Dominican Republic Missions
Posted by Bill Molesworth
on Jul 25, 2012
Ron introduced Steve Wallace, the District Service Project Chair and Wasaga Beach Past President. Steve said he has been involved in this project for a while and is now working to encourage other members and Clubs to join the effort. As the Project Chair he co-ordinates the project with a single Club that acts as the core. As core that Club provides financing and organizational efforts as well as recruiting its own members to participate. But many people from other Clubs and many who are not Rotarians also help, especially medical professionals.
Steve explained that many Haitians moved over the border to the Dominican Republic over the years to work on cane fields but those fields have been shut down, the workers abandoned and their papers lost or taken. So they are stateless and not wanted by either country. Children born to these people are often stateless as well and the problem will only get worse.
There have been several trips made - Dave Young has gone on two - and last year the Innisfil Club, which is a very new Club, acted as the core of what they call a HEART mission. Steve showed a video with highlights of that trip and interviews with people from the Innisfil Club who participated and you can see it is a worthwhile effort. They are helping build concrete block residences and they contribute chickens and goats in an effort to make the people more self sustaining. Doctors and Dentists have gone along with others who help them or who help with construction or distributing clothing etc. Last year's trip took 70 hockey bags full of clothing and other basics as everything is needed.
Those on the video reported a sense of accomplishment and admiration for these people who maintain an enthusiasm for life in terrible conditions.
Steve said a trip will involve over 40 people and that much has been done but there's a lot more to do. He offers his services as a planner and organizer to the Core Club to work on a trip which is already scheduled for the week of March 21 to 28. He will be the face of it in the District, will help with fundraising, do the accounting and help with recruiting. He already has a doctor, a couple of dentists and a nurse practitioner ready to go. Benefits to the Club are the experience and the accomplishment of an international hands on service project. It is not just writing cheques.
Costs to the participants is $1,300.00 for flights, food and lodging. To the Club it's a minimum of $6,500.00 but with more more can be done. That goes to buy chickens and goats, construction materials, tools and medical supplies (about $3,000.00). Children can be accommodated. The DR is safe, the lodging is comfortable, there are translators and most understand either french or spanish.
Ron thanked Steve for his work on this project and noted a donation to Polio Plus will be made in Steve's name. He added that the Board will be discussing Steve's request.
Steve explained that many Haitians moved over the border to the Dominican Republic over the years to work on cane fields but those fields have been shut down, the workers abandoned and their papers lost or taken. So they are stateless and not wanted by either country. Children born to these people are often stateless as well and the problem will only get worse.
There have been several trips made - Dave Young has gone on two - and last year the Innisfil Club, which is a very new Club, acted as the core of what they call a HEART mission. Steve showed a video with highlights of that trip and interviews with people from the Innisfil Club who participated and you can see it is a worthwhile effort. They are helping build concrete block residences and they contribute chickens and goats in an effort to make the people more self sustaining. Doctors and Dentists have gone along with others who help them or who help with construction or distributing clothing etc. Last year's trip took 70 hockey bags full of clothing and other basics as everything is needed.
Those on the video reported a sense of accomplishment and admiration for these people who maintain an enthusiasm for life in terrible conditions.
Steve said a trip will involve over 40 people and that much has been done but there's a lot more to do. He offers his services as a planner and organizer to the Core Club to work on a trip which is already scheduled for the week of March 21 to 28. He will be the face of it in the District, will help with fundraising, do the accounting and help with recruiting. He already has a doctor, a couple of dentists and a nurse practitioner ready to go. Benefits to the Club are the experience and the accomplishment of an international hands on service project. It is not just writing cheques.
Costs to the participants is $1,300.00 for flights, food and lodging. To the Club it's a minimum of $6,500.00 but with more more can be done. That goes to buy chickens and goats, construction materials, tools and medical supplies (about $3,000.00). Children can be accommodated. The DR is safe, the lodging is comfortable, there are translators and most understand either french or spanish.
Ron thanked Steve for his work on this project and noted a donation to Polio Plus will be made in Steve's name. He added that the Board will be discussing Steve's request.