CHOC, Second-hand Books and Rotary Global Grants.

Last Week

Adri Ludick of CHOC was our guest speaker and gave us a fascinating talk about CHOC, how it came about and what it does.  There is always a problem for organisations that cater for specific medical problems because unless you have a child with cancer, or contact with a child with cancer, it is highly unlikely that you would be aware of what CHOC does or the need for such an organisation.  Many thanks Adri for opening our eyes to the problems involved.  Unfortunately we were very thin on the ground for such an interesting presentation, as you can see.

This Week

We have been let down, at the last minute, by Awethu Projects and Doron Locketz of Bookdealers has stepped into the breech today!  Many thanks, Doron.  Bookdealers started in the '80's as a stall in a fleamarket in downtown Johannesburg and opened its first shop in Yeoville.  How things have changed.  It will be very interesting to hear what Doron has to say about the second hand book business in the age of the Kindle.

Induction Dinner, Friday 28th June

Don't forget to book with Mike Vink for the induction of Joan Donet as our new President. mike@aucklandlodge.co.za

Guatemala Rotarians use global grants to help school children receive a better education

By Daniela Garcia
Rotary News -- 10 June 2013
Photos by Monika Lozinska/Rotary International 

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Proximos Pasos principal Mirna Perez discusses the global grant project that benefited her school with Rotarian Jorge Aufranc.

           

At Próximos Pasos school for girls in Santa María de Jesus, Guatemala, the students look happy, healthy, and energetic.

Unlike their counterparts at some schools in the country, the girls have access to clean water and proper nutrition, and the results are apparent. The girls are able to focus on their studies, and they express an enthusiasm for their education.

“We saw many changes in the kids, in the teachers, and in the community,” says Jorge Aufranc, past governor of District 4250 and a member of the Rotary Club of Guatemala Sur. “They appreciate the work that Rotary has done.”

A Rotary Foundation global grant implemented by the Guatemala Sur club provided the school with computers and a machine called a mechanical cow, which produces soy milk. The device is made of stainless steel and does not look much like a cow.

Soybeans are put into a funnel at the top, and about 45 minutes later, they have been turned into soy milk and a pulp called okara, which is used in the school’s cooking classes. On one recent day, the girls were using the okara to make cookies.

Aufranc’s district has used the Rotary Foundation’s new grants to help many schools in the area. It took part in the three-year pilot of the new grant system, during which 43 global grants have been undertaken in the district, including five by the Guatemala Sur club. The pilot ends 1 July, and the new grants then become available to all districts.

The Guatemala Sur club began with projects that address needs they deemed critical. For example, one global grant is providing nine rural schools in Sumpango with washing stations, latrines, kitchen equipment, and furniture.

“Everything begins with water,” Aufranc says. “If there is no water, we cannot have peace. Where there is a lack of water, there is conflict.”

Partnerships are essential

For the grant used at Próximos Pasos, the Guatemala Sur club partnered with clubs from districts 6420 and 6440 (Illinois, USA), as well as Mission Impact and the World Soy Foundation. Aufranc says working with these other organizations is part of what made the grant successful.

“You have to involve as many Rotarians as you can, locally and internationally,” Aufranc says. “With Future Vision, there has been resistance because people think, ‘oh we have to think bigger and bigger.’ But that’s how you make an impact in a community. You have to think big.”

His district’s extensive experience with global grants has made Aufranc an advocate of the new grants.

He believes community involvement is essential to any Rotary project. Several of Guatemala Sur’s global grants were made possible by the volunteer labor of community members and input from local leaders.

“To have a good project, a sustainable project, you have to involve the community. If the community participates from the beginning, they feel they have ownership of the project, and this helps guarantee sustainability,” he explains. “We have to think of it as their project, not ours. It is a project of the community, not a Rotary project.”

Mirna Pérez, the principal of Próximos Pasos, also believes involving her community made the project possible. She says keys to success included the sharing of responsibility by Rotarians and community members, good communication, and flexibility.

“We are thankful to Rotary for helping us and bringing change to the lives of our students and the community,” Pérez says. “Our communities need more opportunities, and Rotary gives us those opportunities. We utilize everything and we work our hardest to put everything to good use.”