Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene is the Rotary International monthly theme for March each year. Today's program begins with a message from RI Trustee Chair Barry Rassin, and then previews some Rotary Service projects related to this theme.
CURRENT E-CLUB PROGRAM
PRESIDING TODAY IS: Richard Phalunas, MSRE Club President
Ding! We’re now in session.
Welcome all – Visitors, fellow Rotarians and guests alike to this E-Club program!
Four-Way Test
At the beginning of each meeting we remind ourselves of the The Four-Way Test. Therefore, please remember to ask yourself always . . .
Of the things we think, say or do:
- Is it the TRUTH?
- Is it FAIR to all concerned?
- Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
- Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
A Reflective Moment
“Volunteers are unpaid not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless." --Anonymous
A Lighter Moment
"Why do you sit there looking like an envelope without any address on it?" - Mark Twain
(Mark Twain certainly was not casting aspersions to a Rotarian!)
14 March 2024 Program:
Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Month
Barry Rassin, Trustee Chair 2023-24
Rotary’s focus turns to two themes this month. March is Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Month, and we celebrate World Rotaract Week 11-17 March. Both WASH and Rotaract are near and dear to me.
Clean water, basic sanitation, and proper hygiene are fundamental human rights, yet a staggering 2.2 billion people still lack access to safe drinking water.
We’re taking action. Over the past decade, your Rotary Foundation has invested more than $180 million in over 2,500 water and sanitation projects worldwide. Rotary is on the ground making a difference through global grant-supported projects funded by your contributions to the Foundation.
But Rotary can’t do it alone. We have partnered with organizations like USAID to deliver large-scale solutions. The Rotary-USAID Partnership has helped thousands access water and sanitation services in the Dominican Republic, Ghana, the Philippines, and Uganda.
Our Foundation is the connector for other water partnerships, too. This was the case when I worked with leaders from Rotary District 7020 to set up the Haiti National Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Initiative, known as HANWASH. Foundation grants continue to play a critical role in our strategy of working with nongovernmental organizations, municipalities, and government agencies in communities throughout Haiti.
Rotary efforts to connect people with clean water go beyond providing a basic necessity. We are paving the way for healthier communities and brighter futures, and doing so in a sustainable manner. With access to water, communities enhance education levels, improve health, and further development.
When we talk about partnerships, we can’t forget our closest ally, right here in the family of Rotary: Rotaract. The engagement, energy, and ideas of Rotaract complement the experience of Rotary clubs and increase our collective impact.
Yet many Rotary members still do not know that, as of 2022, Rotaract club activities can be included in district grants, and they are eligible for global grants, expanding avenues for collaboration.
I encourage all Rotary and Rotaract clubs to foster closer collaboration and engagement in our Foundation, whether it’s rolling up their sleeves on a project or giving.
We all know that in Rotary, great opportunities are always around the corner. When you combine water and sanitation projects, Rotaract, and the Foundation, all will become a big part of your life, as they have in mine — and not just this month, but forever.
Support Rotary’s commitment to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene
Posted on March 7, 2024
By Claudia Urbano, Rotary Service and Engagement staff
One in four people lives without safe drinking water and almost half lack basic sanitation. This staggering reality impacts health, education, and overall well-being. United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 on clean water and sanitation encourages us to address universal access to drinking water and sanitation along with improved water management to protect ecosystems and build resiliency.
Your club can help support communities with access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene by 2030. Rotary International President-elect Stephanie Urchick, a member of the Rotary Club of McMurray, Pennsylvania, USA, saw the magic of Rotary when she was helping a community in the Dominican Republic access clean water. Two boys were watching as dirty water entered the water filter and then ran out clean at the other end. “One of the boys grabbed my sleeve and said, ‘Show me the magic again,’” she said. Obviously, the water filter wasn’t magic. The project team worked hard to build a strong working relationship with the community, understand their wishes and needs, procure and install appropriate filters, and work with leaders in the area to maintain them while helping the community build healthy habits to ensure the filters and filtered water remained clean. The boys knew that easier access to clean water would change their lives. This transformative power motivates our clubs worldwide:
A partnership between Rotary clubs in South Africa and the United States tackles water scarcity, helping transform 11 schools in South Africa into better learning environments for more than 7,200 students.
Through a survey, the Rotary Club of Hua Hin found that the school’s drinking water was not up to standards. They also observed that students did not wash their hands during important periods such as after going to the bathroom, before and after eating, and determined there were not enough hand washing points and reinforcements for the school children to improve their handwashing habits. The club helped the school install a new water pump system, as well as installed water filters and trained the teachers and staff in how to use and maintain them.
The community of Santa Maria de Fatima, located along the banks of the Amazon River, is a frequent destination for eco-tourists visiting the Loreto region. There are approximately 80 families in the community whose only options for drinking water were either directly from the river or rainwater collection. Recognizing how the use of contaminated water affected not only their health and well-being but also the economic potential of the community as a tourist destination, community leaders reached out to Water Mission and the Rotary Club Iquitos Amazonas to pursue a safe water project. Thanks to a global grant awarded by the Rotary Foundation, the club installed a community-managed, solar-powered water treatment system. A local safe water committee was created to ensure the project’s sustainability, as well as to manage its finances and operation.
Empowering Your Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Initiatives
Are you interested in starting or currently planning a WASH project? Explore these resources:
- Read Rotary’s Areas of Focus Guide for project ideas and tips for success.
- Connect with the Rotary Action Group for Menstrual Health and Hygiene or Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for expert advice on planning and implementing WASH projects.
- Explore learnings and resources for WASH sustainability from the Rotary-USAID partnership.
- Check out the United Nation’s World Water Day and World Toilet Day campaigns, which aim to provide information and inspiration to take action on hygiene issues.
How is your club focusing on water, sanitation, and hygiene? Post your completed projects on Rotary Showcase or share them in the comments section. Together, we can create a world where clean water, sanitation, and hygiene are fundamental rights.
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