District International Café Wraps Up the Rotary Year with Inspiring Global Projects
 

District International Café Wraps Up the Rotary Year with Inspiring Global Projects
By:  Bill Dunn, Member DISC, Yarmouth RC
 
 
On Saturday, June 13th, more than 20 Rotarians set aside the beautiful weather — and other District events, including the Crutches4Africa container stuffing — to attend the final International Café of the Rotary Year.  Together, we traveled virtually to Guatemala, Uganda, and Kenya.
 
Before the presentations began, Emma Bodwell announced that Marion Cheney is taking over as Chair of the District International Committee and as host of DISC's International Cafés.  Marion then introduced incoming District Governor Michele Bois-Gilbody of the Freeport Club, who shared an exciting project underway at the Community School in Santa Cruz, Guatemala.
 
Guatemala: Colegio Siqajan
 
The trilingual Colegio Siqajan is located in the village of Santa Cruz, one of 13 villages along the shores of Lake Atitlán.  The presentation featured vivid images of the village alongside a sobering look at the school's overcrowded, substandard temporary classrooms.  The school is raising funds to begin construction of a new building later this year.  The Freeport Club is serving as international sponsor for a $77,000 Global Grant request covering educator training, technology equipment, and literacy and math materials.  Local partners include Amigos de Santa Cruz and the Rotary Club of Lake Atitlán.  The grant will unfold as a three-year project, with training and materials added at each grade level through Grade 5.  The project is still $7,000 short of its goal — contact Michele at michele@bois-gilbody.com if your club would like to participate.
 
Uganda: Maranatha Maternity Initiative
 
Marion next introduced Nancy Irving of the South Portland/Cape Elizabeth (SPCE) Club, who spoke about the Maranatha Maternity Initiative at Nakasongola Health Centre IV in Uganda's Nakasongola District.  Rotarian Ronett Atukunda joined the Zoom call live from Uganda to describe the project firsthand.
 
The health centre, located approximately 100 miles north of Kampala, currently handles about 150 births per month in a cramped, 16-bed facility well below modern standards.  The Rotary Club of Kampala East is building a 25-bed maternity ward — including 5 ICU beds — within donated space at the existing 42-bed centre.  The total project cost is $174,600, with $125,000 being raised locally.  The project will also include four shipping containers of equipment provided by Partners for World Health in Portland, plus staff training.  It is estimated the new facility will prevent 64 infant deaths each year. The SPCE Club is the international sponsor and is still seeking additional partners — contact Nancy at nirving123@gmail.com to learn more.
 
Kenya: Kenya Rising
 
The final presentation came from John Chisholm, who hails from Freeport and has devoted 25 years to Kenya Rising in Kakamega, Kenya.  What began as a feeding program in 2000 has grown into a comprehensive operation encompassing a children's home, schooling, and family care.  Kenya Rising serves the most vulnerable — recently identifying the 100 poorest families among 2,000–3,000 families in the area to participate in a three-year Family Care Program.  At approximately $1,800 per family, the program provides training, guidance, counseling, budgeting support, homestead improvements, and scholarship opportunities.  Kenya Rising also supports community agriculture through microgrants. To get involved, contact John at john@friendsofkenyarising.org.
Presentation:
 
Mark Your Calendar for the Next two International Cafés 
 
The next International Café on July 18th  will highlight past Outreach trips and offer a preview of the 2027 Outreach trip to Belize
The September 12th International Café will focus on Project Fairs..