By Boxing Day, three members of the Rotary Club of Strathcona Sunrise will be off to India and Africa to carry out the Rotarian motto Service Above Self.
Tanya Harmon and Terry Nielsen are returning to a small town in Kenya on Boxing Day. Peg Carswell returns to Assam in northeast India on Christmas Eve. They will be gone for several months after investing many months into fundraising.
The main Kenya project is the construction of 50 protected springs, bringing clean water to 20,000 Kenyans at a cost of $51,000.
The funds were raised by both Rotary clubs in Campbell River, together with the Strathcona Sunrise and Cumberland Centennial clubs. Nineteen other Vancouver Island Rotary clubs contributed significantly.
The other African projects range from fish farms to education. Non- Rotary partners are Comox Valley Roadrunners, who have supplied $600 to develop impoverished Kenyan runners.
Local Optometrist Dr. Elaine Kerr provided 24 pairs of reading glasses. Eatmore Sprouts & Greens provided $400 towards the purchase of bicycles.
You can follow the Kenya projects' progress on CanadatoKenya.blogspot.com.
In India, Rotarian Peg Carswell will continue the work she has long been doing with farmers and tea growers, to help promote traditional and more sustainable farming practices.
Rotary has contributed over $1,000 toward the purchase of educational equipment that will be used to provide training to students and farmers in the region.
All three Rotarians travel at their own cost and volunteer their time and energy to complete the projects above as well as several more.
To learn more about local Rotary, you can visit rotarystrathconasunrise.org.
— Rotary Club of Strathcona Sunrise