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Rotary International In Great Britain and Ireland have
raised £10 million, made possible by the generous outpouring of the
British public. Rotary Clubs responded quickly and continue to work to assist
communities affected by the earthquake and tsunami that devastated south
Asia’s coastal regions on December 26. The major projects and achievements
are:
- 10,000 Aquaboxes - sent to the affected area
providing clean water for more than 40,000 people for three months
- 12,000 Shelterboxes and Emergency boxes -
providing temporary shelter and basic necessities for 120,000 people.
- Sri Lanka Village Project - This is in
partnership with the International Aid Trust, and an allocation of
£125,000 has been made for the building of a 50 house village, in the
Pandura region some 12 miles from Colombo. The village will house some 50
families, and the buildings will be completed with the necessary
infrastructure. The project has commenced, the land surveyed, and purchased,
and the 50 families will assist with the building, following receipt of
training.
- Thailand Village Project - This partnership is
in conjunction with the Thai Rotary Centre, representing the 4 Districts in
Thailand. The objective is to build a village, comprising 50 Low Cost Shelters,
for some £100,000, and a further £50,000 to be used for the
provision of infrastructure, to include water services, sanitation, and power.
Low Cost Shelters are essentially modest ground, and upper floor buildings.
- Sri Lanka Schools Project – The first new
school was opened earlier this month at Randombe. Rotary Clubs in Sri Lanka
have undertaken to build, or rebuild, 25 schools in various affected coastal
areas of Sri Lanka, under a project titled Schools Re-Awaken. RIBI have agreed
in partnership with the D.3220 Rotary Committee, that the RIBI Disaster Fund
will fund one school at a cost of £180,000. The Schools Re-Awaken project
has been supported by Rotary Clubs in Sri Lanka as well as Rotary Clubs all
over the world. Rotary Clubs in Great Britain and Ireland (RIBI) have
contributed £635,000. Rotary Clubs in Devon, Yorkshire and Essex have
been working very closely with local schools in their area and have raised
funds, as well as providing computer suites and solar panelled water filtration
plant for these schools. Further to this, North Devon Schools will add their
support by sending out staff, technicians and students over the next three
years. The project is run by a Rotary Committee comprising 75% Rotary members,
with representation from the Government Education department, and other
community, and business representatives. The project is underwritten by the
Standard Chartered Bank, and is supported by UNICEF. The schools are being
built to minimum Government standards, and upgraded to provide better toilet,
library, and computer laboratory accommodation. The Thambaddai School in
Batticaloa is also being funded by RIBI and is a Primary and Secondary grade
school with classes from Grades 1 – 10 (O Level) catering for ages 5
– 16 years.
- Indonesia Fishing Project – in partnership
with the Rotary Club of Jakarta Central/D.3400 this project involves the
provision of Fishing Craft, with essential equipment including nets, engines,
and Fishing Platforms (not unlike Fish Farm cages). The project also provides
for the reconstruction of the fish market, and boat landing facilities, in the
Aceh region of Sumatra. The boats are constructed locally, and 75% of this
donation will be spent locally, giving work not only to the fishing families,
but to those building boats, platforms, and other essential work. Four boats
and two fishing platforms funded by RIBI were launched in August. These are
complete with an engine, fishing nets and ice box and an initial supply of
diesel fuel and lubricating oil.
- Fishing Project in Sri Lanka - In conjunction
with the Rotary Club of Falmouth, and two other Falmouth and Truro based
organisations, funds have been provided to purchase 20 Fishing boats equipped
with 15hp kerosene engines, and the appropriate nets required for coastal
fishing. Each boat provides a livelihood for 3 families directly, and 2 further
families on the periphery of the coastal fishing industry, in fish selling and
processing. Each boat will pay a rental, not to Rotary, but to a community
fund, to provide ice making and storage facilities. Each boat operates offshore
without the need for quays and harbours.
The opening of Randombe
School in Sri Lanka
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