March 2017:  Clean Water & Sanitation Month

Posted by Clint Schroeder on Mar 01, 2017
 
Clean water and sanitation is a human right. When people, especially children, have access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene, they lead healthier and more prosperous lives.
 
Rotarians don’t just build wells and walk away. Rotary members integrate water, sanitation, and hygiene into education projects. When children learn about disease transmission and practice good health, they miss less school. And they can take those lessons home to their families, expanding our impact.
 
 
Rotary has issued a global challenge to its members, asking them to work collectively to improve education quality and access — particularly for girls — by working with communities to improve teacher training, curriculum, and water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities.
 
With all of that said, let me tell you how a few Hawaii Rotarians accidently discovered a water project on our recent trip to Myanmar.
 
As you know, 30 Rotarians from D5000 traveled to Myanmar and Taiwan in February.  While our exploratory service missions were related to two Global Grants that are educational in nature, our work led us to find a dramatic need in one of the schools we were assigned to. 
The Aung Myay Thukha Monastic School in Yangon will soon be the site of our Global Grant “Train the Teachers” program.  While we were preparing to work with the children of the school, the head monk shared that the most critical need (that fell outside the parameters of our education grant) was the toilet block used by the students.
 
A few things to note about the school and its students:
  • This monastic school is a free school serving the poorest people in its area in Yangon, Myanmar
  • It receives no state funding and relies on donations from its community
  • Currently, the school has a 10+ year relationship with Rotarians from RC Yangon
  • Currently 486 students, 70 of which are orphans roughly 60% girls
  • Currently only has six toilets with too small a septic system
  • Overflows in rainy season and floods back into teaching and common areas
What we intend to do:
  • Remove old septic tank and replace with larger system
  • Ten new squat toilets (durable with no parts that can break) in two blocks of five
  • Raised toilet block that prevents flooding and allows for proper drainage away from classrooms
  • School is now out for three months, minimizing time and impact of construction on students
  • Portable toilets will be used while construction underway
  • Estimated construction time is 1-2 months
  • Rotarians from RC Yangon will help with distribution of funds and oversee local construction with monk
Our Hawaii Rotarians immediately began calculating the costs, getting the estimates, and committing to getting the situation resolved.
 I am happy to report that we have RAISED THE MONEY!!  Between the travel team’s generous donations, and the balance left over from our travel fund, we have hit the mark - and we can build the ten new toilets and replace the entire septic system that they so desperately need. 

We ALSO have the funding for and would like to add a hand washing station (or two), and trough/basin with 3 or 4 spigots!! Amazing!
Don't forget to register for the District Conference!
 
If you haven’t done so already – don't forget to make your reservations for the annual D5000 Conference at the beautiful Kaanapali Sheraton!  Registration is only $399/person, and Sheraton is still offering $199 room rates through the end of March.
 

D5000 Polio Champion Challenge Update:

2016-17 is a special year for all of us.  Not only are we celebrating the 100th Anniversary, we are working incredibly hard to finish the job of eradicating Polio!
 
I have more exciting news about the D5000 Polio Champion Challenge!  As of February 1st, we have had 385 District 5000 Rotarians commit to the Champion Challenge; a commitment of over $118,000!  WAY TO GO!
 
To date, we have 75 participants working toward Bronze level, 226 Bronze level donors, 48 Silver level Donors, and 35 Gold/Gold+ level donors! 
 
What an outstanding show of support as we raise the final funds necessary to eradicate Polio ONCE AND FOR ALL!  I am so proud of the Rotarians and Clubs that have stepped up to the challenge to “Make this year the LAST year.  Our D5000 giving is already 87% to our total goal of $135,000 to the Polio Plus Fund. 
 
Now, let me brag about some of our clubs!  We have 48 clubs “on the board” that have already started giving AND we already have 16 clubs that have exceeded their club goal of $2,650 – Well done!
 
The following are the clubs that have already made their 2016-17 Polio Goal of $2,650:
 
1
Waikiki
 $7,162
2
HNL Metro
 $5,480
3
Honolulu Sunset
 $5,325
4
HNL Downtown
 $4,520
5
HNL Sunrise
 $4,450
6
Volcano
 $4,000
7
South Hilo
 $3,850
8
Lahaina
 $3,450
9
West Pearl Harbor
 $3,298
10
Kona Sunrise
 $3,160
11
Kapolei Sunset
 $3,100
12
Hilo
 $3,080
13
Hilo Bay
 $3,051
14
Waianae Coast
 $3,050
15
Honolulu
 $2,850
16
Kapolei
 $2,726
 
 
As of March 1st our club rankings are:
 
1
Waikiki
 $7,162
2
HNL Metro
 $5,480
3
Honolulu Sunset
 $5,325
4
HNL Downtown
 $4,520
5
HNL Sunrise
 $4,450
6
Volcano
 $4,000
7
South Hilo
 $3,850
8
Lahaina
 $3,450
9
West Pearl Harbor
 $3,298
10
Kona Sunrise
 $3,160
11
Kapolei Sunset
 $3,100
12
Hilo
 $3,080
13
Hilo Bay
 $3,051
14
Waianea Coast
 $3,050
15
Honolulu
 $2,850
16
Kapolei
 $2,726
17
Ala Moana
 $2,250
18
Kona Mauka
 $2,230
19
Lahaina Sunset
 $2,100
20
Mililani Sunrise
 $1,827
21
Kihei Wailea
 $1,710
22
Wailuku
 $1,600
23
Kahala Sunrise
 $1,415
24
Windward Oahu
 $1,396
25
West Honolulu
 $1,363
26
Kona
 $1,254
27
Lahaina Sunrise
 $1,225
28
E-Club of Hawaii
 $1,200
29
Pearlridge
 $1,200
30
Kauai
 $1,100
31
Kaneohe
 $1,100
32
Pau Hana
 $1,050
33
Maui
 $1,032
34
Kahului
 $1,000
35
East Honolulu
 $1,000
36
Pearl Harbor
 $683
37
Hawaii Kai
 $670
38
Upcountry Maui
 $600
39
North Hawaii
 $600
40
Wahiawa-Waialua
 $450
41
Windward Oahu Sunrise
 $400
42
Hanalei Bay
 $400
43
Pahoa Sunset
 $372
44
Valley Isle Sunset
 $340
45
We Club Hawaii
 $250
46
Diamond Head
 $111
47
Lanai
 $100
48
West Kauai
 $76
 
We have 2 clubs that haven’t gotten on the board yet – But it’s not too late!
 
Kapaa
Poipu Beach
 
 
 
To find out more about the Polio Champion Challenge, go to http://www.d5000champion.org OR to donate, go to http://www.endpolio.org/donate.
 
Thank you for ALL that you do.  What a fantastic year of Rotary Serving Humanity!
 
 
Yours in service,
 
Clint Schroeder
District Governor 2016-17
D5000 Hawaii