Our International Services Committee
spearheads humanitarian projects in Southeast Asia
In 2007, the Rotary Club of Brighton Beach successfully completed projects in Tarlac, Northern Luzon Philippines which included a major water management rehabilitation project, medical aid mission, donations to abused children and literacy support. Progressive personal donations for the Aeta communities of Bamban Tarlac were also instigated and implemented by Ms Ruth Carlos-Martinez, IS chairperson. Last year, other Asian countries such as a school in Northern Thailand and earthquake devastated Burma have been recipients of the Rotary Club of Brighton Beach's humanitarian assistance.
At the start of 2008, Ms Carlos-Martinez' visited typhoon prone and devastated Sorsogon province Philippines. This resulted in a site review, donations and a recently completed pilot project to provide Bio Sand Water Filter (BSWF) units for water sanitation in the municipalities of Camarines Sur and Sorsogon, Philippines. The water filter units are locally manufactured by
"out of school" youths thus also providing a source of livelihood. In the phase 1 installation (completed Sept 2008), municipalities in Magallanes, Sorsogon City, and Juban, Sorsogon were recipients of the 90 filters. Part of the installation was the training and promotion of awareness to the public of the use and misuse of the filters. Ms Carlos Martinez called for the continuing support of the municipal health offices and local government to promote health care in the economically disadvantaged communities.
Encouraged by the resulting benefits to the poor residents as the significant reduction of water borne diseases, a further visit was made this October 2008, this time accompanied as a joint project by the Rotary Club of Boroondara's International Services Chairperson, Greg Vero.
During this visit, Ruth Carlos-Martinez conducted the first CLEAN WATER FOR HEALTH SUMMIT- Biosand Water Filters, in Sorsogon City in cooperation with the Rotary Club of Metro Sorsogon. This resulted in an evaluation of the installed water filters, gap analysis of any issues, and addressed areas for improvement. Of significance was the start of the implementation of a further 160 filters. Local guests also underscored their talks on the results and benefits the project has provided to the province of Sorsogon and Camarines Sur.
Our Rotarians' visit also marked a review of the other Rotary sponsored projects in Sorsogon, which included an Aquaculture
- Fish fingerling livelihood project for the coastal communities who are dependent on fishing for their livelihood, a visit with donations to the abused
and abandoned children of the Our Lady of Virgin of Guadalupe, Sorsogon, and the planning for the second Water Rehabilitation System which will create a pipeline of spring water from the mountain down to the three villages in Bacon Sorsogon.
Our
Club representative stressed during the Summit, "We
make a living by what we get, but it is through efforts and willful
tenacity to help the underprivileged, that we make a life by what we
give."
