Rising From the Dumps
Posted by Bill Molesworth
Fred Hacker introduced John Van Laar. A past District Governor and retired furniture retailer, John and his wife Cora, who has broad experience with Rotary in the Phillipines, have been working to identify and assist a cause that needs help.
Cora spoke of her work in the Phillipines and how there was so much needed there. Some countries are more fortunate than others and the Phillipines is one that is less fortunate. It is not due to any fault of their own, but there is a much larger proportion of the population that needs help there than there is here, they face great difficulties and there is an urgency as circumstances change.
Cora said she was aware that most Clubs worked locally and she knew that our Midland Club supported many worthwhile projects in this area, but she felt there were no coincidences in this world and the sequence of events that brought her and John here had a purpose.
She said that doing nothing is the undoing of self and that we do ourselves the most good by doing for others. She asked John to take us through the presentation.
John said it was a pleasure to meet such an active club that could point to many accomplishments both locally and abroad. He said we had all seen instances where money, sent in good faith, had not accomplished its intentions and promised that what they were promoting would be supervised by themselves.
He said that 7 or 8 Clubs on the island of Cebu are working to improve the lot of several hundred families who live in indescribably bad conditions in the local dump, seeking plastics and metals that they can sell to recyclers and left over food to eat.
The Phillipines have one of the highest population growth rates in the world, an average salary of $2.00 a day and a high percentage of child workers. Despite this, he said, they remain a cheerful people.
Refugees from the country, driven by economic hardship or military upheaval are squatting in the dump, in toxic conditions, with no health care or proper shelter, driven to sniff gas fumes to allay hunger pangs and spend all the daylight hours in the dangerous pursuit of garbage.
Rotary Clubs there have started a Day Care which provides a meal and some teaching, efforts are being made to train people with skills such as sewing or making soap, there is a weekly medical clinic and these acts of kindness are much appreciated. This holistic approach is aimed at getting the families out of the dump but also at making them self sufficient.
About two weeks ago, though, the dump was closed. The families that were still there are on the streets now, without even the resources of the dump and are scavenging in the streets. Each Club there has taken on one of the feeding, or education, or clothing, or skills teaching of these families and trying to equip these people to cope. But they need help, they need international partners. He and Cora will work with the Clubs, supervise the expenditures and report back.
He admitted that these problems are 'far from our beds' and he knows that there are thousands of examples of people in need but, if not now, when? - if not us, who?
Lois thanked the Van Laars for their presentation, their commitment and their passion. Joyce added her thanks.
Cora said she was aware that most Clubs worked locally and she knew that our Midland Club supported many worthwhile projects in this area, but she felt there were no coincidences in this world and the sequence of events that brought her and John here had a purpose.
She said that doing nothing is the undoing of self and that we do ourselves the most good by doing for others. She asked John to take us through the presentation.
John said it was a pleasure to meet such an active club that could point to many accomplishments both locally and abroad. He said we had all seen instances where money, sent in good faith, had not accomplished its intentions and promised that what they were promoting would be supervised by themselves.
He said that 7 or 8 Clubs on the island of Cebu are working to improve the lot of several hundred families who live in indescribably bad conditions in the local dump, seeking plastics and metals that they can sell to recyclers and left over food to eat.
The Phillipines have one of the highest population growth rates in the world, an average salary of $2.00 a day and a high percentage of child workers. Despite this, he said, they remain a cheerful people.
Refugees from the country, driven by economic hardship or military upheaval are squatting in the dump, in toxic conditions, with no health care or proper shelter, driven to sniff gas fumes to allay hunger pangs and spend all the daylight hours in the dangerous pursuit of garbage.
Rotary Clubs there have started a Day Care which provides a meal and some teaching, efforts are being made to train people with skills such as sewing or making soap, there is a weekly medical clinic and these acts of kindness are much appreciated. This holistic approach is aimed at getting the families out of the dump but also at making them self sufficient.
About two weeks ago, though, the dump was closed. The families that were still there are on the streets now, without even the resources of the dump and are scavenging in the streets. Each Club there has taken on one of the feeding, or education, or clothing, or skills teaching of these families and trying to equip these people to cope. But they need help, they need international partners. He and Cora will work with the Clubs, supervise the expenditures and report back.
He admitted that these problems are 'far from our beds' and he knows that there are thousands of examples of people in need but, if not now, when? - if not us, who?
Lois thanked the Van Laars for their presentation, their commitment and their passion. Joyce added her thanks.