The Bakau Environmental Project update February 2020

Work has almost completed on a significant project to reduce Malaria in The Gambia thanks to the Rotary Club of Milton Keynes Grand Union (MKGU).

Recent visit to The Gambia

Visit to the Gambia 

Preston Ayres, Chris Hayter, Andrew Faraday and I have just returned from visiting Bakau Project in The Gambia that we instigated in 2016.

The ‘Holiday’ was punctuated by meetings with Fajara Rotary Club and local dignitaries as well as the PM for the project and visits to the works. We discussed the ways in which the project can be completed by making small alterations and starting an education and enforcement program run by the local community to ensure the sustainability of the project.

The Canal, which was the main thrust of the project, was almost complete before the rains came in July 2019 but sufficiently finished to take the water away from the village. However, as the budget had been spent, we were looking at the ways to fully finish what had been started and how the canal will be maintained.

Bakau Medical Centre told us that the incidents of malaria had dropped by 74% in the second half of 2019 compared with the second half of 2018. An overwhelming result.

Our other halves also visited the local school, run by ‘Oasis Project’. Great fun was had by all as we worked in the school and attended the 6th anniversary party for the Starlight School.

MKGU Rotary Club meets every Thursday and if you would like to know more about the club please write to mike@coactionmanagement.co.uk or visit the website http://www.rotary-ribi.org/clubs/homepage.php?ClubID=1774

View of newly constructed canal 

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MKGU Rotary Club 30 year anniversary banner

Our MKGU Rotary President for 2023/24 is Mike Rhodes. Mike's chosen charity for 2023/24 is MK Snap. https://mksnap.org/ MKGU Rotary Club celebrates its' 30 year anniversary in 2024.

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Recent visit to The Gambia

Work has almost completed on a significant project to reduce Malaria in The Gambia thanks to the Rotary Club of Milton Keynes Grand Union (MKGU).

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Volunteers at MK Marathon

MKGU Grand Union Rotary Club turned out in force to support the MK Marathon and half-Marathon on Monday 01 May.

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The winning team of Breege Traynor, Eric Hamilton and John Kelly with Vice President Chris Duff at the MKGU Rotary'End Polio Now' Golf Day

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The photographic archive for our club is kept on a Flickr account. You can access it using the link below.

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The Crocuses planted at the Open University, our meeting venue, to mark our commitment to Rotary International's fight to eradicate polio

A brief description of what the Rotary organisation world wide stands for.

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One of our annual quiz nights

Some information about our club

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Tabitha Cobb, Ethel Morris and Maureen McColl were inducted as members of the club in January 2018

Information on how you can get involved with MKGU Rotary

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An intrepid cyclist on the challenge

Our biggest charity effort comes through supporting the organisation of the Extra Mile Challenge annual relay cycling event.

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We have fun together in a variety of social events organised by the club

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MKGU Bursary Awards to Catherine Agunede, Shinta Francis & Rochelle Archer

The Bursary Awards are made each year to students studying for careers in the public sector. This year's award of £300 each was made to students at MK University Hospital NHS Trust, Catherine Agunede, Shinta Francis & Rochelle Archer.

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Local workers starting to survey the drainage route

We are putting our funds, together with a grant from the Rotary Foundation to support a drainage improvement project in the Gambia

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