Introducing DG Martti's partner, Karen's, charity of choice for 2021-22. Would your club please consider budgeting to make a donation to this DG Partner's Charity, prior to June 2021?

Martti and I were privileged to go to Timor Leste in March 2019 on a Rotary Study Tour organised by Ray Fauntleroy and with Jan Johnson, Carol Ross, Graham Stinson and Jennifer Kitching. Thank goodness we did. It was wonderful to meet Rotarians, Rotaractors and see Rotary Foundation and District projects. So began a passion to build an awareness of this wonderful, motivated neighbour and part of District 9560.

We all know that Timor Leste has experienced a genocide that has wiped out a generation, a devastating flood in April and 18 months of Covid desolation. Yet in amongst this, is our young Rotaractors of Manatuto, seeking a hand up with their Proposal to put water and sanitation into the school in their region that services 1600 students. They put a business plan proposal to PDG Ron Degenhart and Vicki when they visited in 2019. Ron and Vicki can attest personally to the need and motivation.

Since then the Rotaractors, under the guidance of AG Raymond Fauntleroy have held meetings with the school and staff, Education Department and Municipality authorities to gain all the necessary permissions to proceed. They have held workshops on water storage, sanitation and filtration options, that work for their town. They have completed a very detailed costing of the project. We estimate that the project will require about US $60 000 to complete.  

This project is my choice, because it ticked all my boxes:

1. A grass-root Rotary project by OUR own rotaractors of Manatuto. This empowers them to be the leaders and deliver the changes they aspire to, while mentoring them in many new skills.

2. A water project, and water saves lives.

3. A project that celebrates us coming together as the brand new District 9560.

4. A project that celebrates 100 years of Rotary in Zone 8.

5. A project that enhances the knowledge of the southern half of our District on our two Rotary Clubs and 6 Rotaract Clubs in Timor Leste, and the needs of this very close neighbour.

6. It can leverage of the power of Rotary, delivering bang for buck, being managed and completed by Rotarians in our District.

7. It is transparent, and Ray will be providing monthly reports of progress, once we kick off. At the moment, we only need to get the water storage systems sorted, as soon as possible, hopefully prior to the commencement of the wet season. The rest of the project can continue when Ray and Rotarians in Timor Leste can get there safely to supervise.

8. It is a project that all Rotarians in our District can eventually visit and know they will receive a warm welcome and make inter-club connections.

If you or your club would like to donate or budget to do so,  the details are-

Rotary Timor-Leste` Support Fund

Bendigo Bank Ltd BSB 633 000

Account Number 156 188 732 (Note: Spacing is for effect and is not required.)

Any Donations/Sponsorship towards this Project should adopt as a Reference - Mantatuto_YourName

Many thanks to the Clubs who have already donated and I am looking forward to visiting the majority of clubs as our journey continues.

Karen Kankkunen PHF

Secretary,  Rotary Health and Wellness Rotary Action Group

#servetochangelives 

#ProudtobeaRotarian