KENYA AND UGANDA INTERNATIONAL PROJECT: A FUTURE VISION PILOT COLLABORATION PROJECT AUGUST 2-16, 2012

Past District Governor Tom Friese discussed how the Kenya and Uganda International Project was a collaborative project involving 12 clubs (including the Rotary Club of Appleton) in District 6220 that raised $11,000. These funds were matched by the District Project Fund and each person who went on the trip contributed $500 raising a total of $25,000. These funds went only to existing and the development of future projects. Nine people went on this trip – 6 were Rotarians from District 6220, a Rotarian from 6250 and an attorney from Stevens Point. The travel expenses were up to each individual that went on the trip. The reason for the trip was to expand future projects, look for new opportunities to serve with other clubs, prepare for Future Vision, partnership with Future Vision Pilot and Future Vision mentors. Future Vision is a new way The Rotary Foundation grants funds. All projects need to fit within these categories: maternal and child health, education and literacy, disease prevention, peace and conflict resolution, water and sanitation and economic development. The group first landed in Nairobi at 9:30 p.m. after two 8-hour flights and a layover in Amsterdam. They were met by members of the Rotary Club of Karen. Some stayed at the homes of Rotarians and others at the Apostles of Jesus Seminary. While they were in Kenya, they toured Nairobi with their host club. The Karen Heath Center can’t get the permits to have the water run from the street 30 yards to the building. They have a cistern outside and a tanker truck comes periodically when they have enough money to fill it with water. The major focus of going to Kenya was to go to Nyumbani Village and work on a water project that started a year ago with the Rotary Club of Greater Portage County. In the Nyumbani village, there were 900 children orphaned from parents who died of AIDS. Grandparents who range in age from mid to late 30’s to 101 are raising these children. They helped further a water project installing 3 water cisterns each holding 10,000 gallons. The group then went on a bus and traveled to the Maluni Village to install 3 water cisterns. The people in the Maluni Village harvest rainwater to these cisterns from the metal roofs. They get about 23,622 inches of rain annually. These cisterns will provide 8-10 people with fresh water for 8-10 months. One hundred thousand seedlings will be planted that will mature in 5 years and be sold as lumber. The group then flew to Antibi, Uganda where they met Rotarians and attended their formal 2 ½ hour meeting. The next place the group went to was Arua, Uganda where they provided an update on Power Four and discussed the possible expansion to include breastfeeding mothers. There is also a research project with the Rotary Club of Arua, Arua Regional Referral Hospital and the McMurry University in Kampala to prepare a package of instant oatmeal predigested so there is no cooking. Funds were used to provide 70 beds and mattresses for the Arua Referral Hospital. The benefit of this trip/project was friendship and opportunities to serve and collaborate with other Rotary clubs.