2022 winners

The Ripple Effect Program is committed to reducing poverty and building peace in the communities it supports by building sustainable schools and a vibrant learning environment in the hope of a brighter future for children living in challenging environments.

 

Deb and Gord LeMaistre assumed the leadership of the Ripple Effect Program in the fall of 2009. Since becoming involved they have led the funding and construction of 100 schools in Guatemala. They have spearheaded the purchase of 352 computers for classrooms in Guatemala with the anticipation of another 340 in 2022. They arranged funding for annual scholarships for middle and high school students to see that young people, especially women in Guatemala, have the opportunity to receive an education.

 

One of the important aspects of building the schools is the provision of proper washrooms. This is huge for keeping girls in school as they reach puberty. This has also led to positive community engagement, increased parent and community support, and better health and well-being of many Guatemalan families.

 

Deb and Gord have accomplished all of this through relentless efforts in establishing partnerships with local Guatemalan Rotary Clubs, businesses in Guatemala, the Education Dept. of the Guatemalan Government, our Canadian Government and Rotary Clubs throughout District 5550 and beyond.

 

Gord and Deb have not only invested their own time and talent in the Ripple Effect Program, they have been outstanding leaders in getting other Rotarians in District 5550 involved by creating the Canadian Ripple Effect Committee (CREC) and with continued encouragement, helping Rotarians in District 4250 to organize the Guatemalan Ripple Effect Committee (GREC).

 

Gord and Deb travel annually (except over the past two pandemic years) to Guatemala at their own expense and have encouraged dozens of Rotarians to join them in the 13 journeys they have made, to ensure the compliance and success of the Ripple Effect projects. They work closely with local Rotarians to purchase local materials, to have many local volunteers, and to ensure the sustainability of all the schools.

 

While building schools has been the focus of the Ripple Effect Program, it has evolved to also enhance the quality of education. Gord & Deb have regularly met with the Ministry of Education in Guatemala. Together with their Guatemalan Rotary partners they have convinced the Government of Guatemala to agree to provide qualified teachers for each school that is built under the Ripple Effect Program. There are now more than 100 schools that have been constructed in this program.

 

Adding quality to education in Guatemala has always been a key focus for Gord & Deb. This quest resulted in a scholarship program for children as well as for teachers. It is hard to estimate the total positive impact of the Ripple Effect Program under Gord & Deb LeMaistre’s leadership, but thousands of children are experiencing new opportunities because of their work, and whole communities are forever changed because they were the recipient of ‘a hand up’.

 

Deb and Gord’s Rotary involvement, particularly in education, are making an enormous difference for peace in our world. By creating sustainable, co-operative partnerships between the Rotarians in these two countries, they have laid the foundation not only for improving the lives of Guatemalans but for allowing Canadians to help make a difference.