RAWCS Eastern Region Meeting Canberra, February 2017 Hosted by D9710

Pink Umbrella Foundation Grants

Eastern Region has many outstanding projects and many committed volunteers partici-pating in humanitarian service. We have found one way to recognise the great contribu-tion made by Clubs in Eastern Region is through the Pink Umbrella Foundation grant program.

RAWCS facilitates the delivery of humanitarian aid. To help promote RAWCS to the wid-er Rotary network our Foundation again agreed to offer $1,000 grants to six projects

within the RAWCS Eastern Region. All of the project applications would have been worthy grant recipients but, on this occasion, the judges agreed to award the grants to the following projects:-

Rotary Education Training, TIMOR LESTE

Rotary Club of PENNANT HILLS D9685; RAWCS project # 67/2008-09

Conducting 3 day RYPEN camps ea for 50 school leavers throughout Timor who will not proceed to university. Each camp now fully managed by trained RYLA alumni facilitators.

RYPEN camps have been “Timor-ised” from the model used at 9685 RYPENs.

For each camp, 10 schools are approached. RYPEN is explained to teachers who then offer their assistance. 10 students from each of 10 schools are nominated and interviewed. From the interviews 50 are chosen.

To date four new Rotaract Clubs and the second Rotary Club in TL have been formed from RYLA and RYPEN alumni.

Medical Repurposing Network, TIMOR-LESTE, PNG, PHILIPPINES RAWCS project # 43/2015-16

Rotary Club of SYDNEY COVE D9675

The Medical Repurposing Network initiative supports the health needs of those in underprivileged neighbouring countries through the collec-tion of diagnostic and surgical medical equipment and supplies that are no longer wanted in Australia, but still able to benefit recipients. The initiative extends the life and use of the materials which may have oth-erwise been thrown away.

While our 2015 attention has been on the Philippines Regional Hospi-tals/Clinic - 2017 see a re-engagement with Timor-Leste. A Syringe Plump and consumables have been sent to Baire Pite Clinic, Dili Timor-Leste.

Debbies Dunnies for Dhulikhel, NEPAL RAWCS project #51/2016-17

Rotary Club of PORT MACQUARIE D9650

Following the devastating earthquakes in 2015 much of the infra-structure was either destroyed or severely damaged. PP Ranjeev Shresha of the Rotary Club of Dhulikhell Nepal D3292 surveyed the outlying towns and it was noted that there was a health and sanita-tion issue. One particular town DadaGaw-Palanchowk, stood out. Of the 80 households 60 are in desperate need of a toilet.

• The purpose of this project is to replace 60 toilets

• To teach locals sustainable service and maintenance

• Conduct a public education program and encourage hand washing to improve the overall general health

The toilets will be a pan toilet and septic tank.

before construction

Waterways Emergency Rescue Vessel, AUSTRALIA RAWCS RABS project #52/2016-17

Rotary Club of WOY WOY D9685

The project will provide benevolent relief to anyone on a ma-rine vessel in the Central Coast waterways who find them-selves in a perilous, life threatening situation requiring rescue. In 2016 Central Coast, Marine Rescue responded to 126 calls from vessels requiring assistance in Brisbane Water, Broken Bay and off-shore to Norah Head. 379 people were on board the vessels requiring assistance. It is these people who ulti-mately receive the benevolent relief.

361 man hours were required to ensure all the people on dis-tressed vessels were brought to safety. Many of the calls are from people in potentially life threatening situations. With an improved vessel and safety equipment Marine Rescue will be able to respond more quickly to potentially life threatening and distress situations.

Sustainable Cambodia, CAMBODIA RAWCS project #39/2008-09

Rotary Club of CENTRAL BLUE MOUNTAINS D9685

Sustainable Cambodia is a unique nonprofit organization, working hand-in-hand with rural families in village development since 2003. With the assistance of supporters from all over the world and humanitarian groups like the Rotary Clubs, Sustainable Cambodia empowers rural vil-lage families to create self-sustaining communities with clean water, am-ple food, and opportunities for self-reliance. Through practical educa-tional and economic opportunities, children and their families sustain and continually improve their quality of life. The long-term goal of Sus-tainable Cambodia is to empower rural communities to spread this unique model throughout the country of Cambodia, ultimately helping millions of Cambodians to transform the quality of life in their communi-ties. What makes Sustainable Cambodia unique as an organization is the commitment to empower people through a combination of proven philosophies and methodologies.

website: www.sustainablecambodia.org

Sarnelli House AIDS Orphange Nong-Khai, THAILAND

Rotary Club of FORBES D9700 - RAWCS project # 75/2013-14

Sarnelli House currently cares for 150 AIDS orphaned children of which half are HIV+, which places high demands on medication and special care for these young people.

The orphanage children are not only given the opportunity to restore health but are able to become educated and respected citizens making positive contributions to their communities.

Rotary Australia World Community Services (RAWCS) involvement with Sarnelli House AIDS orphanage resulted from members of the Forbes Rotary Club identifying the need for financial and technical assistance to provide electricity, medication, and agronomic assistance in becoming self-sufficient with food production and caring for the education and developmental needs of these young people. The now 50 acres of farmland around Sarnelli House currently produces 50% of the food requirements of the orphanage and they are looking to in-crease this level of self-sufficiency.

The Next RAWCS Meeting will be held in Belmont hosted by District 9670 on 27th and 28th May 2017 when again there will be an opportunity for 6 more RAWCS/

RABS projects to receive Pink Umbrella Foundation $1,000 grants.