Guest Speaker May 29, 2019

Richard Mewhinney -Water Collection for Sustainability: From Concept to Reality

 
Laura introduced Richard Mewhinney, a member of the Rotary Club of Newmarket.
 
 
 
Richard, a mortgage broker who has been a Rotarian since 2007, spoke to our club about this project some two years ago, and was back to give an update. We are one of fifteen clubs in District 7070 who have supported a major initiative at Ongutoi, which is about 10 hours north of Kampala.  Led by the NGO High Adventure Canada and the RC Newmarket, a medical centre has been established.  The current water collection project is to allow development of a large orange orchard to generate sufficient income to cover the costs of operating the medical centre and provide free care.  Richard is playing a key role, and has visited Uganda 20 times now.
 
Richard explained:
  • Ongutoi has a population that was displaced by insurgency and war in recent years, has returned, but is in much need.
  • The goal of the current project is to harvest sufficient water to drip-irrigate and sustain a newly planted orchard of Valencia orange trees.   The region has significant rainfall, but because this is occasional heavy rain with long periods of drought in between it is not possible to cultivate an orchard or farm vegetables without a sophisticated water collection and distribution system.
  •  Following his recent trip in April, three acres of orchard are planted (788 trees), supported by an appropriate water collection system.  This includes a 110,000 liter ferro-cement, in-ground cistern completed last September; rainwater collection platforms that feed to the cistern and above ground tanks; solar pumps to get water from the tanks/cistern to the individual orange trees via a drip-irrigation system.
  • Planned next is a global grant for funds for water collection and an orchard for a further eight acres.
  • When the project is completed there will be net revenue per annum of US$72,000 after all expenses including funds for ongoing maintenance, sufficient to sustain and fund the medical centre from local resources.  Valencia oranges mature continuously throughout the year and there is an established market for the fruit.
  • Various Rotary clubs in Uganda support various aspects of the overall project (e.g. a surgeon at RC Soroti coordinates surgery at the medical centre).  The local partner for the current orchard and water collection project is the Health Center Management Committee.
  • A video illustrated the work completed and the participation and gratefulness of the community. The video can be viewed here.
Richard thanked the club for its support, $2,000 towards the last District Grant, and emphasized how important this project was to the local population. He looked forward to reporting again in the future.
 
 
In thanking Richard, Stephen Stein noted how dear this project was to our club with its involvement in both Uganda and water projects.  This project was so impressive that Stephen was reminded of the comment of a former UN Secretary-General:  Our one problem is that there isn’t enough Rotary.
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