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 On Friday 28th February 2008 GSE Team Members Fiona, Sarah and Stephanie joined their Team Leader Stuart Leyland at Arties Mill to hear the 2009 GSE team presentation.
They had all come together to share their wealth of experience with this year's team as well as catching up with one another since they last met in October 2008. Since that time Sarah (far left) in her capacity as a youth worker has become involved in the Hull KR Youth Project. Stephanie (middle) has been out to Ukraine to follow Rotary Shoeboxes as well as publicising Sarah's skype session between some youngsters in Hull with youngsters in Colombia. She has also written some editorial for the Horncastle News about 2009 team member Rachel Shaw. Meanwhile Fiona (right) has maintained contact with a hospital in Colombia where she was able to share her podiatry knowledge and skills with another medical professional. Fiona hopes to be able continue her help and support - more to be reported subject to final developments. As you can see from the photo all four of the team, who did not know each other before being selected have clearly developed some good friendships and are in the process of expanding on their experiences and contacts made in Colombia. Click on "read more" to read their Feedback report as at 2nd March 2009.
Since our return from Colombia in June 2008, we have given our presentation to over thirty Rotary clubs in our District and at the District Conference in Harrogate. We also returned from Colombia with several Rotary projects we wanted to support, via Rotary Foundation. The Rotary clubs in Colombia work very hard to support those that are inadequately supported by the state and we were very moved by some of their work. These projects are now with Rotary Foundation, having gained the support of various Rotary clubs in our District and of course the approval of Geoff Peterson – District Grants Coordinator & PDG Rolf Sperr – Foundation Chair. AMCAF – A project in a rural area, north of Cucuta, where street children have the opportunity to progress academically and learn many life skills. It is run by a religious order and supported by the Rotary Club Arboles – Cucuta. (Ciudad de los arboles) · Firstly a Well is being jointly funded by the Rotary Club of Barton upon Humber & a District Simplified Grant. · Secondly District 1270 contributed DDF to a joint project with an American Rotary Club (Shakopee) & Rotary Club Arboles – Cucuta. This project will see the creation of a Self sustaining Micro Organic Farm, the children will run the farm, that will provide food, for their own consumption & for sale, and the children will learn many skills, in a natural environment. Libertad – A project to replace antiquated equipment in a home for the elderly. The project is again run by a religious order, limited state funding and supported by several Rotary clubs in Cucuta. The four sponsor clubs of our GSE team equally funded this project – Barton, Horncastle, Hornsea & Immingham. Computers for a school in Barranquilla – This project will provide much needed computers to a good state school, that is supported by the Rotary Club of Barranquilla. This is joint project between the Rotary Clubs of Gainsborough & Epworth & Isle of Axholme. For those of you that would like to still help us, help those less fortunate that ourselves in Colombia, we still have three projects that we would like to support · A school for children with hearing difficulties – Bucaramanga · A Micro Finance project in Cucuta – to help displaced peoples (evicted from their farms by the drug barons) set up a small business/cooperative. · Supply a mini bus to transport the elderly around Cucuta & district For more information please contact Stuart Leyland – Rotary Club of Barton upon Humber. We would like to thank all those that have helped bring these projects about and District 1270 for the privilege to represent you on an amazing experience that not one of us will ever forget. For more information please contact Stuart Leyland – Rotary Club of Barton upon Humber |
