Marty Pease, is a member of the Rotary Club of La Conner and Secretary of the International Project Alliance. Marty joined Rotary in 2016 and the IPA group at the same time. She has had several trips to Honduras during her time. A trip to Honduras is planned for November because the Country is opened but still uncertain as to whether the trip will have to be rescheduled. Our Club has been really engaged since joining IPA. Adopt a School, Adopt a Dream, Mobile Library, Student Health and Construction are all part of the Foundation of IPA.
Today program is all about Education. The kids in Honduras are staying in school because they have a sponsor. Education is still a major part of the IPA program. Adopt A School includes 1,400 students in 59 schools. Adopt a Dream involves 500 students which started in nine middle schools and is now serving twelve middle schools. The cost to sponsor a middle school student is USD $180 per year while a student in high school is USD $280 per year.
Mobile Library has bookcases in each school. Books are replaced each November usually due to mildew related issues and problems with some of the books. The annual budget is $5,000. Marty shared about a couple of students and some of the health issues in Honduras.
Construction - there are 30 on-going projects focused on the schools. Marty showed a brief video showing teachers working at ways to teach their students, YES Program - Youth Engaged in Service in Skagit County was an attempt to engage the group in our area. Marty has taken two groups of kids but had to cancel a recent trip due to COVID-19. Hoping that the trip in November won't be canceled. YES involved students must contribute 80 hours of community service and raise $1,500. hey plan to resume the program in the Fall of 2021.
Responding to a question Marty told us about the size of the area they serve in Honduras she commented that the closest village is 30 minutes away from Copan Ruinas and longest is 1 1/2 hours away. Thank you to Tracy DeLorm, our Club's liaison to the IPA, for scheduling Marty for our program this week.