International World Community Service Newsletter
from Les Lee, Chairman of the
Committee
It is addressed to both Outgoing and Incoming Chairmen and of course those who have the courage to continue for another year.
Thank you to those departing for the support you have given to International Projects throughout the year. I have no doubt that by your actions somewhere someone knows you care.
To those chairmen taking
on the job or staying, you have my best wishes for a successful and enjoyable
year. Remember you District Committee are here to help you.
Included with this
newsletter is the ACHEIVEMENTS LIST FOR 2001- 2002. It would be appreciated if
you could return these forms completed before the end of July 2002. For
those who don’t respond Colin Kidby
will be set upon you. That could
take all the fun out of Rotary!
You will receive a
small leaflet at assembly that should start the your new year with useful
information and contacts. It includes
the Committee Aims as well as project information.
I have included some
up to date information and new ideas in this Newsletter but keeping the detail
to a minimum leaving you to contact us if you need more details.
Aquabox is now a registered
Charitable Company with registration of "AQUABOX" as a Europe wide
"TRADE MARK".
Activities have continued
with 3,917 boxes, (value £156,680) despatched for filling since 1st July.
2,022 filled standard boxes
have been sent overseas via Handsworth International Mission Services (Sheffield,) for Malawi, Ghana and Sierra
Leone; 620 via Christian African Relief Trust
(For Senegal, Cameroons, The Gambia , Liberia, and Nigeria),
400 via World Emergency
Relief for Northern Uganda, Lira region where there was an Ebola and Cholera
outbreak, now brought under control.
With the help from the
Rotary Club of Harrogate, 29 standard boxes are currently being flown direct to
Kabul to be monitored by the International Red Cross.
5 standard and 5 Aqua 30's
are currently en route by road on board a FIRE ENGINE LOADED WITH HUMANITARIAN
AID to the earthquake area of Georgia (Russia) again organised by the Rotary
Club of Harrogate. .
105 boxes via Real Aid
(Beverley) sent for Eritrea. 400 boxes sent via Nottingham Police Aid Convoy
for Bosnia, Kosovo and Croatia.
Several hundred boxes have
been sent via the Methodist Missionary Society who arrange complete movement of
boxes to various areas of dire need by their own container arrangements.
The notional value of these
shipments, allowing for an average value for humanitarian goods in each box at
£80, is in the region of £400,000.
Additionally 526 aqua 30's
(to provide approx. SEVENTEEN AND A HALF MILLION LITRES OF PURIFIED WATER in; -
Afghanistan, 200; Cameroon, 53; Israel, 76;
Eritrea, 48; The Gambia, 104; Sierra Leone and Ghana,
40; Georgia (Russia earthquake)
5 Aqua 30's together with 5 standard boxes went via the Rotary Club of
Harrogate as part of a full load of aid being sent on a FIRE ENGINE as
mentioned above and originally intended for Kabul but diverted due to inability
to get to Kabul by road.
The average cost of
despatching a 40ft container is in the region of £3,500 to £4,000 each.
Emergency Boxes (The wooden ones) have now been relaunched with provision for completing boxes for hot or cold climates. There is a new website www. Emergencybox.org.uk and a CD ROM available.
These boxes have been used in the recent disasters and
attracted publicity for Rotary when taken to Afghanistan by “Feed the
Children”. The new tents now have the Rotary logo on them.
Les Lee 01494 785076 has several complete boxes for
display and promotional purposes if your club would like to borrow one.
Still
going strong and a great project for local publicity. Great Missenden Club has laid down a challenge. They completed 1500 last year and intend to
do better this year. Can you beat them?
The RIBI Project Library has been sent to clubs this year as hard copy. It will soon be available in CD ROM format and also on the International website www.rotary1260.org/users/intnational
Farm
Africa, Pestalozzi, Plan International and SOS Sahel have been removed and
Ockenden International added to the Library
RIBI Presidents Preferred Project.
Water Aid
“The year of Clean Water”
I am sure you all aware of the largest problem facing developing countries. Yes! It’s clean safe water. No one can survive without it. One area particularly in need is Tanzania. Rotary and Wateraid are combining forces during 2002 / 2003 to fund projects where all the money raised by Rotary will go to these projects. To add even more value, the funds raised will be matched by a government overseas development grant. There will also be publicity material and information available. I don’t need to explain to you what Wateraid does but the project in Tanzania will include provision of water with education programmes on sanitation and hygiene promotions.
More people are killed through waterborne disease than any other cause. Roy Lester will be heading up this project. “You can make a difference”.
“Save the Children” Report on Food
Security Crisis in Malawi
·
Children are at risk of dying from malnutrition.
·
Food shortages have caused deterioration in the health status of
children.
·
Social and health workers are reporting an increase in low weight
births, and in oedema.
School Aid is a Charity
based in Amersham. Last year the
Hatfield and Welwyn clubs supported this project by providing school equipment
and books that were sent to village schools in Zimbabwe Members from Amersham and Chesham clubs help this
organisation by sorting books etc.
Childrens books are needed
as well as school equipment. So long as
the childrens books are in good and clean condition they will be acceptable.
Schoolaid is not as strict as Bookaid.
If you can help contact Les Lee 01494
785076.
Several
members have asked, “What is Rotary doing about Aids?” For those interested RI have
produced a book “Rotary Response to Aids” publication (604-EN ---197). In short the policy is not to have a Rotary
International appeal or project but to encourage and support clubs, working as
appropriate with government health agencies and non government organisations.
More information is available if required.
Acid Survivors Foundation.
Quite new - this organisation is seeking support with a problem in Bangladesh where women are attacked with Acid thrown in their faces. This is mostly associated with situations where male advances are rejected. I am currently awaiting more information about how we can help.
Gujarat Project
It would be wrong to let this year pass without congratulating Leslie Robertson and the Luton North Rotary Club on the fund raising and the work accomplished this year. If you speak to Leslie you will know this is only a start and he has many other project ideas in hand. Please contact him if you want to know more. 01582 560460.
Membership and Support from your
Community
Why not offer to speak to your local organisations about International Projects and activities? It promotes International Service as well as Rotary.
“Feed the Children”
The present Feed the
Children (UK) was re-established here in January 1999, firstly providing
support for children in the Kosovo crisis. Their premise in Twyford, Berks,
incorporates both their Head Office and main Aid Supply Centre. They have an
in-depth knowledge of the whole aid process, from the donation of goods and
funds from individuals, companies, schools, churches and organisations such as
Rotary, to that of volunteer commitment to aid packing and administrative tasks
From the
Aid Supply Centre in Twyford and Regional Office in Bristol, it is their policy
to actively procure specific aid items that have been identified as needed by
assessment teams in the field. These are packed and loaded on trucks or sea
containers for delivery, when it is appropriate and economically viable to
provide donated aid overseas. They have many projects such as a SoyCow project
that produces high protein Soy Milk.
Other projects include Mother and Baby boxes, Education Aid Boxes and
many other packs covering tools and materials to mend fishing nets.
Contact
Les Lee or check out the website for more information www.feedrhechildren.co.uk or info@feedthechildren.co.uk
International Posters
A series of International WCS posters on display at assembly are now available on CD ROM if anyone is interested contact Les Lee.
World Community Service Resource Network
Learn more about the WCSRN from the Updated Website www.RotaryWCSRN.org
Keep up to date by E Mail
If you are not already a member of the international
Committee's e-mail Group? Why not give it a try. You can be kept informed about
international developments - and it is a good forum to exchange ideas and
views. It is easy to join. Full details are on the website under the section on
E-mail groups. “There is no cost”
To
join, simply e-mail to: international1260-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
TIPS: Do not write any messages or subject title - just
send the e-mail.
After
a few hours or so, you will receive an e-mail from the administrator asking you
to confirm that you wish to join. This is to ensure that no one accidentally
requests to join and that no one else has been applying on your behalf! Just
reply to that ... and then you are IN.
Apart
from the organisations mentioned in the Project Library, we have built up a
relationship with several of the major aid organisation. The contact details
are included in the booklet issued at Assembly. If you want any more
information please contact Les Lee 01494
785076
You will see that new projects are mentioned in this Newsletter. Make sure you tell us about your projects
and your plans for 2002 / 2003.
An e-mail will do to leslielee@compuserve.com
Or even on the back of a Cornflakes packet.
This year we have changed the format of Assembly with the idea that what
is achieved, is achieved at club level.
Therefore with the combined knowledge of a number of clubs we can learn
more. We hope you take an active part
in this idea and please let us have feedback on what you think so that we can
develop the idea for future meetings or drop it.
You will note by now that District Governor
Elect Ian has not asked your club to set any specific goals for International
this year. However, that does not mean
the immediate international needs have gone away. Your support is still required.
The International Awards
will be presented at the Induction Dinner
on the 27th June
2002 at Whipsnade. See you there.
Have a great year and make International Service Fun.
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