Col Duff was called on to introduce our Guest Speaker. Cols recent contact with the Rotary Club of Bowral/Mittagong for cooperation on RAWCS projects brought him in contact with Paul Rake. Paul is a member of the Rotary Club of Chadstone / East Malvern which is already involved with projects in Cambodia.
Two points that Paul made immediately in his presentation are that many non Rotarians are keen to get involved in community work overseas, and that some Rotary clubs are willing to help, but lack the contacts to get a project from scratch. These are resources that Paul is keen to exploit.
There is a group in District 9800 that organises tours to a location in Cambodia, and there are three formats that these tours take:
Humanitarian groups - 50% Tourists and 50% Work. To expose the poverty and raise awareness.
Schoolies Groups, often in lieu of a trip to Surfers Paradise in November.
Hands On - Tradies and skilled workers with a job to do. The projects are delivered through a Cambodian NGO, and the current contact is called "Build your Future Today" and that have a four year plan to move a village from poverty to self sustainability.
Paul told us that a group of Rotarians go to Cambodia each January, and likened the project to "putting a few pieces in to a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle" The work defers to the expertise of the local NGO to ensure that all the activities are appropriate and don't become white elephants.
Paul had a powerpoint presentation, and we were able to see photos, charts and slides of the activities that he had spoken about. Paul Murray helped out - we had the powerpoint, and the talk progressed. He asked the question - How can our club get involved?
Rotary clubs can undertake a project, or team up with other clubs to reach a critical mass for a major project. Individual Rotarians often become involved, sometimes with clubs other than their own. Different organisations, within and outside of Rotary provide grants, and Rotarians have the expertise to access funds through grant applications.
Some of the activities that Paul has been involved in include the donation of bikes, Water Filtration systems, Water collection on roofs, and drilling bores for water. Major projects have been in Bosala, near Phnom Penh, and in the village of La'ak.
Paul summed up his presentation by telling us that there are no limits in the way that clubs, Rotarians and others in the community can become involved in overseas projects. The rewards will be immense, in appreciation from the targeted communities, and the sense of achievement that participants will feel.
During questions, Geoff Breust had a "I knew you from way back" moment, from Narellan House in Canberra. Geoff got to move a vote of thanks................to his old mate.