My Cup Runneth Over.....

Posted by Sue Portz 
 
Rotary International has declared this year to be the year of water.  Thus we have entered into a major joint venture water project taking place in Oruro, Bolivia.

This past January, our Executive Committee approved a joint venture water project in Oruro, Bolivia.

Our Club, along with the Rotary Club Avenue of Nations, the Rotary Club of Edmonton and the Rotary Club of Oruro, Bolivia have begun construction of water filter factory in Oruro, Boliva. 

This factory is being built to produce the amazing CAWST (Centre for Affordable Water and Sanitation Technology) biosand water filters. Their technology can be viewed at www.caswt.org  This technology will allow the base community of Oruro and surrounding villages to have potable water from a non-potable source.  Each filter costs $50 USD to produce and lasts a lifetime. 

Our commitment to this joint venture was $8000 Cnd, the Rotary Club of Edmonton contributed $10 000, the Avenue of Nations will perform all logistical support for the entire time it takes to have the factory built and producing filters.  As well, they will support the Rotary Club of Oruro in the teaching aspects of water and sanitation. 

This is a long term commitment from our Club to this project, in that it will take a couple of years of dedication and support to ensure that everything takes place.  All the Rotarians involved in this joint venture are encouraged to visit the Oruro site if possible, and to participate in the construction, distribution, set up and instruction of these filters.  However, it is suggested that you have a good understanding of Spanish, as there are very few persons that speak English in the area.

To see these filters in real life, and to hear what is happening with this project, there will be a presentation taking place on Saturday, April 26, at 1pm at the Museum.  Guest speaker - Diana Frost from the Avenue of Nations will be coming up to speak about the project and demonstrate how these amazing filters work.  

Please mark your calendars for this presentation to hear in full detail what our club has committed to.  Feel free to invite family, friends and anyone you make think would be interested in seeing this presentation.  As mentioned before.... it counts as a make up meeting!!!  Hope to see you there!!