The public is invited to attend Oct. 15 presentation highlighting the global water crisis and Rotary Clubs’ impact on wellbeing worldwide
The Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch invites the public to participate in a Rotary Water and Sanitation Forum and luncheon, on Thursday, October, 15 at the Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club. The presentation will celebrate Rotary’s role in responding to a global crisis relating to access to clean water with service projects in developing countries such as Peru, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, St. Lucia and Haiti, and major donors will be recognized.
Since 2011, the Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch has taken the lead in helping to identify, finance and coordinate safe water and sanitation projects for needy communities in Peru, with a total of 12 projects funded so far, that will serve approximately 19,000 people when completed. The projects are being implemented through partnerships with Rotary Clubs in Peru, USA and Canada and funded through The Rotary Foundation Global Grant Program, which matches individual Rotary Clubs’ contributions from throughout the world.
The Central Union Aucayo community, located on a tributary of the Amazon River, has been one beneficiary of The Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch’s water and sanitation projects. The Central Union Aucayo people walked to a hole to retrieve water, which was dirty and made the children sick. By installing a solar powered water treatment system and latrines, and educating the community about health and hygiene, outbreaks of waterborne diarrheal disease have ceased.
The World Health Organization reports 1.7 billion cases of diarrheal disease per year, which is the second leading cause of death in children under five. It kills an estimated 760,000 children every year. However, it is preventable, with safe drinking water and adequate sanitation and hygiene representing the first line of defense. Significant process is being made, with yearly reductions in the estimated death rates. Still, estimates indicate that more then 2,000 children die every from waterborne diarrheal diseases each day.
“This ongoing effort by Rotarians worldwide to help eliminate the world of unhealthy living conditions should be supported by all Rotarians and non-Rotarians interested in world humanitarian efforts,” said Cyndi Doragh, Rotary District 6960 District Governor. Doragh has designated a safe water and sanitation project for 360 needy families in Darwin Grandez, Peru to be a District 6960 project for 2015-2016 and she has asked the 51 Rotary clubs in the district, which extends from Manatee County to Marco Island and east to La Belle, to provide financial support.
Individuals or organizations interested in learning more about safe water and sanitation projects being funded and coordinated by the Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch and other local Rotary Clubs, are encouraged to attend the forum and luncheon on October 15, 2015 at 11:00AM. Space is limited, so please RSVP no later than Friday, October 9 by calling 941-744-1557.
About Rotary
Rotary is an international service organization whose stated human rights purpose is to bring together business and professional leaders in order to provide humanitarian services, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and to advance goodwill and peace around the world. It is a secularorganization open to all people regardless of race, color, creed, religion, gender, or political preference. There are 34,282 member clubs worldwide. 1.2 million individuals called Rotarians have joined these clubs. Rotary District 6960 in Southwest Florida has 51 clubs. Rotarians usually gather weekly for breakfast, lunch, or dinner to fulfill their first guiding principle to develop friendships as an opportunity for service. The Rotarian’s primary motto is “Service Above Self”; its secondary motto is “One profits most who serves best.” For more information visit RotaryDistrict6960.org.
