Purpose
Rotarians & Friends
We are members of Rotary who together with friends help build and fund schools and other needed facilities in the developing world.
Since 1997, we have worked in the Dominican Republic, Burkina Faso, Tanzania, Malawi and Cambodia.
Our trips are normally 2-3 weeks in length. We stay in modest but clean and comfortable quarters. Our trips all have experienced leaders and great care is taken for safety and health.
Participants pay their own way. Some of the fees are used for the project. Building skills are useful, however, they are not necessary. The only requirement is for everyone to come with the right attitude. Age is not a factor. Participants have been as young as 16(with parents) and as old as 85. The majority of people who come are 55 plus. Approximately 50-60% of the participants have previously been on one of our trips before. In our down time, we take side trips to local places of interest. They help us better understand the local culture.
We work side by side with the local people in partnership with the local community. NGOs(non-governmental organizations) and local CBOs(community based organizations).
Our Purpose
The purpose of our trips is to make an impact by empowering local people and providing much needed facilities. The local community, though, must take ownership of the project by helping to initiate the project, participating in the design, providing some of the funding (often provided by their labour) and ongoing maintenance.
It is our practice to return to the country a number of times to ensure the project is developing and is being properly run and maintained.
BUILDING STRUCTURE
Typically we become involved in much more than building. This has been played out in many ways including:
EDUCATION:
- Teaching English
- Educational bursaries to pay for tuition fees and books
- Teacher training.
- Providing medical, sanitation and AIDS education
- Child interaction – many of whom have been orphaned by AIDS.
Caregiver assistance:
- Provided vehicle and hospital equipment
- Installation of fish ponds
- Water wells
- School gardens
- Breakfast and lunch programs at school
- Supplied athletic/sporting equipment
- Bicycles for children so they can ride to school
- Bicycles to local volunteers who visit outlying areas.
- Clothing for marginalized children
Funding:
- Employment to locals
- Micro credit project funding
- Vehicle funding
- Hospital equipment funding
These interventions have helped to remove obstacles so people can move forward with their lives.
Because of the interaction with the local people, one unanticipated offshoot of these trips has been to show we care. In return, participants invariably feel they have benefited and learned more from the local people than we have given them.
Consequently, most people return home as ambassadors for the people. These trips are open to those who are in good health and who possess the right attitude.