Guest Speaker, January 9, 2019

Dennis Gray is the founder and President of Backyard Brands Inc., a company that develops and markets high performing water care technologies that create healthier, more natural water care systems for swimming pools and tubs.

 

A Canadian living with his wife in Ithaca, New York, Dennis has a long-time association with Toronto Eglinton Rotary Club and is currently a member of the Ithaca Rotary Club. Dennis is also a member of the Bugiri WASH in Schools committee in Uganda.

 

Prior to making his presentation, Dennis exchanged club banners with President Joe, who joined him on his most recent trip to Bugiri.

 

 

Bugiri is a district in Eastern Uganda. Like most other Ugandan districts, it is named after its 'chief town', Bugiri, where the district headquarters are located. It is an extremely impoverished area with little access to clean water and hygienic facilities.

 

The mission of the Bugiri Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Program is to create better WASH capabilities, resources, behaviors, and skills with primary school children which can organically extend to the school’s adjacent communities to drive positive community change. This is being done through projects that include building community clean rain water storage tanks, latrines, soap and hand washing stations and education, menstrual hygiene rooms, Sawyer water filters, and sports equipment that can be used to reward children for new behaviors.

 

Approximately 3 years ago, 10 of the areas poorest schools were selected for the WASH Program. These are areas were children and families have little knowledge of good hygiene practices. They defecate in fields, don’t use soap, and drink water comes from contaminated sources. Girls often stop going to school when they start to menstruate because of a lack of hygienic and private facilities. Although it is far from completed, latrines and menstrual hygiene rooms, and rain water collection tanks have been built at 2 schools. Children have been taught proper hand washing, how to make soap, and how to take responsibility for keep the latrines clean. The program has inspired 37 families to build latrines, and installed tippy pots and soap stations (hand wash stations).

 

Joe and Dennis were welcomed by crowds of enthusiastic children and their teachers. As local traditions dictates that honored guest receive gifts, children presented locally grown veggies and fruit. President Joe was presented with a live chicken (the chicken's current whereabouts are unknown).

 

Through education, and access to clean water and hygiene, the Bugiri WASH program is making a significant and positive impact on people’s lives. To learn more, CLICK HERE to see a short video presentation.

 

Mike H thanked our speaker.