Posted on Jun 11, 2018
Monday evening, June 11, we were honored to have Rick and Ellen Lawrence speak at our dinner meeting.  We were pleased to present them with our check for $250 for the 2018/2019 grant year.
 
Some history - The Lawrences were vacationing in Guatemala in 2006 and made up at the Rotary Club of La Antigua and exchanged business cards.  They were given a CD of featured projects.  At next meeting of home club, their President noted two initiatives of their DG - Every club was to participate in a clean water project and clubs should join forces and work together on projects.  And the wheels began to turn...... fast forward to this  year, Rick has made over "180 presentations to Rotary clubs throughout District 7890, 7950, 6990, 6930.  As of last year, 36 clubs have participated in the funding of a Global Grant to raise $90,919 for the villages of Xesajbin, Cojulya and Pachaj.  The following is a chart of the villages and families that have been helped since 2007 when the projects began:
 
This particular project provides the materials and training for the villagers to build distribution/storage tanks,  pvc pipes to carry water from the storage tank collection line to the homes, with one spigot at each home; construction materials for vented pit latrines; and additional funds specifically for materials to build stoves that are vented.  This program is part of an "integral program that includes nutritional education, sustainable agriculture, family planning, community empowerment and disaster risk reduction.
Kristina shows the "old" way of carrying water
 
Distribution/Storage tank
 
New Latrine
 
New Stove
 
Rick is holding a plaque with all contribution Club names - here with villagers.
Handmade scarves, jewelry, bags.  Every year Ellen and Rick go down to Guatemala with bags full of school supplies for the children and they return to the U. S. with these beautiful handcrafted items to sell so they can buy more school supplies for the next trip.
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