Rotary E-Club Of Greater Sydney
International Projects Update February 2021
Our International projects continue to help those in need. Feeding Dreams An increase in impoverished families due to tourism
crash and reduction in sponsor funds is having a dire impact on the school viability needing much needed funds to continue its vital support.School for Life celebrated 10 years of Katuuso Primary School (our first school) last Friday which was an exciting milestone for us. We have been conducting in house and external teacher training sessions, including a new partnership we have created with Fundi Bots,
an organisation that specialises in Science and Technology as well as robotics. We have also recently partnered with the Duke of Edinburgh
program.
The Girls' Boarding Facility is now complete and we are getting ready for our first cohort of 50 female boarders to arrive this weekend, to start Senior 3 on Monday 1st March. Senior 3 and Primary 6 will be joining Primary 7 back at school as schools are slowly reopened by the Government in Uganda.
DAK 1. Worldwide Maternal & Child Health Project Covid-19 has affected the whole world, but more so those in the
developing world. With harsh lockdowns in the early part of 2020, millions of people lost livelihoods and access to health services declined sharply. Access to nutrition and the ability to access health care became a pressing concern. The MACH 17/2014-15 project focused on working with trusted partners on the ground in Asia and Africa to provide access to nutrition, maternity services and access to family planning opportunities. The support has provided nutrition services to over 100,000 people, family planning services and maternity services to 1,000’s of women. Countries: India, Philippines, Uganda, Malawi, Thai-Burma Border, DRC, PNG
DAK 2. Worldwide Med Equip Project
Oxygen systems have been an important part of the 47/2009-10 Medical Equipment program for many years. The Covid-19 pandemic resulted in tens of thousands of oxygen concentrators being sent to developing countries, where oxygen is the primary treatment for critical cases. Many NGO’s were involved in this “scramble” but there was little transparency around what was going where. For the July-December 2020 period our RAWCS project instead focussed on pulse oximetry. Oximeters measure the oxygen levels in the patient’s blood. They are a necessary tool for both for patient identification and oxygen treatment. We also organised a one week training course for biomedical technicians in Mali on how to repair and maintain oxygen concentrators. This used both local and
international trainers via Zoom.
Equipment donation highlights in numbers: 2800 fingertip oximeters, 450 pulse oximeters, 60 oxygen analysers, 45
ultrasounds, 140 foetal dopplers, 2 hospital received neonatal ICU equipment.
Main countries: Burundi, Laos, Malawi, PNG, Ethiopia, Mali, Haiti, Timor Leste, Myanmar, Kenya, Uganda, Nepal, Cambodia and
Democratic Republic of Congo.
Mama Wimbi is raising money to buy land and build premises for our sewing operations and for modest accommodation for our manager. This will reduce our regular expenses considerably and provide much greater security and flexibility for future sub-projects.
So far, we have (either in hand or promised) about half of the US$20 000 that we need to get the project underway. A German NGO called
DESWOS will provide most of the building if we can provide the land.
Cararoo Foundation – To help feed Cararoo families Cararoo Chairperson Cynthia has donated a plot of land on her property where
her staff have established a garden to grow the vegetables required by our Cararoo families. As can be seen from these pictures the garden is now established and saving much need funds in supplying the weekly
food hampers. Thank you Cynthia.
Wherever you look the signs of malnutrition, stunted growth and poverty are all too obvious.
Pandemic Food Hamper distribution. Our plan is to distribute food to feed a family with 4.5 children for 5 to 7 days. The squatter canteen now acts as a food distribution centre managed by the mother’s group with help from the students. The attached pictures are for food distribution weeks 3 & 4. Our aim is to provide as much variety as possible, Any donations to help fund this program during the pandemic will be much appreciated. Please email Maurie on mschokman@bigpond.com if you can help. We that all who have supported us over the last 12 months.
Oecusse, Timor Leste There have recently been reports of covid reaching the enclave – returning students coming from Indonesia
bringing it in with them. At this stage quarantining, contact tracing, the use of masks, hand washing, severe lockdowns and border closures
seem to have contained the outbreak. Covid is not the problem now, as risky as that might be, hunger is!
Rice crop yields last year were poor due to low rainfall, farmers’ markets are closed, people are relying on the weekly ferry which brings goods, such as imported rice, from Dili. The price of a sack of rice, a food staple, has increased from $11 (US) to $18.
According to the WHO 2020 Global Hunger Index report, Timor Leste is one of the most food insecure countries in the world. Child malnutrition is a major concern, with over half of children estimated to be stunted and
nearly 15% suffering from wasting.
GREENTL has been helping villagers set up vegetable gardens by providing pumps to ensure a more reliable water supply. Last year, with
the help of several Rotary Clubs and private donors I sent funds to GREENTL to make face masks and deliver food parcels. This project
was a great success and appreciated by the many villagers who benefited.
United Mission hospital, Tansen, Nepal
Sales of the cakes and puddings were very good. I have very few cakes left now and no puddings until the next order is made – maybe later in the year. Early December, when the manufacturer was running out of supplies, they had to produce cardboard boxes for the cakes, as it was an emergency. There is a possibility the cakes may be packed permanently in cardboard boxes, instead of having the tins made offshore and imported. I have a copy of the pattern, and the design is the same as on the tins, except square, not round. The new seventh focus of Rotary still needs to be added. The disadvantage of being outside the shopping centre is the weather. This year I had a few showers and storms which made it a bit tricky, but learnt a few ways to cope. This will be critical if we have cardboard boxes permanently in the future.
HandUp Congo works in the Democratic Republic of Congo and in Australia with Congolese refugees
Thanks to Light My Fire, a US foundation, 900 female students from Nsang'ea Ndotsi High School in Equateur Province’s capital Mbandaka and 600 girls 300 km away in Lotumbe schools have been getting an education this year. In addition, Light My Fire recently funded women’s microcredit projects, the rehabilitation of a pre-school, and state exam fees for 10 girls.
Merci mingi (thanks a lot!) as well to Colin Menzies and Daniel Nelson in Sydney, who have made it possible for 90 orphaned girls to
enroll in Lotumbe schools this year with complete school supplies.
Our long-time colleagues at DAK Foundation and the Disciples of Christ Community in Congo (CDCC) know that increasing coverage of
family planning in the DRC is one of the most effective ways to reduce infant and maternal mortality. DRC’s annual population growth rate of 3.4% ranks among the highest in the world and it is high fertility rates that drive this growth. Thanks to their great teamwork, DAK supplies CDCC with modern contraceptives which Dr Bosolo Yoursen and his team deliver by canoe to remote riverside hamlets in Equateur Province. COVID-19 and Ebola have impacted Lotumbe’s food security. To fight hunger, market gardens with diversified vegetables have been introduced to women’s action groups. Donors also made it possible to provide face masks, medicines and stipends for community leaders to raise awareness about hygiene, social distancing and other protection protocols.
Rotary Addison Foundation (Texas, USA) has just sent funding to Lotumbe for a clean water project, and the Rotary Club Ekanga
Mbandaka (District 9150) is working with us to establish 3 wells and provide monitoring and evaluation.
In Australia, HandUp Congo partners with the Great Lakes Agency of Peace and Development www.glapd.org.au to facilitate the resettlement of Congolese refugees in rural areas like Wingham NSW. To date 225 refugees have found employment and housing in NSW, ACT and VIC.
Rotarians play a big support role, sharing learnings and resources with one another. Currently the Rotary Club of Kingaroy QLD are assisting with a potential new settlement.
International Projects Update February 2021
Our International projects continue to help those in need. Feeding Dreams An increase in impoverished families due to tourism
crash and reduction in sponsor funds is having a dire impact on the school viability needing much needed funds to continue its vital support.School for Life celebrated 10 years of Katuuso Primary School (our first school) last Friday which was an exciting milestone for us. We have been conducting in house and external teacher training sessions, including a new partnership we have created with Fundi Bots,
an organisation that specialises in Science and Technology as well as robotics. We have also recently partnered with the Duke of Edinburgh
program.
The Girls' Boarding Facility is now complete and we are getting ready for our first cohort of 50 female boarders to arrive this weekend, to start Senior 3 on Monday 1st March. Senior 3 and Primary 6 will be joining Primary 7 back at school as schools are slowly reopened by the Government in Uganda.
DAK 1. Worldwide Maternal & Child Health Project Covid-19 has affected the whole world, but more so those in the
developing world. With harsh lockdowns in the early part of 2020, millions of people lost livelihoods and access to health services declined sharply. Access to nutrition and the ability to access health care became a pressing concern. The MACH 17/2014-15 project focused on working with trusted partners on the ground in Asia and Africa to provide access to nutrition, maternity services and access to family planning opportunities. The support has provided nutrition services to over 100,000 people, family planning services and maternity services to 1,000’s of women. Countries: India, Philippines, Uganda, Malawi, Thai-Burma Border, DRC, PNG
DAK 2. Worldwide Med Equip Project
Oxygen systems have been an important part of the 47/2009-10 Medical Equipment program for many years. The Covid-19 pandemic resulted in tens of thousands of oxygen concentrators being sent to developing countries, where oxygen is the primary treatment for critical cases. Many NGO’s were involved in this “scramble” but there was little transparency around what was going where. For the July-December 2020 period our RAWCS project instead focussed on pulse oximetry. Oximeters measure the oxygen levels in the patient’s blood. They are a necessary tool for both for patient identification and oxygen treatment. We also organised a one week training course for biomedical technicians in Mali on how to repair and maintain oxygen concentrators. This used both local and
international trainers via Zoom.
Equipment donation highlights in numbers: 2800 fingertip oximeters, 450 pulse oximeters, 60 oxygen analysers, 45
ultrasounds, 140 foetal dopplers, 2 hospital received neonatal ICU equipment.
Main countries: Burundi, Laos, Malawi, PNG, Ethiopia, Mali, Haiti, Timor Leste, Myanmar, Kenya, Uganda, Nepal, Cambodia and
Democratic Republic of Congo.
Mama Wimbi is raising money to buy land and build premises for our sewing operations and for modest accommodation for our manager. This will reduce our regular expenses considerably and provide much greater security and flexibility for future sub-projects.
So far, we have (either in hand or promised) about half of the US$20 000 that we need to get the project underway. A German NGO called
DESWOS will provide most of the building if we can provide the land.
Cararoo Foundation – To help feed Cararoo families Cararoo Chairperson Cynthia has donated a plot of land on her property where
her staff have established a garden to grow the vegetables required by our Cararoo families. As can be seen from these pictures the garden is now established and saving much need funds in supplying the weekly
food hampers. Thank you Cynthia.
Wherever you look the signs of malnutrition, stunted growth and poverty are all too obvious.
Pandemic Food Hamper distribution. Our plan is to distribute food to feed a family with 4.5 children for 5 to 7 days. The squatter canteen now acts as a food distribution centre managed by the mother’s group with help from the students. The attached pictures are for food distribution weeks 3 & 4. Our aim is to provide as much variety as possible, Any donations to help fund this program during the pandemic will be much appreciated. Please email Maurie on mschokman@bigpond.com if you can help. We that all who have supported us over the last 12 months.
Oecusse, Timor Leste There have recently been reports of covid reaching the enclave – returning students coming from Indonesia
bringing it in with them. At this stage quarantining, contact tracing, the use of masks, hand washing, severe lockdowns and border closures
seem to have contained the outbreak. Covid is not the problem now, as risky as that might be, hunger is!
Rice crop yields last year were poor due to low rainfall, farmers’ markets are closed, people are relying on the weekly ferry which brings goods, such as imported rice, from Dili. The price of a sack of rice, a food staple, has increased from $11 (US) to $18.
According to the WHO 2020 Global Hunger Index report, Timor Leste is one of the most food insecure countries in the world. Child malnutrition is a major concern, with over half of children estimated to be stunted and
nearly 15% suffering from wasting.
GREENTL has been helping villagers set up vegetable gardens by providing pumps to ensure a more reliable water supply. Last year, with
the help of several Rotary Clubs and private donors I sent funds to GREENTL to make face masks and deliver food parcels. This project
was a great success and appreciated by the many villagers who benefited.
United Mission hospital, Tansen, Nepal
Sales of the cakes and puddings were very good. I have very few cakes left now and no puddings until the next order is made – maybe later in the year. Early December, when the manufacturer was running out of supplies, they had to produce cardboard boxes for the cakes, as it was an emergency. There is a possibility the cakes may be packed permanently in cardboard boxes, instead of having the tins made offshore and imported. I have a copy of the pattern, and the design is the same as on the tins, except square, not round. The new seventh focus of Rotary still needs to be added. The disadvantage of being outside the shopping centre is the weather. This year I had a few showers and storms which made it a bit tricky, but learnt a few ways to cope. This will be critical if we have cardboard boxes permanently in the future.
HandUp Congo works in the Democratic Republic of Congo and in Australia with Congolese refugees
Thanks to Light My Fire, a US foundation, 900 female students from Nsang'ea Ndotsi High School in Equateur Province’s capital Mbandaka and 600 girls 300 km away in Lotumbe schools have been getting an education this year. In addition, Light My Fire recently funded women’s microcredit projects, the rehabilitation of a pre-school, and state exam fees for 10 girls.
Merci mingi (thanks a lot!) as well to Colin Menzies and Daniel Nelson in Sydney, who have made it possible for 90 orphaned girls to
enroll in Lotumbe schools this year with complete school supplies.
Our long-time colleagues at DAK Foundation and the Disciples of Christ Community in Congo (CDCC) know that increasing coverage of
family planning in the DRC is one of the most effective ways to reduce infant and maternal mortality. DRC’s annual population growth rate of 3.4% ranks among the highest in the world and it is high fertility rates that drive this growth. Thanks to their great teamwork, DAK supplies CDCC with modern contraceptives which Dr Bosolo Yoursen and his team deliver by canoe to remote riverside hamlets in Equateur Province. COVID-19 and Ebola have impacted Lotumbe’s food security. To fight hunger, market gardens with diversified vegetables have been introduced to women’s action groups. Donors also made it possible to provide face masks, medicines and stipends for community leaders to raise awareness about hygiene, social distancing and other protection protocols.
Rotary Addison Foundation (Texas, USA) has just sent funding to Lotumbe for a clean water project, and the Rotary Club Ekanga
Mbandaka (District 9150) is working with us to establish 3 wells and provide monitoring and evaluation.
In Australia, HandUp Congo partners with the Great Lakes Agency of Peace and Development www.glapd.org.au to facilitate the resettlement of Congolese refugees in rural areas like Wingham NSW. To date 225 refugees have found employment and housing in NSW, ACT and VIC.
Rotarians play a big support role, sharing learnings and resources with one another. Currently the Rotary Club of Kingaroy QLD are assisting with a potential new settlement.