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March 2012

SCHOOLS CLEAN WATER PROJECT IN SURABAYA, INDONESIA (Matching Grant #72760)

You will recall that following the GSE visit to Indonesia in 2008 our District agreed to support two major Matching Grant projects. The first was a medical and dental mobile clinic to provide a screening service and where necessary first treatment for some 1,000 street children (in the event some 3,300 children benefitted) in the city of Yogyakarta in Central Java and this was successfully completed during the last Rotary Year. Twenty Clubs in District 1200 contributed to make this possible backed by matching grant funds from our District Designated Fund and from Rotary Foundation at RI Headquarters. The Rotary Club of Wessex Mead (PP Julia Davey was my link) was the lead Club for us and the Rotary Club of Jogja Merapi managed the project in Yogyakarta.

I am pleased to now report that the second project that was to provide a sustainable supply of clean water to 10 schools in the Surabaya area of East Java, Indonesia has also just been signed off as finalised by the Rotary Foundation in Evanston. Here again the outcome exceeded the original brief in that 12 schools and some 2,500 children and staff now have access to clean water in their schools. In each case a borehole was drilled down to reach the aquifers from which clean water was then pumped through pipework to a header tank positioned on the top of a metal tower (see photo). From the tank water was then fed to the school toilet block, handbasins, and to a standpipe generally located in the school yard. The children were also given lessons in basic hygiene especially after using the toilet and before handling food. Following installation, and as expected, the level of absenteeism due to illness has dropped very substantially resulting in the children gaining more days of education and thus improving their life chances. Eighteen Clubs in District 1200 contributed to make this possible backed by matching grant funds from our District Designated Fund and from Rotary Foundation at RI Headquarters. The Rotary Club of Westbury (PP Stan Wilson was my link) was the lead Club for us and the Rotary Club of Jogja Merapi managed the project in Yogyakarta.

Yours in Rotary friendship

Hugo Pike
GSE Team Leader to D3400 in 2008

PS: Some of you will recall that GSE Team member (Chief Superintendent Sandy Padgett - Avon and Somerset Police) died from a massive stroke some 18 months after our return and I dedicate both these projects to her memory.
 

Older News

December 2011

Typhoon Washi - Philipines - Mindanao

When the Typhoon hit the island of Mindanao in the Philippines on Friday night the Water Survival Box team at Chelwood Bridge swung in to action to secure a route into the area.

As a result 200 boxes will leave the UK today and be delivered to Manila tomorrow for collection by the De La Salle College monks who are co-ordinating relief efforts in the city of Iligan.

We are also discussing providing more boxes to Humanity First UK [whom we have used many times before] to send boxes to Cagayan de Oro the other major port affected by flooding.

Follow us on Twitter @watersurvival or Facebook "Worldwaterworks" or via the website www.worldwaterworks.org

Donations are always welcome at any level to help towards replacing stock

 

10 July 2011 - WATER-SURVIVAL BOX - DROUGHT CRISIS IN HORN OF AFRICA

You will all have seen the news coverage of the developing crisis now affecting up to 10 million people in the Horn of Africa and we are receiving many enquiries regarding our response. We have significant stocks of Water-Survival Boxes in Standard and Multi-Pack format that can be sent by air as soon as their suitability has been confirmed and we can arrange with a reputable organisation (whether Rotary or an international aid agency) for swift transit through customs and distribution to families in need. However, as you will see this particular crisis is compounded by its remote geographic location, its proximity to Somalia where armed conflict continues, and the often chaotic situation in the refugee camps themselves. As in previous complex operations we have to ensure that any aid we send will reach those it is intended for and in this case we are actively seeking to achieve that.

On Monday evening, following the Channel 4 programme highlighting the growing crisis I emailed DG 9200 Eric Kimani offering our aid  his District includes Kenya, Ethiopia and adjoining countries, and the refugee camps at Dadaab featured on the programme. Repeat messages were sent on Thursday and Friday (copied to his DGE) but so far no reply has been received. A similar message was sent to Humanity First UK on Monday HF-UK has proved to be an effective partner in the past eg distributing more than 1300 WSBs in Pakistan last summer/autumn. The Vice Chairman replied by return to say that the Humanity First team permanently based in Kenya was already in contact with the authorities and seeking to clarify whether or not there was a need for water purification and other essential survival items.

The latest information from Humanity First in Kenya is that 'there are 3 camps with about 100,000 refugees in each, with a thousand trickling in daily. MSF, StC, WFP, UNICEF and Oxfam are trying to cope as best as they can. However, because of the war in Somalia, aid agencies are unable to get to these camps without heavy armed police escort. Once aid gets across, there is a rush to get to it and the stampede quickly disintegrates into chaos. The only access route is from the capital, Nairobi, then via Thika and then a long trek to Garissa and then an even longer journey over a semi-desert to Daddab about 40 km from the Somalia border. Our Chairman in Kenya has met with the ministry for Disaster Relief and will meet the Oxfam team on Monday and Tuesday. Oxfam are engaged in water sanitation project in North East Kenya. He will see if Oxfam can team up with us in the distribution of the water survival boxes. We intend to purchase essential food from Nairobi, load it in three trucks and go to Daddab with the escort and 15 volunteers on our first round and with your boxes in the next round, provided of course you agree.'

We have now supplied HF with details of the boxes available for immediate despatch with a view to obtaining early customs clearance and as soon as we can confirm arrangements with Humanity First will organise air cargo into Mombasa or Nairobi.

Further updates will be sent as soon as we have more information. Details of the Water-Survival Box project can be seen at www.worldwaterworks.org and anyone wishing to help should forward a cheque to our registered office or to Rotary, c/o The White House, Pensford, Bristol BS39 4NE. As a registered charity we are able to benefit from Gift Aid a donation form can be downloaded from our website.

Hugo Pike PHF
Chairman - Worldwaterworks Limited
PP RC Chelwood Bridge - D 1200

 

15 March 2011 - Japan

An update for all Clubs. Those of you who are setting in motion projects and collections to help those suffering from the devastation in the N.E. of this country please bear in mind that Shelterbox are actively involved in this area but we are advised that Water Survival Boxes are not needed. Naturally WSBs still need funding for future disasters thus they will be accepting your donations.

It seems that we are being beset with a natural disater on an extremely regular basis. Maybe the time has come for all Clubs to consider having their own DISASTER FUND within their charity account which may assist when an appeal for urgent funding is needed.

Rotary Foundation has set up The Rotary Japan & Pacific Islands 2011 Disaster Recovery Fund which Clubs and members may take advantage of. This can be accessed via D1200 website Foundation section.

 

August 2010 - Pakistan Flood

The RIBI Donations Trust has set up a Pakistan Flood Appeal with the express purpose of raising funds to aid the affected communities in Pakistan during the reconstruction phase following this emergency. It is not intended as an emergency response fund - the funds will be restricted in their use.

Club members should decide whether they want to assist in the emergency phase or in the longer term. The public should be informed of the purpose for which the money is being collected, and the charity for which the money is intended. We do suggest that, where clubs are wanting to raise funds for the immediate emergency problems, they select the charity or organisation that best meets their needs e.g. ShelterBox, Water Survival Box, Aquabox, Lifebox, Lifestraws or even the DEC. The Donations Trust is not equipped to respond with any immediacy, and these other organisations are fully equipped to do just that.

We understand that once the demand for ShelterBoxes is satisfied or stocks run out, that charity may not be able to continue with its aid, so there is no guarantee that funds raised for the Shelterbox response to the Pakistan disaster will be applied specifically to Pakistan. Club members and the public do need to be made aware of this. There are other charities that can play an important role during this emergency phase. Please contact ShelterBox direct if you have any specific queries and not the RIBI Secretariat - ShelterBox is an independent charity.

Please remember that local authorities usually require charity numbers on applications for street collection licences. Those clubs which do not have their own club trusts can use the RIBI Donations Trust charity number, 1119688, if they are collecting for the RIBI Pakistan Flood Appeal only. Otherwise, please contact the chosen charity direct.

Cheques for the RIBI Pakistan Flood Appeal should be made payable to RIBI Donations Trust and sent to the Finance Department at the Alcester address.

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