“Adopt a River”

Dear Jeff and Mitch:

 

First, I want to thank sincerely to Carlos for submitting our proposal “Adopt a River” to RC of Northbrook on our behalf. We also want to thank to you both, and the members of RC of Northbrook, for agreeing to join us in this global grant of impact regarding the environment, in Guatemala and Honduras, along the Motagua River.

 

Let me tell you a little bit about this program. The Motagua River, along the border Guatemala-Honduras, is one of the most polluted rivers in the world, plastic wise. Maybe you know the problem generated by micro plastics in the biodiversity of the oceans.

 

All the Rotary Clubs of Guatemala and Honduras, located along the river are committed to work on several programs not only to clean the river, but to educate communities, to teach children at the schools and to advocate to clean the river with municipalities and local authorities in the cities and villages along the river.

 

We will submit a Global Grant, lead locally in Guatemala by RC Guatemala Sur and RC Guatemala Este, jointly with all the Rotary Clubs along the Motagua River. We expect to raise funds in the amount of approx. $10,000 from RCs and District 4250.

 

Thanks again to the RC of Northbrook for being the international sponsor. For sure, another clubs and districts from USA will join this grant.

 

We’ll present at the ESRAG booth in Melbourne a video of the current awful situation of the Motagua River and the global grant “Adopt a River”  to look for other international sponsors.

End plastic soup Rotarian Action Group, through PDG Salvador Rico from California, is ready to also support this program. Another Global Grant will be submitted soon by the RCs of Honduras.

 

The board of Trustees expect to sign an agreement with UNEP (United Nations Environment Program) maybe in Melbourne. UNEP, with Headquarters in Kenya, has the technology, the information, the experience of cleaning rivers in Kenya jointly with Rotary and maybe additional resources to invest in this program.

 

Others “Adopt a River” programs took place in several countries around the world. The Adopt  Motagua River Program will be benefitted for the experience collected from other countries and UNEP.

As you can see, this Global Grant will be a high impact environment program to benefit not only our countries but the whole ocean environment.

 

Attached please find

1.- a link to see a video of the plastic contamination of the Mogatua River. This video right now is being edited with subtitles in English.

 

2.- A power point ppt, unfortunately in Spanish regarding general goals of the Grant. This presentation is being translated also. I’ll send to you the English version ASAP.

 

Thank you again for your support to this GG. This program could be a good opportunity to visit Guatemala for the launching of the program Adopt a River.

 

I’ll send more information soon. Please let me know if you have any question.

As soon as we have the information to submit the grant, we’ll inform you.

Kindest regards,

Jorge Aufranc

TRF Trutee

 cc. RC Guatemala Sur President  & President Elect