Katikati Rotary helps Vanuatu
Agroup ofKatikati Rotarians recently spent aweek in Efate and Nguna islands in Vanuatu looking at projects they could assist.
President elect Ann Owen is investigating obtaining a Rotary International Global Grant to help fund the building of a threeroom classroom and a toilet facility at the Victory School of Hope at Black Sands, a poor community at PortVila.
For this project the Rotary Club ofKatikati is partnering with the Rotary Club of Mendocino inNorthern California.
Katikati is building a special relationship with this American club as members of their Rotary District visitedKatikati inMarch and October in 2017.
Local Rotarians Rod and MaryAnne Calver were hosted by club members in Mendocino.
The five Katikati Rotarians met up with the Mendocino president and five members of her club during their recent visit to Vanuatu and together they visited the School of Hope and discussed other projects in Vanuatu.
Katikati has a special relationship with the Vanuatuan people because of the RSE (Recognised Seasonal Employment scheme) with many coming here to work in our kiwifruit industry.
During the visitKatikati Rotariansmet with many who have been or are participants in the scheme. In two of the areas they visited where RSE workers come from, the Rotarians discovered the need for science resources to equip science laboratories at schools. The Vanuatuan Education Ministry is requiring science labs to be set up in schools that want to become junior high schools, enabling children to be educated for longer in their schools.
While in Vanuatu those in the Rotary delegation gave several schools computers, books, educational materials and children‘s clothes. Katikati Rotary through the previous generosity of Ballance Agrinutrients has been able to distribute many computers through the islands of the Pacific.
Now Katikati Rotary has been given the opportunity to get another batch of 500 computers from another large local organisation, which can be refurbished in partnership with the IT (Information Technology) of the Vanuatu Department and also sent around the Pacific Islands.
If anyone has old laptops not in use, Katikati Rotary can refurbish them and send them to Vanuatu. To donate contact John on (07) 549-5151.
There may be local orchardists and packhouses who would like to make a donation to Rotary to help fund these facilities in Vanuatu, as ameans of appreciation of the great service the RSEworkers give to the kiwifruit industry. Donations can be made through Rotary's Charitable Trust.
For more information contact Rod Calver on (07) 549-0363.