The Nicaraguan Stove Project

We have two speakers to talk about a joint initiative between the Rotary Club of Stratford Charitable Foundation’s COMMIT – a group of volunteer doctors, nurses, medical professionals and others from Southwestern Ontario dedicated to helping the less fortunate in Nicaragua – and the Rotary Club of London Hyde Park. The Nicaraguan Stove Project is meant to address the health, safety and environmental risks associated with the widespread use of open-fire stoves in villages across an impoverished area of the country, south of Managua. We will hear about the money raised by the local COMMIT members that will build 750 of the $147 stoves for Nicaraguan families and plant 9,000 saplings.

To raise that money, David Knoppert and four Stratford-area residents decided to embark on months-long bike or walking trips without ever leaving Southwestern Ontario, including Dr. Doug Thompson. Doug, a Rotarian for 43 years, is a recipient of 2 Paul Harris Fellowships, a family Doctor in Stratford ON for 42 years, semiretired and now managing a Nursing home, and Co-founder of COMMIT 9 years ago.

David Knoppert is a retired Neonatal Pharmacist from London, Ontario. In 2014 David joined the Rotary Club of London Hyde Park. He has been Club President and currently serves as Club Secretary. In January 2017 David took his first trip with the group COMMIT to Nicaragua. He has been virtually riding across Canada to raise awareness and funds for the people of Nicaragua. Their talk is titled “How to buy an electric car for $300.00”