GUEST SPEAKER: Kris Sachdeva introduced Steve Rutledge who is well known to our club.
Steve brought us up to date on his signature project "Adopt a Village in Laos" and in particular, providing safe water for families which of course improves their health and therefore their ability to work, attend school, etc.
This year there was ++ damage due to bad weather, dams needed repair (no dam, no water) and filters which last 10-12 years had to be replaced.
He showed a 10th Anniversary Slide Show, which highlighted the dams, filters and people involved in putting these in place. This year’s friends and one student were lost due to illness or injury. This is always very sad and difficult.
Steve thanks Rotary Club across Canada- Lunenburg to White Rock for their support. To date they have provided 35 villages (over 20,000 people) with water filters. One filter provides for a family of 8. One member of each family must take a "hygiene course" and be responsible for ensuring the filter is cleaned properly.
Each filter costs approx. $125 Cdn.
Steve welcomes anyone who wishes to visit him when he is in Laos,(Feb 2020) but needs to know early fall to arrange transport, etc.
Thanked By: David Mankiewicz who commended Steve for his continuing work on this project
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