International

Our plan for the coming Rotary year 2022 - 2023


International Committee Planning 2022-2023 

•    September 28th to 30th : Our Club visit to our twin Club of Vire, Normany North West France. We are still in contact with Gisella, who for many years as a Rotarian organised our trips to Vire. Currently we are in contact with President Christophe. I shall soon be sending around to Club members information about the Vire weekend, so you can sign up. 

•    During October the International Committee arranges the speakers or meeting activities.

•    November 2022: Visit Nepal depending on the Covid 19 situation, with the aim to inspect current water project funded by our Club at Deuralitar Nepal.
 
Bimal, our Nepalise organiser and liaison who has asked if we could help a village called Deuralitar. It is a village of 230 people in 50 houses. It is the usual problem of having to descend to a spring and carry all their water uphill to their village.
The village is situated to the southeast of Okhle and is further away than the other villages. In fact, it is 90 minutes away by motorcycle. Though due to the state of the roads (dirt tracks and steep hills) it’s not that far!
The spring is below the village and there would need to be a collection chamber, lower concrete tank with pump situated there which would supply four plastic tanks above the village. There would be one main tap by the community centre. This is what we would fund. The villagers would pay for supply from the tank to individual houses.
Deuralitar Water Project    NPR    GBP @150
Total    1010000    £6,733.33
Okhle Village Trust and the Casterbridge Club have already agreed to join us and we hope the Poundbury Club will too. We will apply for a District Grant for the three clubs
We would expect the project to be completed over winter.

•    April/May: Social event - Hosting and entertaining 10 Rotary International Friendship Exchange Rotarians from Peru. This will require about 8 hosts from Portland Rotary Club to provide Bed and Breakfast for 3 days, as well as to help transport and entertaining our guests in the evenings. A schedule of visits will be planned, it will no doubt be very like our Vire Exchanges.  If any member of the Club has friends or family who speak Spanish or who are learning Spanish, please let me know, as we shall need their help. A few of our guests from Peru do speak English. There is no Club or District funding for such RIFE exchanges, however our visitors pay their own entry fees into any attractions we take them to, and for some meals. The whole aim is to further international understanding, friendship and enjoy our very special global Rotary experience.

•    During May the International Committee arranges the speakers or meeting activities.

•    Janet’s Fundraising Coach trips: Once again I should like to thank Janet for organising her famous coach trips that are both community social events for Portlanders, as well as fund raisers. Trips to Bath for shopping, and another regional attraction will be planned. They are a major source of the funding for the Nepal Water projects.

•    The Committee will also continue with online Facebook Furniture sales. Donations are needed, simply photograph your item, send the picture to Janet who will post it online and then someone will contact you and buy it. The proceeds then go to the allocated fund, typically Nepal.

•    The committee will continue to liaise with Freewheelers, collecting no longer needed NHS equipment and sending them on to South Africa, including wheelchairs and other mobility aids.

•    Elizabeth will also assist leading the Foundation Committee whilst Stan is on leave during the Autumn.

International 2021-2022 Completed
  
Nepal Projects
 
Raipali Bhanyang 
Fence and galvanised roof to protect water tank completed. OVT £250
Madkina. 
Completed January 2022.  Cost £7517. Portland, Casterbridge, Poundbury, OVT and district grant to achieve total. Our club contribution £1000 and £500 grant.
Jytha House 
Homeless man with disabilities and son having to live away. Build completed funded by us and OVT cost £2000. Our club contribution £500 for the toilet.
Deuralitar 
Potential new project for 2022/23. Pumped system. Est. £6733.00 in conjunction with Casterbridge, Poundbury and OVT. We will apply for district grant.
 
Fundraising and donations

Haiti earthquake 
Tesco collection raised £628.00 and sent to ShelterBox
Rwanda Send a Cow Rotary appeal
Send a Cow supported by  a £200 donation
India £500 donation 
2021 marks the 30th anniversary of IMPACT India's Lifeline Express hospital train. Since 1991, it has travelled across India taking life-changing surgery to restore sight, hearing or mobility to the poorest people living in rural areas. 
Ukraine invasion
Club collection at Tesco, individual donations, club charity account and gift aid came to a total of £6200. 
£4500 sent via Rotary ICC which goes direct to Rotary in the neighbouring countries for immediate aid for the refugees. Also to Ukraine itself via the Rotary Fellowship of Health Care Professionals for medical needs. 
£1000 sent to ShelterBox who already have a team in the Poland
£200 water Survival Box with District appeal
Coach Trips
Bath on 13 November profit of £635
Bath on 30 April £732
Furniture and goods sale 
Has been moderately successful
 
Freewheelers 
Hugh Deed talked at the district forum 
The Rotary Clubs of Frome send wheelchairs to Africa, via Rotary Club Rushmoor in the UK. Equipment gradually being collected
 
Peru RIFE  
Due to the pandemic restricting travel the Peruvian team was unable to come this year and hope to visit in May 2023 
 
Vire Exchange Visit.
We have kept in contact during the year with Gisella and President Christophe. Due to Covid 19 it has not been possible to visit this Rotary year. We have been invited to visit 30 September to 2 October 2022
  
Scarecrow competition. 
Celia and Janet judged and Church Choir won and cheque presented. 
 
Walks 
6 walks over the last year included Poundbury and Casterbridge


 

International sub-pages:

International Report

more What we achieved in 2020/21

International Committee

more The plans for the Rotary coming Rotary year 2020/21