk to the students about polio.
Since $1.00 is the approximate cost to immunize two children against polio, the students are
encouraged to bring $1.00 or more to help with this cause.
Some students even bring $5 for 5 fingers, or $10 for both hands.
On Purple Pinkie Project Day, the students bring $1, and we give them a purple pinkie using the same
Gentian Violet Ink used by PolioPlus volunteers around the world.
If schools prefer not to use the ink, a purple yarn bracelet, purple temporary hair color spray, purple
glitter sprinkled in their hair, or even purple nail polish on the pinkie finger can be done. Whichever
method is used, it will be that child’s personal symbol that their contribution has helped free another
child from polio forever.
Their purple bracelet or purple pinkie is their “Polio Hero” badge.
We invite our school superintendent and school board members to the school for the Purple Pinkie
Project.
Photos are sent to the local papers to create community awareness.
We ask the readers to watch for students with a purple pinkie, and to thank them for being a “Polio
Hero”
100% of the funds raised goes to Rotary International’s PolioPlus Program.
With your help, we can make polio only the 2nd disease to be wiped off the face of the earth (What was
the 1st? Small Pox)
UNTIL THE LAST CHILD IS VACCINATED,
POLIO IS JUST A PLANE RIDE AWAY!