Good things happen when Rotary Clubs around the world work together to help the less fortunate have better health, education and economic opportunities.
Having retired to Chapala, Mexico in 2010, Barb Wilson joined Chapala Sunrise Rotary Club and is the President of the club this year. The club now has 43 members, the largest club of 131 clubs in the District. She believes that the attraction to the club is the large number of projects that they handle – members can always find a project where they can put their skills and talents to good use.
She stated: “While we are very much a “boots on the ground” club, we could not do what we do without the continued support, both financial and encouragement, from clubs such as Ottawa-Stittsville”.
Barb briefly summarized several initiatives on a long list of creative community service projects designed to meet the humanitarian issues experienced by needy families:
- SAFE (Save a Future with Education) - This year’s focus was the provision of 12 Chromebooks and training in using them. The Rotary Club of Ottawa Stittsville has previously donated to this scholarship program for students.
- Water & Sanitation - in this 3-year global grant project, they dug a well which provided potable water to the households in the remote village of Ojo de Agua. Adults and children also received training on water sanitation & safety. See photo above where Barb is sprayed with water now available to every household in the village.
- Healthy food - in Ojo de Agua, Kid’s Kitchens were established in partnership with food banks to provide hot meals three time weekly to 600 children.
- Sanitation - community bathrooms were built in the Tepehua project. Toilets are also being installed in one household at a time.
- Maternal and childhood health - focused on the provision of healthy food to mothers & children and provision to Grade 9 students re-usable feminine hygiene kits sewn by local women.
These community service projects demonstrate what is possible when Rotary Clubs around the world work together to help the less fortunate have better health, education and economic opportunities.
Check the club's website: www.stittsvillerotary.com