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In his May 2018 letter to Rotarians, Past District Governor Michael Bell, reminds all Rotarians to Save The Date - May 6, 2018 and register for the Rotary Foundation Million Dollar Luncheon at the Scarborough Golf Club where we will hear Past District Governor Ron Denham present a NEW Major Gifts Initiative opportunity for making a positive difference in the world. Michael also encourages everyone to review the exciting pilot Global Grant Project in partnership with CUSO International in the area of Water and Sanitation for three areas in the dry corridor of Honduras, South America.
Here is PDG Michael's letter....
Dear Fellow Rotarians,
REGSITER TODAY - SUNDAY, May 6, 2018 District 7070 rotary Foundation Luncheon
Rotarians have long understood that our successes rely upon our continued passion for making a positive difference in our communities at home and around the world. This passion includes our time and energy as well as our financial contributions as we are able.
The Rotary Foundation has three funds available to us for making these contributions, the Annual Fund, the Polio Plus Fund and the Endowment Fund, UNTIL NOW.
While Rotary is a major player partnered with the Gates Foundation for the eradication of Polio, Rotary is seeking to put ourselves into a position to partner with other NGO’s on projects that currently fall beyond the means of our District or Global Grants programs. Accordingly, they have created the Major Gifts Initiative for each of our six areas of focus. The first of the six areas of focus is Water and Sanitation.
Please join us for lunch at noon on SUNDAY, MAY 6, 2018, at the Scarborough Golf & Country Club and listen to our own Ron Denham talk about this exciting new Major Gifts Initiative opportunity for making a positive difference in the world. The cost for lunch is by donation of any amount to this new Major Gifts Initiative for Water and Sanitation.
Registration is via the district website and is limited to the first 80 guests.
Rotary District 7070 to Partner with CUSO International
The Rotary District 7070 Foundation Committee is pleased to announce that we have been working to establish a pilot Global Grant Project in partnership with CUSO International in the area of Water and Sanitation for three areas in the dry corridor of Honduras, South America.
The plan is to include three Districts, each with their own Global Grant, estimated at $150,000 US each for a total of $450,000 which would then be matched through CUSO International by the Canadian government at 9 to 1.
Please refer to the one page outline included below. For further information, please contact District Foundation Chair PDG Michael Bell at mjbell925@gmail.com
District 7070 Foundation Chair Email: mbell1038@rogers.com
A water project for your consideration – Honduras
Dear Club Presidents and International Service Chairs,
Your District has reached out to a well-known Canadian partner, Cuso International, and has created an opportunity to assist families in the drought-stricken, dry corridor of Honduras. Honduras is a country that faces major challenges: as of 2016, more than 66 percent of its population live in poverty. In rural areas, approximately one out of five Hondurans live in extreme poverty, living on less than $1.90US per day. Most of the rural poor are subsistence farmers, able to grow only enough food to feed their families.
The major focus of the project centres on water collection and distribution for approximately 3,500 villagers and their farmland. The project will provide sufficient clean water for the villagers and supplement water access through irrigation and the management of this resource to increase access to quality, nutritious foods. Lack of access to clean water in Honduras contributes not only to the poor health of individuals but also to poverty.
As many of you are aware, Rotary and Rotarians bring a unique perspective to a project of this scope that non-government organizations cannot. We have connected with Cuso International to partner utilizing Cuso’s volunteers based in Honduras to effect significant change in this poverty-stricken region. Rotary and Cuso have established relationships in place with local leaders and partners, and they know the needs and capacity of the community. We are hoping to integrate each other’s existing programs including volunteers, by understanding the local culture, water sources and availability, and community resources which are critical to the success of the project.
Currently, in these communities, water has to be carried-in from streams and rivers located more than an hour’s walk away. Usually, it is women who are tasked with this responsibility.
In addition to water needs for the home, Cuso International’s partners have also identified water management projects as a priority for farmers and small businesses. Several local communities have built a network of producers where an environmentally friendly production approach has been initiated. These producers are being trained and provided with technologies on soil conservation, water harvesting, clean production, diversification and other skills related to natural resources management.
A number of priority projects for access to water and water management have been identified by the local partners:
• Installation of multipurpose water harvesters and low-pressure drip irrigation systems
• Install a water distribution network to administer water to all homes and to schools
• Small water filters to treat gray water from household waste and then reuse
• Harvesters of rainwater to supply homes in the summer season
The collaboration between Rotary and our partner Cuso International is key to the designing, planning, and implementation of a successful project which would improve the quality of life for this disadvantaged population.
As Clubs in our District looking to be involved in a compelling project to aid those less fortunate, we need your help. The preliminary budget for the project is estimated at $150,000 USD. With each Club’s assistance in raising the basic funding to underwrite the project, we will be able to secure the Global Grant for Honduras.
We are asking each Club to consider a contribution of $1,000 to $10,000 USD as it is able. Those who may be able to provide more, we applaud your generosity. Those smaller clubs with smaller budgets, those donations are also gratefully accepted. Right now, thanks to support from Global Affairs Canada, your donation will be matched to achieve 10 times the impact. Every dollar raised has the power of 10. So, a gift of $1,000 becomes $10,000, or a gift of $10,000 becomes $100,000.
More information is available and a presentation can be arranged by contacting our District Foundation Chair PDG Michael Bell at mjbell925@gmail.com.