Presented by Past D.G. Elaine Thompson

 

Nancy Morris gave a brief introduction of our guest speaker tonight, Past District Governor Elaine Thompson. Elaine and Ed Thompson traveled to Guatemala October 4^th  to 9^th, 2019 to become more familiar with the results possible through the Ripple Effect program.

 

Elaine advised that when Ed became the Ripple Effect Coordinator for the Winnipeg area, they felt it would be appropriate for them to travel to the area that District 5550 has been most actively supporting. Ed wanted to be familiar with what he would be involved with supporting in Guatemala. These types of trips are used to evaluate past, current and future projects.

 

The individuals traveling with the Thompsons were Gord and Deb LeMaistre (RC Kenora), Colin and Brenda Taylor (RC Regina Saskatoon Riverside) and Marian Kettlewell (RC Moose Jaw Wakamow - Project Manager of the Ripple Effect Scholarship Fund) with her friend Arlene.

 

During the trip they traveled 678 km from Guatemala City - to Totonicapan,  Panajachel, Solola, Retalhuleu, Coatepeque and Quetzaltenango - then back to Guatemala City. They visited a University and 6 schools all involved with Ripple Effect Program projects.

 

Friday, October 4th - The adventure started with a visit to Funsepa, a non-profit organization in Guatemala City, Guatemala. This company transforms waste materials – old computers – into newly manufactured computers from the various components. Their moto is “we transform waste into opportunities”. Funsepa was founded in 2013. Since then the company has supplied their standard school package of 6 computers and one server to 45 schools. The number of children and teachers trained by Funsepa to use the computers and servers since 2013 – 7473 girls, 6475 boys and 578 teachers.

 

The first school visit was to a girls’ school in Totonicapan about 180 km from Guatemala City. Granados School has a security guard in control of the front gate. The school is over 100 years old and is for girls only. Granados school has a Funsepa-equipped computer classroom. They were greeted by a local Rotarian, Diana Brown, President of Rotary Club of Guatemala Oeste at Granados School.

 

With a rented van and driver, they drove from Totonicapan to Panajachel in the rain. The rainy season in Guatemala was when they were visiting, May to October. This generally consists of a downpour in late afternoon. Friday evening they arrived at hotel Jardines Del Lago in Panajachel. The hotel was at an elevation of 1,597 meters (5,240 Ft) along the shore of Lake Atitlan, a volcanic crater lake.

 

On Saturday, Oct 5^th, 2019 they had a morning meeting at University del Valle de Guatemala (UVG) in Solola. The meeting in a UVG library room included D5550 Rotarians, REP scholarship students, interpreters, the University’s president (Juan Carlos Villatoro) and Academic Quality Director (Jose Antonio).  It started with a bowl of fruit for each participant. Elaine showed a group picture after the meeting: – 5 female students   supported by the Ripple Effect Scholarship Fund - 2 translators - 7 Rotarians - UVG Pres - UVG Director of Academic Quality – Arlene. Elaine and the group of 5550 Rotarians were advised that the scholarship students had done very well on their final exams for their first year of their Education degree. The program is three (3) years long. All four of the students take more classes on Saturdays in order to complete the course. The teachers in training have a focus on education for students with learning disabilities. Another photo showed staff, students and local citizens celebrating Children’s Day at the UVG campus.

 

Sunday morning, October 6 involved travel from Panajachel to Retalhuleu. That night’s accommodation was at Los Hostales del IRTRA resort in Retalhuleu. Local Rotarian Clemmy took them to see curious new lodgings at the IRTRA Resort. The “trees” and “log houses” are all made of concrete but look like real wood.

 

Monday, October 7^th involved a visit to Xolhuitz school in the Retalhuleu area.  They got quite a welcome from the school student band while other students waved Canadian and Guatemalan flags as they walked up the hill to the school. There was also a ‘welcome’ sign with flags and bouquets of lychee fruits.  The Rotary Clubs of Regina Eastview and Retalhuleu (4250) built 3 new classrooms and refurbished the school’s washrooms in 2008. Students have to be taught how to use the modern flush toilets – apparently there’s nothing like them in their homes.  There is an artesian well that the Ripple Effect Program provided for the school that is 5 meters deep. They would like it to be 5 meters deeper to supply more water. There is a newly built classroom for the Funsepa’s 16 computers and server that still needs to incorporate a few electrical & security features.

 

The next leg of the trip involved heading off to visit Barrios school where global grants for two new classrooms are planned for 2019-2020.

 

Aguilar school was the third school the group visited on Monday, October 7^th. Rotary Clubs of Regina Eastview and Retalhuleu provided a new kitchen in Aguilar school.

 

Tuesday, October 8^th was another travel day, this time to Coatepeque. We visited Chuatuj School, where two classrooms were added by the Rotary Clubs of Coatepeque and Rotary Club of Winnipeg - St. Boniface / St. Vital in 2015. There was an interesting photo of a computer classroom at the school that showed multiple computers being used all at the same time with the students in the immediate foreground loading a YouTube video!

 

Belgica -the last school Ed and Elaine visited with the Ripple Effect Program. In 2015 there was a classroom addition and new toilets built by the Rotary Clubs of Coatepeque and Rotary Club of Winnipeg - St. Boniface / St. Vital.

 

The Ripple Effect Program is all about the children of Guatemala, not only “BUILD SCHOOLS AND CHANGE THE WORLD” ……but also… build more classrooms in existing schools, upgrade toilets/washrooms, provide clean water and sanitation, build kitchen facilities in schools, facilitate introduction of IT (e.g. working with Funsepa) and provide scholarships to encourage education beyond Grade 5.

 

Q/A

 

1.- Iain Scott questioned how they dig the water wells?

A.- must be mechanical

 

2.-Al Roberts inquired regarding where the wastewater goes from the new washrooms and kitchens.

A.- Not sure of that. Not seen running down the hill..!

 

3.- Al Roberts noticed how short the local students were that had the scholarships to University. Is that normal stature?

A.- Yes, this is normal. Likely due to the very poor nation. Food issues.

 

4.-Nancy Morris asked if there are active volcanoes?

A.- Some are active. Others are not. A very active earthquake region.

 

President Mandy thanked Elaine for her presentation. We are honoured to be a part of the Ripple Effect program.

 

More information about the Ripple Effect Program: https://rotary5550.org/sitepage/ripple-effect-program

Sarge Mike Dudar was on hand tonight to keep track of the proceedings.

 

 

John Inglis was extremely happy with the most recent win by the Bombers - we’re in the Grey Cup! The best part of being there was to experience just how quite the stadium was when they lost. John has never heard silence like that since he was out on the Saskatchewan prairie, alone watching the sunset.

 

Lloyd Talbot was also very pleased with the results in the football game, Bomber win! Lloyd is torn regarding the Grey Cup as Winnipeg is playing Hamilton. Lloyd lived in Hamilton earlier in his life and has fond memories. Not fond enough to sway his commitment to the Bombers.     Lloyd was also impressed with a special Remembrance concert on Nov. 9^th at Minto Armoury that he attended. The performance was presented by Polycoro, Winnipeg Boys Choir and The Royal Winnipeg Rifles exploring themes of war, life, and death in a solemn Remembrance Day reflection Polycoro’s second concert ties together themes of war, life, and death in a solemn exploration for Remembrance Day through the polychoral works of Frank Martin, Roxanne Panufnik, Norbert Palej, J.S. Bach, and Josquin de Prez. The Winnipeg Boys Choir joined Polycoro for Palej’s haunting “Arise, Cry Out” (in memory of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising of 1943). Polycoro revisits the work they performed at their debut concert in 2015 — Frank Martin’s “Mass for Double Choir” — an emotive work capturing Martin’s experiences in WWI. Lloyd described the performances as “wonderful”.

 

Glenn Campbell was happy that the Youth Committee had an application for the Adventures in Agriculture to be held in Regina. A female applicant from La Salle that became aware of the event through her involvement with 4H. The organizers in Regina advised that the program was full. After a little work behind the scenes for 24 hours, they came back with an invite for her as they found a spot. All aspects of her travel and attendance have been arranged.

 

Nancy Morris had a great weekend with 13 people in the house. Their son’s in-laws were great as was the wedding.

 

Al Roberts had a wonderful time out west in Alberta with his daughters and extended family. When he returned, he travelled to the cottage in the Whiteshell with the intent to winterize his boat. When he went down to the dock….it wasn’t visible. The recent heavy rains had caused the water level to rise to a level of 10” covering his dock. The dock surface was constructed 6” above the historical record high level. The level has now receded to a point slightly below flood level. Normal freeze time is the first week of December. Al hopes the water has fully receded by then.

 

Brian Campbell was happy to have been able to spend time with his 14-year-old granddaughter over the past week. She also came in handy when the decision was made to put up Christmas decorations.

 

 

Sarge Mike asked our guest, exchange student Andre, to pull the potential winning ticket stub tonight. He pulled # 177. Chuck Crocker held the matching stub. His attempt at the magic blue marble disappointed him....no cash for Chuck tonight. The cash pot grows for another week.