Chimbote Project Update
Posted by Steve Frazier
on Dec 06, 2011
Our Program on 12/3 was about the situation in Chimbote, Peru. The history: in 1971, Father Jack Davis, a catholic priest from the Fargo, ND. Diocese, went on assignment to a poverty-ridden parish in Chimbote, Peru. His efforts to help the 40,000 people in his barrio parish have been aided by at least 5 U S Rotary Clubs, church congregations, countless individuals and other groups. Tony and Dorothy Brama spoke to our club last week and brought us up to date.
Tony and Dorothy became involved in helping Chimbote when they joined the group finding items to include in the two containers sent down yearly from the Twin Cities. They are members of St Michael's parish in Prior Lake (Prior Lake Rotary was the first Rotary in the Greater Twin Cities to organize to help Father Jack). They have been down to Peru a number of times. They presented a video showing aspects of the help being provided from the US.
Currently, there are 7 soup kitchens that provide 2900 meals a week - the only food for many kids in the area. There is a micro-lending program to help individuals start or improve their own businesses. There are medical and dental clinics that serve the ill without charge; some of the clinics are staffed by American volunteers who create miracles! And there are scholarships available for grade school, high school, technical school, and college for deserving kids (handled by the Chanhassen Rotary Club). Father Jack says that the way out of poverty for the kids is education, and that is one of his focuses. Medical supplies are sent in the two 40 foot containers that are shipped annually, and to date this area has shipped goods worth $5,800,000 to help.
The project's email is helpchimbotenow.org.
Tony and Dorothy became involved in helping Chimbote when they joined the group finding items to include in the two containers sent down yearly from the Twin Cities. They are members of St Michael's parish in Prior Lake (Prior Lake Rotary was the first Rotary in the Greater Twin Cities to organize to help Father Jack). They have been down to Peru a number of times. They presented a video showing aspects of the help being provided from the US.
Currently, there are 7 soup kitchens that provide 2900 meals a week - the only food for many kids in the area. There is a micro-lending program to help individuals start or improve their own businesses. There are medical and dental clinics that serve the ill without charge; some of the clinics are staffed by American volunteers who create miracles! And there are scholarships available for grade school, high school, technical school, and college for deserving kids (handled by the Chanhassen Rotary Club). Father Jack says that the way out of poverty for the kids is education, and that is one of his focuses. Medical supplies are sent in the two 40 foot containers that are shipped annually, and to date this area has shipped goods worth $5,800,000 to help.
The project's email is helpchimbotenow.org.