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WESTERLY ROTARY CLUB SUPPORTS FUNDING FOR TWO GLOBAL GRANTS TOTALING $235,600

 

Three clubs in District 7950 – CHARIHO, Wakefield and Westerly – contributed to funding two Global Grants that were used to provide the materials for three Guatemalan Mayan villages to construct sustainable clean Water, Sanitation & Hygiene projects.  District 7950 also provided District Designated Funds (DDF) in support of these Global Grants. Contributions were also made from twenty-nine RC’s in D7890 (Northern CT & Western MA) and 16 RC’s located in 8 other Districts – 4250, 5030, 5400, 6560, 6930, 6990, 7040 and 7850. This brings to 25 the number of Mayan villages receiving such improvements over the past 13 years, serving close to 15,000 people.  Starting with RY ’13 – ‘14, eight Global Grants have been completed, all featuring contributions from multiple RC’s and Districts. 

 

On February 28th and March 2nd, Manchester, CT Rotarian Rick Lawrence and his wife, Elin, participated in the completion and dedication ceremonies at the three villages which were the recipients of last RY’s two Global Grants totaling $235,600.  In Chajalajya, a village with 300 families and a population of approximately 1,860, the funds paid for a solar-powered electrical pumping system, thereby eliminating the need for residents to pay for fuel to operate a back-up diesel generator to power the electric pump and reducing potential air pollution.  The other two villages were - Xetonox consisting of 108 families and Simajulehu with 680 families (approximately 670 and 4,216 people respectively).  Last year the village of San Vicente received the first solar-powered pumping system.

 

At each dedicatory ceremony Rick presented to the village water committee an engraved plaque that was permanently mounted on a component of the water system. These plaques included the names of all contributing 48 Rotary Clubs, Districts and charitable foundations.  The Rotary funds were used to pay for materials with all labor provided by the men and women in the three villages. In addition to the complete water system, distribution piping to each household and chlorination device, the funds paid for gray water filters (i. e. – grease traps) and Vented Improved Pit Latrines (toilets) for each family.                                                                            

                                              

         

 Furthermore, fuel-efficient cook stoves were constructed in each household using funds provided by our NGO Cooperating Partner, ALDEA.  The Rotary Club of La Antigua, Guatemala continues to serve as the Host Club and they visit the projects on a regular basis, assisting ALDEA with the required education and training sessions for sanitation, hygiene, nutrition and agricultural topics.       

 

 Another two Global Grants are in process during the current RY ’19-’20 to provide similar Water, Sanitation & Hygiene improvements for Agua Caliente and Paxorotot for a combined total of $237,454, serving another 4,208 people.  Clubs or Districts desiring to participate in these award-winning projects are invited to contact District 7890 Water & Sanitation Projects Chair Rick Lawrence – elawrlaw@sbcglobal.net. (860) 558-2793 cell.