By Rowan McClean
Networker has featured several stories this year involving different clubs co-operating on meaningful projects, and there is no doubt that we can achieve much more through co-operation than by going it alone.
Currently there are impressive multi-club projects throughout our District, two of which involve projects in Timor-Leste and Vietnam.
Timor-Leste Consortium
Rotary Camberwell approached neighbouring clubs with a large project to build water tanks in remote Timor-Leste villages.
The clubs of Chadstone-East Malvern, Glenferrie, Hawthorn, Malvern, Brighton North, Prahran and Sydney Cove joined Camberwell to fund and build 32 water tanks with Rotary Foundation assistance. Materials came from Timor-Leste. Local people supplied roofing and labour. Children helped build tank platforms by supplying rocks and mixing the concrete. Four three-cubicle toilets were also built in schools.
Water tanks have saved some villagers from an 8 km walk!
Camberwell wants to form a second consortium to extend the experience gained to other villages.
If interested, contact John Walmsley of Rotary Camberwell <jjwalmsley@hotmail.com>.
Phu Tho Communities, Vietnam
Support for one community by Rotary North Balwyn in 2009 has expanded to five communities in Phu Tho Province.
Rotary Bacchus Marsh, Balwyn, Brighton and Glenferrie each adopted other communities to provide the help required that was identified in conjunction with community leaders.
Educating poor children; purchasing supplies, furniture and equipment for kindergartens, schools and clinics; and, trialling agricultural and animal husbandry projects have resulted.
Post-pandemic infant dental and eye-screening projects are planned for all communities. Foundation assistance will be sought for clean water and toilets—18,000 residents in Phu Tho Province will potentially benefit from these initiatives.
Interested? Email: rowanmcclean@gmail.com
When planning projects that have wide geographic impact, particularly overseas, consider inviting other clubs to participate. Combining multi-club knowledge and resources will increase results on many levels.